Wasatch basketball team makes short work of Templars, 97-44
Matt Harris
Staff writer
1-12-2017
MT. PLEASANT—Often in basketball, David does not beat Goliath.
That was the case when the Manti Templars played visitor against Wasatch Academy, newly ranked the top team in the state of Utah this week. The Tigers easily defeated the Templars, 97-44, in their matchup last Saturday to bring the Wasatch record to 15-2. The Templars now stand at 5-9 in their season.
Head coach Curtis Condie expressed satisfaction at the level of play by the Tigers after almost three weeks since their last game.
“Our timing was off,” Condie said, “but I was very happy with our effort. We have a very positive energy right now.”
Wasatch made 40 field goals in the game and had outscored the entire offensive performance of Manti in the first half, leading at halftime, 47-13. Five players scored in double figures for the Tigers, led by Josip Vrankic’s 28 points. Emmanuel Akot scored 19, while Jeff Baradziej added 11. Bernardo Da Silva and freshman Mady Sissoko each chipped 10 points apiece as well.
Surprisingly, college prospect and point guard Damion Squire only had two points on the night, but Condie isn’t worried. “[Squire] may not be scoring a lot,” Condie says, “but he is running our team offensively very well and doing a great job of stopping the ball on defense at the driving line.”
Wasatch is playing tomorrow in Springfield, Mass., against Commonwealth. They are then participating in the National Hoop Hall of Fame Classic din Florida, facing IMG Academy.
