Manhattan

The Emporia High School boys basketball team trailed for almost three quarters, but came away with a 55-48 win over Manhattan on Saturday night.

Manhattan scored the first six points of the game and led 15-10 after the opening quarter. The Indians opened the second quarter with five straight points to make it 20-10, their largest lead of the game.

Emporia responded with seven straight on a basket from Sheldon Stewart, a pair of free throws from River Peters after a technical foul was call on Manhattan and a 3-pointer from Stewart. Manhattan closed the half with a 6-2 run to make it 26-19 at the half.

The Spartans started to chip away in the third quarter and got the game to within one twice on baskets from Blake Spellman and a 3-pointer from Stewart. Madden Seidl gave them their first lead of the night with a free throw with under a second to play before the end of the quarter. Emporia would lead the rest of the way as they outscored Manhattan 18-12 in the final quarter.

Head coach Lee Baldwin was glad to see his team battle through some adversity. “We’ve been through some adversity this week,” Baldwin said. “We didn’t play our best against Junction City and I thought we were lucky to only be down seven at halftime. We made a couple of lineup adjustments heading into the second half and we hadn’t been good in the third quarter this year, but we were really good tonight. We had a lot of big plays from a lot of different guys and I’m really proud of them.”

Stewart was one of two Spartans to set new career highs, leading the team with 22 points. Peters added 18 points and Nolan Jacob notched 10, his second career-high in as many games.

“Sheldon has a chance to be a first-team all-league player this year,” Baldwin said. “He’s improved immensely and I’m not surprised when he plays well. Nolan is as competitive and tough as any kid in our program. I get emotional talking about him because I would run through a wall for that guy. We’re just a different team when he’s on the floor, and I think that’s evident.”

Emporia (8-4) will host Topeka High in a makeup of a previously postponed game on Tuesday night.

Emporia JV 40

Manhattan JV 42

JV Record: 4-4

Emporia C 35

Manhattan C 50

C Record: 3-5