MORRISTOWN – Trailing by seven points with a little more than two minutes left to play Tuesday night, Union Local reeled off the final nine points to end 2025 with a 58-56 victory inside ‘The Hangar’ against visiting John Marshall.

“We needed that (win),” Union Local head coach Zach Delman said. “The kids have been working hard in practice and we’ve been stressing to our guys that they have to stay the course, we’ve got to stay all-in and locked together.

“We were coming off a couple of tough losses to St. Clairsville and the heart-breaker against Brooke where we didn’t play well,” Delman added. “I thought we played pretty decent in the first half, but the ball just wasn’t dropping. We told the kids to stay the course, the shots will start falling, and they did.”

Down seven with the Monarchs (3-3) shooting fall shots, things didn’t look good for the Jets (4-5).

“We could’ve been dead in the water right there, but credit to the kids for making winning plays down the stretch at crunch time,” Delman noted. “It wasn’t just one guy. Brody Gregor got on the floor for a loose ball and we were able to call timeout. Bobby Boone comes in off the bench and takes a charging foul in our pressure defense. Just big play after big play.”

Down 56-49, Gregor knocked down a three from the top of the key. Following the first of several John Marshall miscues down the stretch, Gregor banged another trifecta from the same spot to make it 56-55 with 65 ticks remaining.

After a Union Local timeout, John Marshall inbounded the ball in the corner, but was called for an offensive foul trying to get through a double team.

Brody Kerns, who led Union Local with 22 points, scored on a strong move to the basket as the Jets took a 57-56 lead with 0:45 showing.

On John Marshall’s ensuing trip downcourt, Preston Watkins’ runner rolled around the rim and out and Union Local was fouled on the rebound. However, both shots clanked off the rim, but a jump ball situation occurred with the arrow pointed in John Marshall’s favor.

Another miss and jump ball situation gave Union Local the ball. Bam Porter missed the front end of a two-shot foul with 2.5 ticks left, but made the second for a 58-56 reading.

John Marshall’s length-of-the-court pass was intercepted by Gregor as the final buzzer sounded.

“We started off slow and Union Local played really well at the start. Hat’s off to them,” John Marshall head coach Michael Thomas said. “They ran their offense to perfection and we weren’t switching, not communicating and they took advantage of that.

“This is year 2 in trying to build a program,” Thomas continued. “We’re still learning … taking baby steps in trying to teach the kids how to win. Things will get better as the season goes along. We’re still missing two guys, but it’s a good experience for everybody.”

Thomas was referring to Kayden Knapp and Sincear Saunders-Paige.

“I expect both of them back Saturday when we play Preston,” Thomas said.

Porter supported Kerns with 17 points while Gregor added 13.

Watkins led all scorers with 24 points while Jackson Helms and Preston Snyder had 13 each.

Kerns, who was 11 of 12 from the floor, also grabbed game honors with eight rebounds. Gregor charted seven assists and six boards, while Porter dished out five assists.

Helms, Snyder and Briar Cork all had five rebounds each for JM.

Union Local hosts Barnesville Saturday for the Milk Trophy.