MANTI—It was a “fire and ice” kind of week for the Templars as they split their games in the first week of the year.
The Manti boys’ basketball team scorched Canyon View, 74-55, at home last Wednesday in their first game of the new year, but long arms and long possessions frustrated the Templars in a disappointing 46-43 loss at Emery.
Manti’s record overall moved to 7-6 overall as they wrapped up non-region play and will begin region play this week.
Canyon View tried to do the one thing no team should ever do against Manti, which is play fast. The Templars’ defense contained the quickness of the Falcons, while on the other side, Manti exposed and dominated the Falcon’s porous defensive effort in the first quarter. The Templars’ hot shooting opened up a 22-11 at the end of the first half.
In fact, Manti’s offense ran so hot to open the game that, ironically, the fire alarm went off.
While Canyon View kept pace with Manti over the course of the second half, it wasn’t enough to even things up as the Templars cruised to victory.
Manti posted the kinds of stats that put a smile on Coach Devin Shakespear’s face as the Templars notched 23 total assists and combined for 11 steals and seven 3-pointers. Sophomore Reggie Frischknecht led the offense with 19 points and seven rebounds, while juniors Christian Hansen, Kayson Douglas, and Larsen Pogroszewski scored 16, 16, and 15 points, respectively.
While the alarm against Canyon View was more of a literal one, the alarm of the Templars performance against Emery was more in the mind. Manti’s offense struggled with virtually everything as the Spartans tenaciously swiped at every pass and shot the Templars attempted, leading to countless Manti turnovers. Emery made 10 steals and five blocks for the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, with Emery up, 44-40, a Spartan player airballed a free throw to give Manti possession with 36 seconds to go. Manti responded with a 3-pointer from Douglas, then went to work on intentional fouls. Down, 45-43, Douglas went for it again from the same spot but missed, and Emery hit another free throw for a 46-43 lead.
On the final play, Pogroszewski sought Douglas again, who shot deep from the right side and missed. Frischknecht tipped the rebound back out to Douglas for a last-second heave, but it just rimmed out, sending Manti home with the loss.
Frischknecht led all scorers for the second straight game, scoring 16 points. The Templars combined for six 3-pointers.
Manti’s region slate begins this week with a road contest against Delta this Wednesday.
They’ll then be at home this Friday for arguably the biggest game of the season so far as RPI No. 3 North Sanpete comes down south for a rivalry contest in what is the most high-profile episode of the Hawks-Templars rivalry in many years.