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The kid can play, and the kid is only a freshman. With chants ringing out through the Lone Peak student section, the Lone Peak fans were quick to remind the Lehi players all night that “he’s a freshman”, the Knights’ Nick Emery, played like a grizzled veteran.

Lone Peak went into Lehi on Thursday in a battle of the unbeaten. Led by a group of upstart youngsters, most of whom are seeing their first bit of high school action, the Knights delivered punch after punch with the Pioneers as the game went back and forth until the final possession.

“The thing that I was most proud of is we get down 5, 6 in this environment this early in the season and we’re just young out there, sophomore and freshmen and we just kept our cool”, said Lone Peak coach, Quincy Lewis.

Led by senior Tannon Pedersen and freshman Nick Emery who finished with 19 and 26 respectively, the Knights found themselves with a golden opportunity as they took the ball with just under a minute to play.

In UHSAA basketball there is no shot clock therefore at the end of two different periods of play the Lehi Pioneers held the ball for the final minute before making their move to the basket. It is a play that is painful to watch as a spectator but effective if you are playing the game.

As the fourth period came, this time it was Lone Peak’s turn. “It’s a play that we have but obviously that play that we have is to get everyone out of his way - Emery - and let the kid make a play,” says Lewis.

With the game tied at 50 and the clock ticking down, Emery made his move as he pulled up to the top of the key and let it fly. With ice in his veins and no hesitation on the shot, the freshman put the Knights up by two with seven seconds remaining. “That’s probably the best feeling ever right there,” said Emery, who took the shot while playing in only his third high school game.

Lehi’s final attempt by Zach Stanley - who had three threes on the night - fell just short as Emery got a hand in his face and the young Knights remained unbeaten.

“They have a really good team, and they play really good defense”, said Emery, “If we didn’t have our defense we wouldn’t have been there.” The Knights’ defense held the Lehi Pioneers to only four points in the deciding period of play.

Talking about the final moments of the game, Coach Lewis was quick to talk glowingly about another freshman in the Knights’ rotation. “One of the biggest plays was by the other freshman, Tallon Shumway who went and got a rebound that put us in that situation,” said Lewis. “If he doesn’t make that play, we don’t win the game.”

These kids can play.