Brothers-in-arms
Uniontown senior duo have had quite a run, but they want more
It seems like yesterday that Uniontown蘑菇视频 Notorious Grooms and Calvin Winfrey III were playing in the youth leagues at the YMCA and Grant Street Park.
The senior duo has accumulated 2,947 career points as they head into tonight蘑菇视频 game with Hampton in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
Grooms is currently at 1,599 points, which is second in program history behind Terrance Vaughns鈥� total of 1,721. Winfrey sits in fifth place with 1,348 points.
鈥淚t is pretty cool seeing our names up on the banner in our gym with all the other 1,000-point scorers,鈥� Winfrey said. 鈥淥ur assistant coach, Ray Robinson, is always reminding us that he scored 1,000 points in three years. We would talk about reaching that goal when we were growing up.鈥�
Grooms and Winfrey are cousins, however, they are like brothers on and off the basketball court.
鈥淚 am his big brother,鈥� said Grooms, who is a few months older than Winfrey. 鈥淲e have been playing basketball together since we were little kids. I would go over to his (Winfrey) house and we would go down to Grant Street Park and play all day long.鈥�
The pair also honed their skills at the YMCA while also playing in AAU tournaments before starting as freshmen for the Red Raiders.
The first season was tough by Uniontown standards, as the Red Raiders finished 14-9 with a setback in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.
鈥淲e were prepared for our freshman year, but at that time, the section was really good,鈥� Grooms said. 鈥淟H (Laurel Highlands) had all those good guys, and the teams were older than us.鈥�
Uniontown had its coming out party when Grooms and Winfrey were sophomores, as they qualified for the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Lincoln Park. The Red Raiders finished the season with a record of 23-6. The team also defeated the Mustangs, which featured Rodney Gallagher and Keondre DeShields.
鈥淲e were always confident in our abilities, but being able to beat LH really added to our confidence,鈥� Grooms said. 鈥淲hen that happened, we knew we could play with anyone.鈥�
Uniontown was 23-5 last year with two losses coming at the hands of eventual WPIAL and PIAA champion Lincoln Park. The Red Raiders gave the Leopards battles in each game, as they lost 74-63 in the WPIAL semifinals and 66-62 in the second round of the state tournament.
鈥淲e played Lincoln Park tough, but those are two games we felt we should have won,鈥� Grooms said. 鈥淲e hope to be able to get over the hump and win a championship this year.鈥�
Uniontown is 19-3 this season and seeded third in Class 5A.
That蘑菇视频 a combined record of 79-23 during the duo蘑菇视频 time with the team, including a sparkling 65-14 over the last three years.
Rob Kezmarsky has known Grooms and Winfrey since they were young, and has enjoyed the ride.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e very demanding of their teammates and great role models,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淭he younger kids see that they鈥檙e the last ones to leave the court every time. They鈥檙e two of the best guards in the WPIAL.
鈥淚鈥檓 closer to them than any two players I鈥檝e ever had. I consider them part of my family. They鈥檙e two of the best guards in the WPIAL.鈥�
Grooms and Winfrey are members of the National Honor Society. They have yet to choose a college, but would like to continue playing sports. Although not recognized as much for their prowess on the gridiron, the two have several offers for football.
Grooms and Winfrey both stated they consider themselves athletes rather than basketball or football players, and will do whatever is best for themselves and their families.
蘑菇视频 sports editor Rob Burchianti contributed to this story.