Late run leads Red Raiders past Rams, 71-62
Ed Thompson
Uniontown蘑菇视频 Jahmere Richardson dunks in the Red Raiders鈥� 71-62 victory over Ringgold on Tuesday in Section 3-AAAA play at Ringgold. Richardson had a game-high 25 points.
Ed Thompson
Ringgold蘑菇视频 Chris Peccon drives to the basket in Tuesday蘑菇视频 Section 3-AAAA game against Uniontown at Ringgold High School.
Ed Thompson
Ringgold蘑菇视频 Nate Pajak goes up for a shot while being defended by Uniontown蘑菇视频 Billy DeShields during Tuesday蘑菇视频 Section 3-AAAA game at Ringgold High School.
Ed Thompson
Ringgold head coach Phil Pergola disagrees with a call and voices his displeasure to a referee during Tuesday蘑菇视频 Section 3-AAAA game against Uniontown at Ringgold High School.
CARROLL TWP. 鈥� In a game full of runs, it was Uniontown which made the last one to pull away late and pick up a 71-62 win in a Section 3-AAAA first-place showdown on Tuesday night at Ringgold.
鈥淵ou have to win on the road and I am glad we don鈥檛 have to come back here because it is never an easy place to play,鈥� said Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky. 鈥淲e have been very successful here the last few years, but Coach (Phil) Pergola and his staff did an excellent job and had their team prepared. We are happy to get out of here with a win.鈥�
Pergola was happy with how his team played, but also frustrated by missed opportunities.
鈥淚t was a good game and while we played well, we made too many mental mistakes,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 shoot well from the free-throw line, and when you only make seven out of 17 attempts, you won鈥檛 win close games.
鈥淎 few of those were front ends of one-and-ones late, but give Uniontown credit, as they are the first-place team for a reason.鈥�
Uniontown (3-0, 8-1) took control early as it raced to a 12-3 lead halfway through the first, but Ringgold (2-1, 7-3) caught fire and closed the quarter on a 16-4 run to take a 19-16 lead into the second.
The Rams took their biggest lead of the first half, 25-19, three minutes into the second, but the Red Raiders closed the half on a 16-4 run of their own to take a 35-29 lead into the break.
The Rams opened the second half on a yet another 16-4 run to take a 45-39 lead halfway through the third quarter, but Uniontown closed on an 11-7 spurt to trim Ringgold蘑菇视频 lead to 52-50 going into the fourth.
Ringgold was dealt a blow 14 seconds into the fourth when 6-3 forward Jordan Mayer fouled out and the Rams, who played without injured 6-6 forward Ben Lawrence, had to go small.
The teams fought back and forth throughout the fourth and Uniontown蘑菇视频 Bryant Grady hit a shot to give the Red Raiders the lead for good at 59-58 with 5:19 to play.
Two possessions later, Uniontown蘑菇视频 Billy DeShields found Jahmere Richardson on a fast break alley-oop with 4:29 to go to give the guests a 63-60 lead.
Uniontown hit eight of 12 free throws in the last two minutes to seal the win and to take control of the section.
鈥淭he difference was that we rebounded like we are capable of in the fourth,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淏ut I give credit to (Luke Wyvratt) and (Mayer) as they played well inside.鈥�
Richardson finished with a game-high 25 points for Uniontown while DeShields added 21 and Isaiah Melvin had 11.
Wyvratt controlled the paint at times and finished with a double-double for Ringgold with 24 points and 14 rebounds while Chris Peccon scored 18 and Demetrius Butler tallied 11.
Kezmarsky spoke highly of Peccon.
鈥淚 have so much respect for Chris and have known his family for a long time,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淢oving forward though, we will stay focused and keep improving.鈥�
Ringgold heads to Belle Vernon for a key section game Friday.
Uniontown returns home Friday when it hosts Elizabeth Forward in a section contest.