Aug 3, 2016 By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read

CALIFORNIA — For the first time in three years, there will be a new match-up in the boys championship game in the J. Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League.

Defending champion Union Cleaners (10-1) is returning to the finals for the third straight year following its 75-52 win over Dairy Queen (4-7), but Farmers Insurance (8-3) fell short for the first time in three years as it lost to Northwood Realty (7-4), 75-61.

Leading 27-23 at halftime after a tightly-played first half, Union Cleaners exploded in the second half by outscoring Dairy Queen 48-29.

“We knew it would be a tough game and it was early,” Union Cleaners coach Walt Costello said. “But we got it going and now we are one step from our goal.”

Brownsville’s Tyler Coddington hit five three-pointers for Union Cleaners en route to his 19 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Belle Vernon Area’s Joey Sabolek also had a double-double as he scored 11 points and had 15 rebounds while Uniontown’s Reginald Grooms (13), Greensburg Central Catholic’s Alvin Ross (12), and Brownsville’s DeJour Thomas (11) each hit double figures as well.

California’s Ben Wilson (16) and Jelani Stafford (15) and West Greene’s Kolton Rush (14) hit double figured for Dairy Queen.

In the opener, Northwood Realty jumped out early on Farmers Insurance and cruised the rest of the way in its win.

Breaking from its norm from the regular season, Northwood Realty took the lead early and did not slow down as it led by as many as 23 points over Farmers Insurance in the first half and led 51-34 at halftime.

“All year, we have started slow, dug a hole, and had to climb back in it,” Northwood Realty coach Paul Stanley said. “We hit shots early and were playing good defense.”

Stanley could be heard stressing defense to his team from the bench throughout the game, and he reiterated the point afterwards.

“I kept telling them that defense creates transition and transition creates points,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep it going Thursday (in the championship game).”

Darton McIntire (Waynesburg) led Northwood with 24 points with Kass Taylor (California) adding 17 points and 13 rebounds, Beth-Center’s Brennan Stanley added 14 points, and Belle Vernon Area’s Griffin LaCarte added 13 points.

Farmers, who played without coach Dana Zajicek (vacation) and the league’s leading scorer in Matt Popeck (Washington), were paced by Ringgold’s Anthony Pampena (14 points), Charleroi’s Caleb Carson (13), and Brownsville’s Phillip Pace (13).

Union Cleaners and Northwood Realty will square off for the boys championship Thursday night at 9 p.m. and will follow the girls championship game at 7:30.

The girls finalists will be determined tonight.