Dec 12, 2012 By Kevin Harrison for The 3 min read

Team speed has a way of making some teams change their style of play in an effort to keep up the pace. That was the case when Belle Vernon visited Uniontown, Tuesday night for a non-section game.

The Red Raiders swarming defensive pressure and offensive rebounding gave the Red Raiders an 83-57 win to run their record to 3-0.

Uniontown spread the offense around with five players finishing in double figures. Jordan Pratt scored a game high 23 points to lead Uniontown getting 20 of those in the first half. Behind Pratt, Xavier Ellis finished with 12, while Josh Linnen, Jeremy Perkins and Joe Campbell scored 10 apiece.

The Leopards (0-3) put together some good moments during the game but had only one player reach double figures with Jason Capeo leading the Leopards with 20 points.

“We have a great group of kids but sometimes we rely on the outside shot too much,” Uniontown’s Rob Kezmarsky said. “Our game is not let teams set back in a zone. When we spread the floor and attack the basket we can make some things happen.”

Uniontown edged out to a 19-11 lead in the first quarter behind 11 points from Pratt who dropped in two three-pointers. The Red Raiders broke a 5-all tie going on a 10-2 run on a basket from Campbell, a three from Pratt, a basket from Drehar Winfrey and three free throws from Pratt to take a 15-7 lead.

Pratt continued his hot hand in the second period scoring nine points on a trey, two baskets and two free throws. Uniontown outscored the Leopards 21-14 in the second to open up a 40-25 lead at the half.

Belle Vernon appeared to have pulled themselves together in the third period, making a better transition to defense and forcing the Red Raiders to commit several turnovers. They got six points each from Capeo and Cody Menges.

Uniontown countered with Linnen knifing his way to the basket for six and Ellis scoring six. Belle Vernon outscored Uniontown in the period 19-18, but Uniontown took a 58-44 lead into the fourth.

“I thought we played well in the third quarter, and eventually closed to within ten points,” Belle Vernon’s Eric James said. “Turnovers and missed shots hurt us tonight. Also, we did not rebound well defensively. We cannot give a team like Uniontown two and three shots at the basket. We’ve got to work to improve those areas. I think

“If we do and stay within ourselves we can stay with teams like Uniontown.”

The Leopards opened the fourth period on consecutive baskets by Menges and Capeo to cut the Uniontown lead to ten making the score 58-48. The Red Raiders answered that challenge with an 11-3 run to open up a 69-51 lead. From that point the Red Raiders continued to step on the gas outscoring the Leopards 25-13 to close out the night.

“I told the kids we have to play with more confidence and we have to play hard for four quarters. I think some of our younger kids are starting to realize what it’s going to take to win ballgames,” Kezmarsky said. “I think if we can continue to do that we’ll have a chance to be successful.”