South Park outlasts Uniontown, 39-29
Shelby Lindsay handled the “early shift” and Breanne Raymond took care of the “late shift” to lead South Park to a 39-29 win over Uniontown in the Fayette County Coaches girls’ basketball tournament action Wednesday at Laurel Highlands. Lindsay scored nine of her 13 points in the first half, and Raymond scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter to rally South Park from a six-point deficit in the final eight minutes.
Both teams struggled throughout the first three quarters, as neither posted a double-digit period until the Lady Eagles outscored Uniontown 20-7 in the final quarter.
Lindsey’s six first-quarter points more than offset a free throw by Danasha Harris, as South Park (5-2) took a 6-1 lead.
Uniontown (4-3, 0-2) responded with a 12-point run that carried into the second quarter. Kelsey Sleighter, Lydya Dennis, and Jessy Madison scored baskets to give the Lady Raiders a 7-6 first-quarter lead before Renee Slavic, Dennis, and Sleighter scored baskets to open the second quarter to extend the lead to 13-6.
Raymond scored once and Halie Torris added two baskets, as South Park cut the lead to 13-12 at halftime.
South Park outscored Uniontown 7-3 to start the second half behind three points by Lindsay and two free throws by Raymond.
But Slavic’s foul shot, Harris’s rebound basket and Madison’s basket gave Uniontown a 22-19 lead after 24 minutes.
Sleighter started the fourth quarter with the game’s only 3-point basket to extend the lead to 25-19.
From that point on, South Park outscored Uniontown 20-4. Raymond scored seven points on a run that gave SP a 28-26 edge.
Minutes later, Harris’s free throw and two foul shots by Sleighter cut the lead to 30-29.
South Park sealed the win by making seven of eight free throws down the stretch to go with a basket by Torris.
Uniontown coach Jason Winfrey and South Park coach Regg Wells attributed the low score to cold shooting and good defense.
“I know (Uniontown) has different players from last year,” Wells said, “but I’m sure they’ll be in the playoffs again. Both teams missed a lot of shots, but both teams played good defense. We got a win and there’s no way I’m going to be upset about it.”
Winfrey said the Lady Raiders had trouble with South Park’s zone defense. “We missed a lot of shots. South Park stayed with it. Other than that, there wasn’t a lot to say.
“The effort was there but the shots just did not fall. Those things happen in the game of basketball.”
Sleighter led Uniontown with 12 points.
The action continues today with South Park playing Laurel Highlands at 2:30 p.m. and Uniontown facing Upper St. Clair at 6.