Red Raiders as good as advertised in season debut
To be part of the Uniontown boys basketball program is an honor for anyone who has played for the Red Raiders over the last century.
But with that honor comes expectation, and this year’s squad is no different.
However, the lofty goals that are set for the program might be a tad higher this year with four returning starters on a team that made it to the state semifinals last season.
Uniontown’s season debut surely dropped some jaws as the Red Raiders cruised to a 97-40 victory over Washington on Monday in non-section play at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
The Red Raiders didn’t suffer from any first-game jitters, as Uniontown had a 24-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back against a Prexies team that is traditionally one of the better teams in Class AAA.
“We watched Wash High play this weekend, and they had two close games with Canon-McMillan and Trinity, and we have played some great games with Washington over the years,” Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. “We shot the ball really well, and when the kids are trying to get into the gym at 4 for a 7:30 game, it shows how excited they are to play.”
Washington coach Ryan Bunting said he wanted his team to play against a top-level squad like Uniontown, but the way his team lost troubled the second-year coach.
“We were soft tonight,” Bunting said. “They were more aggressive and deserved to win. The way we played is not in our DNA.”
Washington fell to 0-3, with its other losses coming to Class AAAAAA Canon-McMillan in a buzzer beater and to Class AAAAA Trinity.
“We are going to find out who’s made of what and some people’s character,” Bunting said. “We tested ourselves against a good team like this tonight, and it’s a matter of guys wanting to keep working to get better.”
The Red Raiders had a 14-4 lead with 3:12 left in the first quarter, and Notorious Grooms led the way with 3 three-pointers for nine of his game-high 27 points. Grooms had seven of Uniontown’s 12 three-pointers, and also made three two-point field goals.
The Red Raiders outscored the Prexies, 38-11, in the second quarter for a 62-19 halftime advantage.
Uniontown’s Calvin Winfrey III scored 22 points on nine field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 2 of 4 at the line. Winfrey scored 20 of his points in the first half, as the Red Raiders unloaded their bench in the second half.
“I was happy that we got 10 players in, and they were very unselfish, passing the ball to each other,” Kezmarsky said. “I thought K’Adrian (McLee) did a good job on their big guy (De’Ondre Daugherty).”
Jamire Braxton scored 12 points for the home team, including a one-handed slam that brought the home crowd to its feet in the first quarter. Kelan Milsom and Isaac Ellsworth scored 10 points apiece for Uniontown.
The Prexies were led in scoring by Ruben Gordon, who had 19 points on seven field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 2 of 5 at the line. Gordon had three dunks, but they didn’t carry the same excitement as Braxton’s slam with Washington being on the road.
The Prexies will continue their tour of facing teams in higher classification when they travel to Class AAAA Elizabeth Forward on Friday before a trip to another Class AAAA squad in South Allegheny next Tuesday.
Wash High opens section play at McGuffey on Dec. 15. The Prexies’ first home game is scheduled for Dec. 19 against Charleroi.
The Red Raiders played at Connellsville on Tuesday night before traveling to Thomas Jefferson on Friday in non-section play.