Red Raiders knock off Ambridge in battle of 4-A powers
Uniontown had a chance to gauge itself against another highly-ranked Class 4-A boys basketball team on Sunday and passed that test with flying colors.
The Red Raiders raced out to a 16-point lead in the third quarter and held off a late push by Ambridge to defeat the Bridgers, 56-52, in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame Classic at Montour High School.
The event had a sense of gloom over it when word spread of the death of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash earlier that day, according to Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky.
鈥淭hey had a moment of silence before the game, which I thought was a nice gesture by them,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淲ith social media now, word of something like that spreads fast. Our players are huge NBA fans. They were shocked. At first I was hoping it wasn鈥檛 true. But, unfortunately, it was.鈥�
When the game commenced, it was Jahmere Richardson who led the way for Uniontown with 17 points as Kezmarsky蘑菇视频 squad improved to 15-1. Freshman Keondre DeShields followed with 13 points and his senior brother Billy DeShields added 10 points before fouling out late in the game.
Isaiah Thomas scored a game-high 20 points for Ambridge (10-5).
The Bridgers鈥� strong inside duo of 6-7 Liam Buck and 6-8 Enire Bowens, who are both averaging a double-double for the season, scored 15 and 14 points but it wasn鈥檛 enough to overcome the talented Red Raiders. Those two and Thomas, who is 6-6, were all taller than any player on Uniontown蘑菇视频 roster.
鈥淭heir height creates a lot of problems,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淲e played more zone (Sunday) than we played all year.鈥�
The Red Raiders never trailed as Richardson began the scoring with a 3-pointer and Billy DeShields followed with a basket for a 5-0 lead.
After Buck got the Bridgers on the board, Billy DeShields scored again and Ray Robinson hit a 3-pointer for a 10-2 advantage. The Red Raiders went on to lead 13-6 after the first period, extended the margin to 27-17 by halftime and went up 33-17 after Billy DeShields sank a 3-pointer from the corner early in the third.
Bowens scored his first two baskets of the game to make it 33-21 but Uniontown still held a 39-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Ambridge made a late push when Thomas hit consecutive 3-pointers to cut the lead to five in the final minute and Buck added a free throw with 1.7 seconds left, but the Red Raiders were never in any real danger of losing.
鈥淲e got a little sloppy there at the end but I felt we had complete control of the game,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淚t was a quality win.鈥�
Robinson contributed eight points for Uniontown and Isaiah Melvin chipped in with seven. Demar Lewis gave the Red Raiders some valuable minutes off the bench.
鈥淚n the second quarter, Billy had a couple fouls, Isaiah had to go out of the game with a cut on his head,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淒emar came in and gave us a nice spark and some great minutes. Demar had a great game.
鈥淛avon Davis gave us some good minutes, too. Bryant Grady deserves credit, too. He picked up some fouls but he battled those bigger guys inside very well for us.鈥�
Uniontown has already wrapped up the program蘑菇视频 69th playoff appearance and can clinch its 49th section title with a win over visiting Ringgold on Tuesday night, then hosts crosstown rival Laurel Highlands on Wednesday. The latter will be the Red Raiders鈥� seventh game in 12 days.
Kezmarsky took a moment to reflect on the death of Bryant afterwards.
鈥淭he one thing that sticks out to me first was Mr. (Dan) Andria and I watched him play in the state championship game when he was in high school at Lower Merion,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 when I first got to see him play. Everyone talked about him right there. Then a year later we were watching him play for the Lakers.
鈥淭o see that basketball bond between him and his daughter 鈥� it蘑菇视频 really just a terrible tragedy, not only for Kobe and Gianna but for all the other people on that helicopter. That just shows you that life蘑菇视频 precious and you should try to enjoy every second of it.鈥