West Valley City » Emery's Abbie Kay had to just keep reminding herself on defense: "Go up straight. Move your feet."
She knew she had a tall task in front of her -- guarding Judge's play-making post player Tina Fakahafua.
"I knew I had to play tough defense. I was pretty frustrated with myself when I got my fourth foul in the third quarter," Kay said. "They're a physical team."
Despite being in foul trouble, Kay did her job of containing Judge's main offensive threat. On the other end, Kay had 14 points to help her team to a 47-39 victory over Judge in the 3A tournament semifinals at the E Center to advance to the state championship game against Wasatch.
Though Emery focused on limiting Fakahafua's touches, the Spartans were just as concerned about Judge's ability to make outside shots.
"We had to push Tina as much as she was pushing us, and we couldn't play zone because they're too good of shooters," Emery coach Jon Faimalo said. "The girls just sucked it up and had heart."
It was somewhat overwhelming for the Emery players to have to defend all over the court, but the Spartans went into halftime with a 22-17 lead.
Emery's defense led to offensive opportunities. And the Spartans capitalized on them, unlike Judge, which uncharacteristically missed layups and free throws.
"Tina did a good job handling the pressure, but we didn't do a great job getting her the ball when we needed to," Judge coach Jeremy Chatterton said. "We couldn't get a break. We couldn't get that three to relieve some of the pressure."
The Spartans had as much as a 10-point lead in the second half, but Judge chipped away at it with tough defense. Midway through the fourth, Judge trailed by only a point. With 1:20 remaining and down three, Judge missed a layup that grazed the rim. It was at that point Emery began to put the game out of reach with free throws.
Jodi Robertson, who led Emery with 15 points, said she knew when she saw that missed layup that the win was secured.
"That was scary," Robertson said. "But I just had that feeling we would win all game. When we were up at halftime, we realized that we could win the game."
Erica Martinez had a team-high 15 points for Judge. Fakahafua had 10 points.
