Union Local Rallies Past Harrison Central
Jets overcome 9-point deficit
Trending
MORRISTOWN -- The third quarter hadn't been kind to Union Local in its first three outings. It was Tuesday night inside 'The Hangar.'
Andrew Martin scored 10 of his 15 points in the decisive period and Luke Merritt added eight as the Jets (2-2) evened their record with a 68-65 come-from-behind victory over visiting and short-handed Harrison Central in boys basketball action. The Huskies dressed just six players due COVID-related issues.
"Our third-quarter scoring had been our kryptonite so far," Union Local coach Zach Delman said after watching his squad rally from a 9-point deficit late in the first half and then outscore the Huskies 22-12 in the third panel. "We played bad against Bellaire. We played bad against St. Clairsville and we played bad against Barnesville. In the first two games, obviously, we weren't able to recover.
"Tonight we stressed at halftime that the game wasn't over," he said of a 34-27 deficit. "I told them it's three (defensive) stops and three buckets on offense and we're right back in it. We came out and scored 22 points."
The difference?
"Not that our kids are selfish, but we started to move the basketball better," Delman said. "We talked about passing up good shots to get great ones. There were a couple of possessions there where you couldn't have drawn it up any better."
He also said better outside shooting helped, as well.
"We were 1-for-12 in the first half from three-point range and we finished 6 of 25, so we made five of our last 13," he said. "That's much better than we did in the first half, and they were all in big moments."
None were bigger than Merritt's from the left wing that put the hosts ahead for good at 47-46. Then, following a late Harrison Central turnover, Martin beat the buzzer when he banked home an offensive rebound for a 49-46 reading.
The Jets used the free-throw line to their benefit in the fourth quarter as senior Liam Vinskovich, making his second straight start, led the way with a 5-for-7 performance. The team was 9-13 and 14-19 for the game.
"That's back-to-back big moments for Liam," Delman said. "That's big because when you have guys on your roster that you can count on, whether they are the sixth man of one of the five starters.
The sixth man is an extension of the starting lineup and you saw that tonight."
Union Local continued to play without Beezer Porter who opted not to play last week due to COVID-related precautions.
Merritt led a trio of double-figure scorers with 19. He was joined by Martin with 15, which was one more than Vinskovich. Zach Bateman and Nathan Meyer evenly divided 18. All are seniors who were playing on Senior Night.
Union Local led 59-50 before Harrison Central senior standout Kobe Mitchell led a furious comeback attempt. The Akron University signee scored nine points to pull the Huskies to within two, 64-62, with just over a minute to play. However, Merritt made a layup that sealed the deal.
"Kobe is unbelievable. You talk about the Ohio Valley greats that you've played against or watched, I think of Nate Davis and Dan Monteroso," Delman said of the Huskies' standout. "I think he is up there with them as the best I've seen in the last 20 years. He makes it look effortless."
Mitchell led all scorers with 40 points -- 20 in each half. He capped his night by sinking a three-point shot from three-quarters court as the final buzzer sounded. Sam Santille added eight. Mitchell also charted 10 rebounds and four steals.
"There's no excuses. They wanted it more than we did and they won the game because of it," Harrison Central coach Justin Clifford said. "It wasn't really our offense. They got every loose ball. They made every scrap play … they outscrapped us."
Buckeye Local 48
Martins Ferry 46
MARTINS FERRY -- Ethan McHugh hit the game-winning shot after an offensive putback as Buckeye Local defeated Martins Ferry.
Mason Brown led the way with 15 points for the Panthers.
Jaizen Miles led the Purple Riders with 18 points.
River 81, Bridgeport 65
HANNIBAL -- River knocked down six 3-pointers in the first quarter, rang up 50 points in the first half and defeated Bridgeport.
Sophomore point guard Brody Lollathin had 12 points and eight rebounds. Talented freshman Kabel Isa finished with 17 points.
Reese O'Kernik had 20 points to lead the way for the Bulldogs.
Barnesville 63, Buckeye Trail 46
BARNESVILLE -- Kason Powell scored 17 points while Colton Hines added 16 as Barnesville defeated Buckeye Trail.
Steubenville 63
Minerva 61
MINERVA -- Steubenville team held off a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Minerva.
Chase Zimmerman led Big Red (2-1) with 15 points. Brenton Jones scored 11 points.
Southern Local 40
Toronto 38
TORONTO --Jay Hanlin led Toronto with 12 points but it fell to Southern Local.