Behind Porter Sitterud’s season-high 31 points, the Spartan basketball squad played its final game of 2025 on Friday at the Shakespeare Classic in Ephraim. The contest was a battle from beginning to end, with the Spartans earning the 78-74 win over the American Heritage Patriots.

Emery sits at 8-4 as they head into a well-deserved break before they get back on the court on January 3, when they travel to Vernal to take on the Uintah Utes.

Both squads came out slugging in the first quarter, which would set the tone for the game.  Both teams would trade baskets, but at the end of one, the Patriots held a slight edge, 21-17. In the second, American Heritage would continue its’ aggressive play and the Spartans were right there with them as well, going to the locker room at the half down 38-32.

The third was when the Spartans made their move, finally putting some distance between them and the Patriots, though it wasn’t much. They took a 55-53 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth, the Spartans did what they had to do, and so did the Patriots, going back into battle mode and giving the Spartans all they had. Emery held on for the 78-74 victory.

Sitterud added three assists, two rebounds, and two steals to his 31 points. Brek Griffin had 19 with eight assists and six rebounds, while Myles Mortensen had nine with five rebounds in the win for the Spartans.

Emery is now off until January 3, when they face the Utah Utes on the road.