No. 6 Morgan upsets No. 3 Emery in 3A girls basketball quarterfinals

Morgan advances to the 3A semifinals with a narrow victory over rival Emery

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In a closely contested 3A girls basketball quarterfinal matchup, the No. 6 Morgan Trojans upset the No. 3 Emery Spartans 53-49 to advance to the semifinals. The game was tight throughout, with Morgan holding a slim 30-29 lead at halftime. But the Trojans pulled away in the third quarter, led by strong performances from Makayla Williams and Zoe Rockenfield. Emery made a late push in the fourth quarter but couldn't overcome Morgan's clutch free throw shooting down the stretch.

Why it matters

This win is a big accomplishment for the Morgan program, which was looking for its first semifinal appearance since winning the 3A title in 2023. Emery, on the other hand, was seeking its third straight semifinal berth. The closely contested game showcases the competitive nature of 3A girls basketball in Utah.

The details

Morgan jumped out to an early 12-10 lead after the first quarter, but Emery battled back to tie it 30-30 at halftime. The Trojans then used a strong third quarter, including a 3-pointer and tough layup from Zoe Rockenfield, to build a 47-39 advantage heading to the fourth. Emery made one final push, cutting the deficit to 47-45, but Morgan was able to hold on at the free throw line to secure the upset victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in the 3A state quarterfinals.
  • Morgan last won the 3A title in 2023.

The players

Makayla Williams

A standout player for Morgan who scored 18 points through three quarters to lead the Trojans' offense.

Zoe Rockenfield

Came up big for Morgan in the third quarter, hitting a 3-pointer, a tough layup, and another 3-pointer to help the Trojans build their lead.

Aleeyah Cowley

A dominant post player for Emery who gave the Trojans trouble inside throughout the game.

Sterling Mack

The head coach of the Morgan Trojans, who led his team to the upset victory over rival Emery.

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What they’re saying

“Last year they really gave it to us when we got here. When we saw Emery on the schedule we were excited. Just know we gotta win by one.”

— Sterling Mack, Morgan head coach

“Emery is an amazing program knows what they are doing. We just have to come in and execute what we can on offense. Aleeyah Cowley for Emery is a dog in there. We had to sub in by committee and get stops when we needed to, and we did.”

— Sterling Mack, Morgan head coach

What’s next

Morgan will advance to the 3A semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between No. 2 Grantsville and No. 7 Richfield.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory over a fellow 3A powerhouse program in Emery shows that Morgan is a legitimate contender for the 3A title this season. The Trojans' ability to withstand Emery's late push and make clutch free throws down the stretch demonstrates their poise and resilience under pressure.