
MANTI—Thanks to a particularly entertaining couple of minutes, the Templars have fully put that North Sanpete loss in the rear-view mirror.
The Manti boys’ basketball team got back into the win column last week with a Wednesday night victory at home over the defending champion Juab Wasps, 59-44. The win moved Manti to 9-7 on the season with a 2-1 record in Region 14.
With a slow start to the game and seemingly nothing going in the hoop for the Templars, Juab looked well-equipped to give Manti fits all night long, leading 12-7 after the first quarter and 18-17 at halftime. But some blistering cuts to the basket for layups by junior Larsen Pogroszewski near the end of the first half tenderized the defense.
After taking a small lead in the third quarter to be up, 36-32, Manti’s offense caught fire, and the Templars went on a 14-3 run to pull away from the Wasps completely.
Pogroszewski and junior Dylan Anderson each had 13 points to lead the team, while junior Kayson Douglas scored 11 points. Junior Christian Hansen was near a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
The Templars will have a tough test as they take on Union this Wednesday on the road before returning home to face Delta. Manti then will prepare to rematch with North Sanpete next Wednesday at home.