Uniontown earns title in Grant Street Basketball League
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Uniontown’s Billy DeShields drives to the basket while being defended by Malik Ramsey of Fayette’s Finest on Wednesday evening in the Grant Street Basketball League high school division final at Lafayette School.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Malik Ramsey of Fayette’s Finest puts up a shot in front of Uniontown’s Jahmere Richardson during Wednesday’s finale in the high school division of the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Uniontown's Ray Robinson fires a pass down court during Wednesday's game against Fayette's Finest in the high school division of the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Malik Ramsey of Fayette's Finest looks to go around a screen set by Junior Salauca on Uniontown's Billy DeShields during Wednesday's final of the high school division in the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Bronny James of Fayette’s Finest drives to the basket against APEX’s Demonte Kiss during the middle school division final in the Grant Street Basketball League on Wednesday at Lafayette School.
Rodney Gallagher of Fayette's Finest shoots over the outstretched arm of Uniontown's Isaiah Melvin during Wednesday's finale of the high school division in the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Fayette’s Finest won the middle school division of the Grant Street Basketball League with a 47-28 victory over APEX on Wednesday at Lafayette School.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Fayette’s Finest won the elementary division of the Grant Street Basketball League on Wednesday with a 25-12 win over Team Tuck at Lafayette School.
Ty Jordan-Egnot of Fayette's Finest guards Team Tuck's Jarell Braxton during Wednesday's finale in the elementary division of the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
The Champs won the adult division of the Grant Street Basketball League with a 56-53 victory over Dellarose Law on Wednesday at Lafayette School.
Dellarose Law's Tank Marshall is guarded by The Champs' Jajuan Davis during Wednesday's final in the adult division of the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Rodney Gallagher of Fayette's Finest works around a screen set by Shane Lyton during Wednesday's finale in the middle school division of the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Rodney Gallagher of Fayette's Finest passes while APEX's Nijah Hagens defends during Wednesday's game in the finals of the middle school division in the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Nate English of Fayette's Finest puts up a runner against Uniontown in the finals of the high school division in the Grant Street Basketball League on Wednesday at Lafayette School.
Uniontown's Jahmere Richardson goes up strong to the basket while being defended by Bronny James of Fayette's Finest during Wednesday's finale in the high school division of the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Bronny James of Fayette's Finest is guarded by APEX's Mason Bolish as referee Pat Lion observes the action during Wednesday's middle school division final in the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
APEX's Demonte Kiss drives to the basket while being guarded by Rodney Gallagher of Fayette's Finest during Wednesday's championship finale in the Grant Street Basketball League at Lafayette School.
Uniontown's Billy DeShields passes during Wednesday's game against Fayette's Finest in the Grant Street Basketball League final of the high school division at Lafayette School.
Uniontown defeated Fayette’s Finest, 52-44, in the Gerke High School Division championship game at the Grant Street League finals Wednesday night. Members of the team, pictured above with their championship shirts, were (from left) head coach Warare Gladman, assistant coach Ray Robinson Sr., Isaiah Melvin, Ray Robinson Jr., Jahmere Richardson, Bryant Grady and Billy DeShields.
Lafayette School has been the starting point for some of Uniontown’s best basketball players, and the current version of the Red Raiders played like their predecessors on Wednesday in winning the high school division of the Grant Street Basketball League at the junior high school where some of the best to wear maroon and white began their careers.
The league played every game at the famed Grant Street Playground, but due to inclement weather in the forecast and school being on the horizon, the finals were played indoors. WMBS radio broadcasted all four championship games.
Uniontown won its championship with a 52-44 victory over Fayette’s Finest in the Gerke High School Division. Fayette’s Finest topped APEX, 47-28, in the APEX Cleaning Middle School Division, and the Finest’s elementary team won the Coldwell Banker Laurel Ridge Realty Division with a 25-12 triumph over Team Tuck. The Champs finished up the season with a 56-53 win over Dellarose Law in the Maitri Medicinals Adult Division.
Uniontown came out strong in the first half and built up a 20-10 lead with 5:10 remaining. Coach Warare Gladman’s team pushed its advantage to 30-19 at halftime.
“We got off to a strong start and the kids maintained their composure throughout the whole game and didn’t get rattled,” Gladman said. “We made some big shots and had some key defensive stops. They executed a well-played gameplan from start to finish.”
The Red Raiders pushed their lead to 38-21 with 12:22 left on the strength of an 8-2 run that was capped off with an Isaiah Melvin dunk.
Fayette’s Finest rallied back with a 12-5 run to cut the deficit to 43-33 with 3:13 remaining.
