Stealing the show
The 81st boys basketball meeting between Laurel Highlands and Uniontown turned into Junior Mays’ personal showcase. The Red Raider senior did it all, including pour in a game-high 33 points, as Uniontown defeated the host Mustangs, 82-74, at a noisy, jam-packed Harold “Horse” Taylor Memorial Gymnasium Monday night.
Whether he was swarming the boards, coming up with steals or dishing out assists, Mays caught the attention of both coaches with more than just his scoring.
“Junior is a great kid and a great all-around player,” Red Raiders coach Rob Kezmarsky said. “He’s an outstanding scorer, but sometimes his rebounding gets over-shadowed. When the ball is in the air, we know that Junior is going to find a way to come down with it most of the time.”
“There’s not one thing you can take away from his ability,” Mustang coach Mark John said. “He can hurt you in so many different ways. He’s got a quick first step, he’s a great offensive rebounder, he can step back and hit the three, he can see the open guy. He has great vision on the court.”
Mays dropped in 14 field goals, including one 3-pointer, and was four of six from the foul line.
“Coach Zelich said if we could hold him around 20 points, that would be key,” John said, referring to LH assistant coach Ed Zelich. “But we couldn’t do it.”
The fact the cross-town rivals are no longer in the same section meant little to Mays.
“It’s great to win here,” Mays said. “That’s something we talk about all year around – how we’re going to do against Laurel Highlands. It’s like a state championship game for us. I get up for every game, but we always get up that much more when we’re playing LH.”
While Mays stole the spotlight, it was far from a one-man show for the Red Raiders (10-1).
Reese Hodge scored 18 points and was strong on the boards, Lou Allen tallied 10 points, and Paul Gmutza came off the bench to also drop in 10.
“I was really pleased with the way Reese played,” Kezmarsky said. “And Paul came in and played well, too. He’s a kid with a great attitude, and he hit some big hoops for us tonight.
“I’m proud of all our players. They stepped up in a hostile environment. It’s a great atmosphere. This is the kind of game that helps you down the line.”
The Mustangs (7-3) put five players in double digits, but it wasn’t enough against the swarming Red Raiders, who controlled the boards at both ends.
J.T. Stefanik led the way for LH with 17 points and six rebounds, and also had three assists. Andre Ramsey hit four 3-pointers, all at key times to keep the Mustangs in the game, on his way to a 16-point game, and dished out five assists.
“Andre Ramsey, in my opinion, is one of the better players in the WPIAL, but a lot of people don’t realize that because he doesn’t always score a lot,” Kezmarsky said.
Corey Nesser, in his first game back after suffering an ankle injury on Dec. 12, contributed 13 points, six assists and two steals for LH. Tim Hirsch added 10 points, as did Chris Sampson, who also nailed a pair of treys in coming off the bench. Kenny Riddell totaled eight points and four assists.
The first period was the most entertaining as both teams went at each other with a passion. There were three ties and six lead changes in the opening frame.
Stefanik broke a 19-19 deadlock by making one of two free throws with 14 seconds left, but Allen’s follow of a missed shot in the final seconds put Uniontown up to stay, 21-20.
The turning point of the game came midway through the second period when Hodge, Allen and Eric Johnson sparked a seven-point run to put the Red Raiders up 34-24.
It was an uphill battle for the Mustangs after that, although they ascended up that incline several times without getting over the top.
Laurel Highlands closed the half with a 10-4 run, including a three-point play by Nesser and a 3-pointer by Ramsey to make it 38-34 at halftime.
The Mustangs pulled to within two twice early in the third period on buckets by Riddell and Hirsch, but could get no closer.
Uniontown led 60-51 after three periods and pushed the gap up to 15 when consecutive baskets by Mays, Gmutza and Hodge made it 74-59 with four minutes remaining.
Laurel Highlands refused to cave in and came storming back. A three-point play by Stefanik and another trey by Ramsey made it 76-69 with 1:09 left, but the Red Raiders hung on for the victory.
“That’s the personality of this team,” John said. “Throughout their careers, they’ve always had that run in them to get back into games.
“We just came up short tonight. Uniontown out-scraped us to loose balls and we didn’t give good help on defense. We didn’t do the fundamental things you have to do against a quality opponent like Uniontown.”
Uniontown leads the all-time series 48-33.