North Sanpete boys close regular season with pair of home losses, set for state opener

MT. PLEASANT — The North Sanpete boys basketball team closed the regular season last week with back-to-back home losses, falling to Emery in region play before dropping a nonregion contest to Juab as the Hawks turned their focus toward the postseason.

North Sanpete opened the week with a 67–60 loss to Emery on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The Hawks built momentum early, leading 34–27 at halftime after outscoring the Spartans in the first two quarters. Emery responded after the break, however, taking control in the third quarter and holding North Sanpete to nine points in the fourth to complete the comeback.

James Clayton led the Hawks with 17 points, while Gunner Pollock added 11 points and eight rebounds. Bryce Swapp scored 11 points, and Royal Sorensen knocked down three 3-pointers as North Sanpete shot efficiently from the field but struggled to keep pace late.

Two nights later, North Sanpete returned to the court against Juab on Friday, Feb. 6, and came up short in a 66–50 loss. The Hawks stayed within striking distance through the first half, trailing by just three points at the break, but Juab pulled away in the second half by outscoring North Sanpete 42–23.

Swapp paced the Hawks with 15 points, while Clayton added 12 and Maddox Madsen chipped in nine. North Sanpete struggled from beyond the arc and was limited to 18 points in the third and fourth quarters combined.

The two losses dropped North Sanpete to 9–14 overall and 2–6 in Region 13 play, placing the Hawks fifth in the region standings. The Hawks finished the regular season on a two-game losing streak but earned a postseason berth in the 3A boys basketball state tournament.

North Sanpete is scheduled to open state tournament play on Friday, Feb. 13, with a first-round road game against American Heritage. First-round games will be played at the higher seed’s home site before the tournament advances to Cedar City later in the week.