The Emporia High boys basketball team led for the majority of its game with Hayden on Wednesday night at Spartan Gymnasium.
Emporia High led by as many as 11 in the game and had to hold off the Wildcats for a 61-56 victory. The Spartans led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to as many as 11 en route to a 29-20 halftime advantage. Hayden scored the first five points of the third quarter and pulled within four, but not any closer the remainder of the way. Emporia High led 44-36 heading into the fourth quarter despite being outscored 20-17 in the final eight minutes. Rylan Crowell led the way for the Spartans with a career-high 20 points, while Madden Seidl added a career-high 13 off the bench. Emporia High coach Lee Baldwin was proud of how his team answered every attempt Hayden had at a comeback.
Emporia High improved to 7-4 on the season and 1-1 in the Centennial League. The Spartans jump out of league play for a road game at 6 p.m. Friday at Wichita Independent. The RV-Doc Pregame Show is set for 5:45 p.m. on KVOE.
