Dec 31, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 5 min read

Uniontown and Laurel Highlands have engaged in some classic basketball battles over the years, but none to surpass last night’s renewal of the old series. There have been some big games between the two old rivals, some really outstanding battles, but for sheer nail-biting tenseness, there may have been some to equal last night’s game, but none to surpass it.

Uniontown and host Laurel Highlands battled from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer, through 10 ties and 18 changes in the lead before Uniontown went ahead to stay in the final two minutes to win, 94-91.

Uniontown called time with 3:55 left in the game, and when play resumed Paul Gmutza drove in for a Raider layup with a pass from Lou Allen. That gave the Raiders a nine-point edge, 88-79. But here came the Mustangs in full gallop, running a nine-point chain on Ken Riddell’s rebound goal, Paul Briczinski’s one-of-two showing on the line, Riddell’s long 3-pointer, and Brian John’s three from NBA range for an 88-88 tie with 2:21 left to play.

Then Junior Mays, who would lead the Raiders and the game in scoring, turned playmaker and handed off to Kelvin Brown and Allen for layups to put Uniontown (7-2) back into the lead 92-88. Corey Nesser made one of two on the line for Laurel Highlands (5-7), and Mays closed Raider scoring with a layin at :23, before Riddell ended LH and game scoring.

It was only fitting that Mays should close Uniontown scoring, for with that goal he gave the Red Raiders their final edge and completed a game-high 38 for him.

Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said of his team’s win, “This is a big win for our players, for maybe now they will start believing in themselves like I believe in them. We had a real good workout last Monday and got ourselves reorganized to playing us a unit.

“Laurel Highlands played a great game, and you could say that some good boys won and some good boys didn’t. Corey Nesser was outstanding for them, a real competitor, and Mays and Brandon Duncan were big players for us. Brandon did a fine job setting everybody up.”

But one big point still remains for the Raiders to work on, Kezmarsky adding, “We have a lot to work on, such as boxing out, and we will be working at that tomorrow. We were getting fouls underneath, and that can really hurt you in that respect, so we will work on that, too.”

Laurel Highlands coach Mark John said, “The big thing about this game was the sportsmanship shown by both sides. This was a great game for both teams.

“But for us to challenge for section honors, we have to shore up defensively, work on the fundamental things. When you score 91 and lose by three, that means some work is needed on defensive fundamentals and that is what we are going to continue to be working a lot on from here on out. You have to know what to do and then do it.

“Our inside guys did well and the guards did a fine job getting the ball in to them. Overall, we got after each other all the way, but they had three more at the end. The officials called a good game considering the pace at which we played.”

Duncan led the Raiders to a 23-21 edge in the first period with 12 of his game total of 20, and Nesser had nine for the Mustangs. Moving into the second, Mays started to hit his stride, with 18 of the 30 total, including two bonus baskets, as the Raiders kept their lead by five, 53-48. Nesser was hot on the foul line, sinking nine to lead the Mustangs in scoring, and Riddell had seven.

Uniontown added a point to its lead after three, 72-66, with Mays having nine. Briczinski led LH with five.

Play was close through the third, with LH coming back to get a 53-53 tie on Briczinski’s basket-foul, and John’s two free ones. Duncan put Uniontown up again with a close in goal, but Andre Ramsey hit a long three for a 56-55 Mustang lead. Duncan got a rebound goal and Mays went up the lane for a layin and a 59-56 Red Raider lead. Briczinski hit with a rebound, but Uniontown countered with Mays from the corner and a tip- in by Brown for a 63-58 edge. Laurel Highlands would get within three, 63-60 and 65-62, but Uniontown still had the lead after three, 72-66.

Nesser hit two fouls to open the fourth, then Uniontown spurted to the biggest lead of the game, 77-68, on Brown’s free one, Mays’ baseline drive and Brown’s bucket with a rebound. Briczinski brought the Mustangs back within four, 77-73, on a layin and a free throw when he was fouled as he scored, and added another layin. Mays hit a three, before Briczinski hit a layin to leave the Mustangs down 80-75.

Duncan and Reese Hodge restored the Raider lead to nine, 84-75, before Riddell and Briczinski scored again, around two Gmutza layins, as Uniontown led 88-79, and the stage was set for the last flurry by LH.

Along with Mays’ 38, Duncan had 20 and Brown 13. LH was balanced with Briczinski, Riddell, and Nesser all scoring 22 and John 12.