The Finest, who are coached by former Uniontown star Dierre Jenkins, were within three (47-44) with 45 seconds left, but Billy DeShields, Ray Robinson Jr. and Melvin put the game away in converting on 5 of 6 free throws.
“We made some big free throws down the stretch to put the game away,” Gladman said.
Uniontown head coach Rob Kezmarsky was on hand as a spectator, and was pleased with the work his team, Gladman and Ray Robinson Sr. did this summer.
“It was a great way to end the summer for our kids and we couldn’t be more proud of what they accomplished,” Kezmarsky said. “They made a run there at the end, but our kids hung in there and got the win. We are happy with what the five kids on the floor did tonight. Coach Gladman, Coach Ray Robinson and the kids deserve credit for tonight’s game.”
DeShields was once again the catalyst for the Red Raiders offensively in scoring a game-high 23 points on six field goals, including three 3-pointers, and was 8 of 11 at the foul line. DeShields led Uniontown in not only scoring this summer, but has taken it upon himself to be a leader for his team.
“With all the seniors graduating I was the next guy up so I have to do my best to lead our team to victory,” DeShields said. “I was glad to make my foul shots because we haven’t been a very good free throw shooting team in the past so we keep working on it.”
DeShields and his team also had the opportunity to play against the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, Bronny, who despite being in eighth grade, played for the high school version of the Fayette’s Finest. James was joined by Rodney Gallagher and Jaeden Hammack in the high school championship game.
“I wish him (Bronny) the best of luck,” DeShields said. “Obviously, you know who he is, but when you start playing it’s just basketball and you really don’t think about it.”
Melvin had 11 points on four field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 1 of 2 at the line. Bryant Grady had seven points and Robinson added six.
Malik Ramsey led the Finest in scoring with 18 points on four field goals, including three 3-pointers, and was 7 of 8 from the line. Ramsey, who attends Laurel Highlands, enjoyed playing against his rivals from Uniontown despite the outcome. He credited Fayette’s Finest for his development as a basketball player.
“I have been playing for Fayette’s Finest all my life,” Ramsey said. “The Finest made me who I am today as a basketball player. We go everywhere during the summer and it is great to show that Fayette County has great basketball players. It was a very wild and intense game tonight, but it was fun and exciting.”
Ramsey believes the sky’s the limit for players like James and Gallagher.
“Bronny (James) is a good kid and teammate,” Ramsey said. “Rodney (Gallagher) and Bronny (James) are the two best eighth graders I have ever seen play basketball with my own two eyes.”
Ramsey’s Laurel Highlands teammate Junior Salauca had eight points on four field goals.
James scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half and Gallagher added seven of his 13 to give Fayette’s Finest a 23-13 lead at halftime in the middle school finale. The Finest held a 24-15 edge in the second half.
James connected on six field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 1 of 2 at the line, while Gallagher made five field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 1 for 1 at the line. Keondre DeShields added eight for the Finest.
APEX’s Jaeden Pratt scored 15 points on seven field goals, including one 3-pointer.
James, who is close friends with Gallagher, was an active member in the league and had much attention on him from the day he arrived in Uniontown. He was frequently asked to pose for pictures, and the 13-year-old did it without hesitation. James and Gallagher are members of the North Coast Blue Chips, who recently won the USBA National Championship.
Fayette’s Finest, who is run by John Smith, started off the night with a victory in the elementary division. The Finest held an 11-5 edge after the first half, and outscored Team Tuck, 14-7, in the second.
Ty Jordan-Egnot of Fayette’s Finest led all scorers with 10 points on five field goals. Teammate Jason Jackson had seven points on two field goals and was 3 of 4 at the line.
Team Tuck’s Bud Brooks had seven points on two field goals, including one three pointer, and was 3 of 6 at the line.
The Champs trailed at halftime, 31-29, but used a 27-22 second-half rally for a three-point victory.
CJ Gaddis led The Champs in scoring with 17 points on five field goals, including one 3-pointer, and was 6 of 7 at the line. Teammate Eric Johnson had 13 points on six field goals, and was 1 of 3 at the line.
Jajuan Davis, who also did the coaching for The Champs, had nine points on two field goals, including one 3-pointer, and was 4 of 4 at the line.
Dellarose Law’s Tank Marshall scored a game-high 19 points on eight field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 1 of 1 at the line. Teammate Tavian Mozie added 14 points on five field goals, including four 3-pointers. Melo Grooms had eight points.
The league’s top players will compete against the Budd Grebb Memorial Basketball League on Saturday at Mechanic Street Playground in California. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.