Red Raiders hold on for 59-55 win over visiting Avonworth
The Uniontown boys staved off a fourth quarter rally Tuesday night for a 59-55 victory over visiting Avonworth in the WPIAL Class AAAA third-place consolation game.
The victory means the Red Raiders (22-4) will host the third-place team out of District 10 in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs next Friday. Sharon and Grove City play Friday in the District 10 third-place consolation game.
“We wanted to be playing at home next Friday. We’d rather play at home in front of our fans. The kids deserved that,” said Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky. “We’re going to focus and get ready.”
“We’re excited. Our team plays better with time off. I’m not sure of many things, but If you look at us over the years, we are better rested.
“I’m tired right now. I’m sure our players are. We played our last game last year on March 23. Our kids started playing again the next week. It’s a long season.”
The Antelopes (17-9) didn’t go away quietly though, even with top scorer Rowan Carmichael not in uniform. Carmichael scored 32 and 33 points in the first two games of the WPIAL playoffs, but was held to six in last Saturday’s loss to Hampton.
Uniontown held a comfortable 10-point lead, 49-39, heading into the fourth quarter.
“We had a 10-point lead and they made some shots. Carmichael wasn’t out there. We didn’t have K’Adrian against North Catholic. We knew they had good players,” said Kezmarsky.
The Antelopes quickly cut into the deficit, slicing the lead to 49-45 with 6:52 left in the game after Noah Quinn’s 3-point play.
Jamire Braxton answered on the Red Raiders’ next possession with two of his game-high 29 points.
Avonworth’s Anthony Arlia came back with a field goal at 6:05. Arlia finished with 22 points.
Braxton pushed the lead to 53-47 with a pair of foul shots at 5:37.
Matthew Farrah made 1-of-2 foul shots at 3:57 to make the score 53-48, but Braxton converted a pair of foul shots for a 55-48 lead 30 seconds later.
Avonworth sliced the deficit to 57-53 with around a minute remaining when the Uniontown faithful got a scare when Braxton remained on the ground after a scramble under the Avonworth basket.
Braxton left the game and did not return.
Avonworth’s Zac Goldfain cut the score to 58-55 when he found an opening under the basket on an out-of-bounds play with 21 seconds remaining.
Jeremiah Hager gave Uniontown cushion with a foul shot at 14.7 seconds.
The Red Raiders took awhile to get rolling in the first quarter, but closed the opening eight minutes strong for an 18-12 lead.
“Both teams played in the semifinals Saturday and both teams played tough games. It’s very hard emotionally to come back,” said Kezmarsky. “They are a talented team. Their coach does a nice job. They’re a final four team.”
The teams both scored 12 points in the second quarter with Uniontown holding a 30-24 halftime lead. The Red Raiders extended their lead in the third quarter with a 19-15 advantage.
The Red Raiders had to deal with foul trouble Notorious Grooms, K’Adrian McLee, Calvin Winfrey III, Hager and Braxton in the second and third quarters, but the bench responded with quality minutes.
“We have good basketball players. Kelan (Milsom) is a sixth man. Isaac (Ellsworth) is a sixth man. Eric Townshend gave us some good minutes again,” said Kezmarsky, adding, “But, when we do get a couple fouls we have to stop getting that bad third foul.”
Winfrey scored 12 points and Milsom added 10.