TOs, poor play cost Red Raiders in 71-57 loss
Holly Tonini
Uniontown’s Jordan Pratt (10) makes a move around Chartiers Valley’s Joe Antonucci (24) and Kyle Westover (25) during Tuesday’s WPIAL Class AAA boys semifinal playoff game at Baldwin High School.
Uniontown's Lyric Ellis (1) goes high to take a shot from between Chartiers Valley's Matty McConnell (23) and Joe Antonucci during Tuesday's WPIAL Class AAA boys semifinal playoff game at Baldwin High School.
Holly Tonini
Uniontown’s Jeremy Perkin’s takes a shot over Chartiers Valley’s Joe Antonucci (24) during the WPIAL Class AAA boys semifinal playoff game played on Feb. 25 at Baldwin High School.
Uniontown's Xavier Ellis (5) and Chartier Valley's Joe Antonucci fight for a rebound during Tuesday's WPIAL Class AAA boys semifinal playoff game played at Baldwin High School.
WHITEHALL — Uniontown picked the worst possible time to play poorly.
The Red Raiders had 13 turnovers and Chartiers Valley stuck with Uniontown on the boards in the Colts’ 71-57 win in the WPIAL boys basketball Class AAA semifinals Tuesday night at Baldwin High School.
“We hung with them for a while, but we really didn’t play very well on offense or defense,” Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. “But, I’m still very proud of this team. We worked all year to earn a No. 2 seed, where we wouldn’t have to meet them until the we got to Palumbo. It didn’t work out that way, but you still have to play your best when you are playing the best team. Tonight, we didn’t do that.”
The difference really came down to a pair of Chartiers Valley runs, one in the third quarter and the other to start the fourth.
Uniontown trailed, 30-29 when the Colts scored eight in a row to grab a 38-29 lead midway through the third quarter and Eddie Flohr nailed a three-pointer at the end of the third to put the Colts ahead, 43-34. Flohr struck again to open the fourth to ignite a 7-2 run that put Uniontown behind the 8-Ball, 50-36.
“That’s what they do,” Kezmarsky said of CV’s runs. “Unfortunately, we didn’t take advantage when Matty McDonnell was in foul trouble.”
From there, it was a steady parade to the foul line for CV guard Jerrad Tuite, who made 12 of 16 fourth-quarter free throws to seal the win.
“If we’re going to trade two foul shots for a basket every time, I like my chances,” CV coach Tim McConnell said. “He’s been a very good foul shooter for us.”
Matty McConnell drew his third foul with 6:35 remaining in the second quarter, but the Raiders didn’t take advantage.
McConnell didn’t draw another foul and finished with 10 points, while Tuite paced Chartiers Valley with 28 and Flohr added 15.
“Flohr made some big shots for them tonight,” Kezmarsky said. “And Tuite made a point of getting to the foul line.”
Jordan Pratt and Lyric Ellis paced Uniontown with 15 points, while Xavier Ellis added 14. The Red Raiders lost junior forward Joe Campbell to an ankle sprain with 5:09 remaining in the game. Campbell scored five points and pulled in eight rebounds. Jeremy Perkins had six points and seven rebounds.
But, Chartiers Valley rebounded better than anybody against the Red Raiders, with McConnell getting 10 boards.
“We just hope Joe will be OK because we’re going to need him a week from Friday, when we open state play,” Kezmarsky said. “We just want to get to that tournament and win as many games as we can.”
The Red Raiders will go into the PIAA Tournament a week from Friday as either the third or fourth seed out of the WPIAL. They’ll take today off and practice Thursday and Friday before getting back into their routine next week.
“I think it’s kind of ironic that both teams that beat us (Chartiers Valley and Monessen) are both playing for a WPIAL championship on Friday,” Kezmarsky said. “But our kids proved that they can win in the playoffs. We just didn’t have a very good game tonight. Hopefully, these playoff wins will help them in the states and next year. Our focus now is to regroup from this and get ready for next week.”