Martins Ferry’s Alivia Reese, right, pulls down a rebound as Union Local’s Ameera Saunders looks on during action from Thursday night’s game inside ‘The Hangar’ at Union Local High School. The Jets prevailed, 57-51.

MORRISTOWN – Thursday night’s girls’ basketball matchup between Eastern District powers Martins Ferry and Union Local may have been an early-season test, but it had all the makings of a postseason contest.

The host Jets (3-0) built a huge lead in the second quarter only to watch the Purple Riders (1-2) battle back to within two, but some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch allowed Union Local to hold on, 57-51, before a nice-sized turnout inside ‘The Hangar’ on the Union Local schools campus.

“It was a tough game between two good teams in the Eastern District who, along with West Muskingum and Tusky Valley, are the top four in the district,” veteran Union Local head coach Lou “Scooter” Tolzda said. “Tonight we were fortunate to come out on top, but we’ve got to go to their place in a couple of weeks.

“You want to play good teams. It’s not always going to be pretty, but we’re going to hang in there. It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take the ‘W.'”

Ameera Saunders powered the Jets to their early lead, which reached 17 points, 30-13, with 3:15 left before the half. The 6-0 junior knocked down all four of her three-point attempts and had an inside bucket for 14 points.

“She played like a (NCAA) Division I basketball player tonight,” Tolzda noted. “She is just learning how to play the game. Tonight she played really well.”

Martins Ferry head coach Dave Reasbeck agreed wholeheartedly.

“When we play Union Local, Saunders plays like a Division I player,” he said. “That’s two games in a row against us that she has played really good.”

However, Martins Ferry would make its move down 30-13. It outscored the Jets 10-4 in the final three minutes to pull to within 11, 34-23, at the break.

“We didn’t play hard when the game started. That wasn’t us,” Reasbeck said. “The last thing I want to do is scream in the lockerroom. People don’t like it, but I had to at halftime because we treated them like they were supposed to win the district this year.

“Then, in the second half we woke up and were one play away from tying it or going ahead,” he added.

Saunders and fellow ‘Twin Tower’ 6-0 senior Laken Vinskovich gave the hosts a 40-27 lead three minutes into the third quarter, but the Purple Riders had another rally in them as Alivia Reese caught fire. The 5-8 junior netted 11 of her career-high 19 points in the third panel as Martins Ferry trailed 43-40.

The Purple Riders got to within two, 51-49, when Giana Chirpas dropped in a pair of free throws with 63 ticks remaining.

Union Local connected on 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to pull away. Senior Delaney Butler sank two charity tosses after an intentional foul on Martins Ferry with 18 seconds showing. The Jets retained possession and Saunders knocked down the final two freebies.

Chirpas led Martins Ferry with 20 points. She completed her double-double with 10 rebounds. Maddie Lucas added eight points as just four Purple Riders reached the scorebook.

Saunders finished with a game-best 25 points while Vinskovich supported with 15. The duo also combined for 14 rebounds as Saunders led with eight. Myah Martin finished with nine points despite fouling out with two minutes left.

The two teams will meet on Dec. 22 inside Tolbert Gymnasium high atop the Purple City. They could possibly meet in the Eastern District final.

“Round One to them in their gym,” Reasbeck noted. “They gave us the knockout punch, we took it and got back up. Now we’ve got to get ready for Round Two, and possibly Round 3.”