Uniontown gets initial win in Section 3-AAA opener
DERRY – After dropping their first three exhibition games of the season, the Red Raiders picked the right time for their initial win of the young basketball season, knocking off Derry Area 62-46 Friday night in the Section 3-AAA opener for both teams. “This is the only game that counts so far and we’re 1-0 in the section,” Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. “This may not have been one of our better games, but we gutted out this win. We may have lost five starters and two key players off the bench from last year, but this is not a rebuilding year for us. We have confidence in this team and they found a way to win tonight.”
Uniontown (1-0, 1-3), Kezmarsky added, played without the services of a pair of starters, Marcus Thomas, who missed the game due to sickness, and Evan Arison, out with a hand injury.
Clinging to a precarious 28-26 lead at the half, Kezmarsky told his players, “This is our season. We can’t afford to lose an early section game,” and his Red Raiders responded, especially with a “stepped-up defense” in the fourth quarter when Uniontown outscored the host Trojans 17-6 to seal the win.
Uniontown forced the Trojans (0-4, 0-1) into a dozen first-quarter turnovers, 23 for the night.
Junior point guard Semori Wilson keyed the win with a game-high 29 points, including 21 in the second half.
“Semori is an excellent floor player,” Kezmarsky said. “He did an outstanding job and he will only get better.”
Wilson, who scored eight first-quarter points, was held scoreless in the second period, but led a Uniontown surge late in the third-quarter by scoring nine of Uniontown’s final 11 points in the period. He continued his spurt in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of Uniontown’s 17 points.
Wilson entered the game averaging 19 points per game and scored the Red Raiders’ first four points of the game on a driving lay-up and 15-foot jumper. In the final 2:23 of the third quarter, Wilson connected on a 15-footer from the right baseline, a three-pointer from the right corner and driving layup with five seconds remaining.
“I was worried about this game,” Kezmarsky said. “This was our fourth away game in eight days and our legs were tired in practice Thursday. At times we weren’t sharp tonight, but you have to give Derry credit. They never let up.”
Derry, which was 1-20, 0-12 in section play last year, took a three-point lead with 1:37 remaining in the second quarter before junior guard David Brooks came off the bench to score Uniontown’s final five points of the period.
Brooks connected with a three pointer from the left side and grabbed a long rebound at the foul line and made a jumper with two seconds left on the clock to give the Red Raiders their two-point halftime lead.
“David did an excellent job,” Kezmarsky said. “He works hard on his game and that paid off tonight.” Brooks took runner-up scoring honors for Uniontown with nine points.
Derry forged a tie at 40 with 58 seconds left in the third period before Wilson took control of the game. Uniontown led 45-40 after three quarters.
Derry was led by sophomore forward Zach Wisneski, who had 15 points, including eight in the second period and seven in the third.
Uniontown hosts Indiana in another section game Tuesday night.