McKEES ROCKS – A well-recognized foe halted the WPIAL Union Excessive boys basketball staff's postseason run on Saturday.
The fifth-seeded Scotties fell to top-seeded Imani Christian, 101-67, within the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals at Montour Excessive College. Final season, the 2 groups met within the WPIAL 1A championship, the place Union completed with silver. The Saints then ended the Scotties preseason within the nationwide semifinals.
“We jumped out to a 10-2 lead, obtained them off to a very good begin and had been down by eleven at halftime. You simply maintain coming. They’re very gifted,” Union coach Mark Stanley mentioned of the loss. “We performed the primary half very nicely. I used to be pleased with the best way we performed. We performed nicely the entire match. That's not a traditional staff we've performed.”
Union will compete for third place towards Rochester.
“Now you're within the state playoffs. You're simply enjoying for the raid,” Stanley mentioned. “We have now a protracted break, now we have to go to Rochester, play and compete. It's the distinction between a 3 and a 4. In case you are 4, you journey. In the event you're three, you're enjoying Farrell. We at all times take pleasure in enjoying towards Rochester.”
After occurring a 10-2 run on Imani, the Saints had been in a position to tie the sport at 17 heading into the second quarter. Imani turned issues round within the second quarter, including 24 factors to the Scotties' 13.
Stanley mentioned there was speak at halftime of making an attempt to shut the hole on an 11-point lead held by Imani Christian. Lucas Stanley led the Union with a game-high 37 factors and 11 boards.
“He shot it nicely,” Coach Stanley mentioned of his son. “He was getting some deep 3s and getting some scores across the rim. He shot it. He is ready to rating the basketball. The threes went down and it opened it up slightly bit.”
Stanley hit seven 3-pointers within the recreation. Union's Braylon Thomas produced 12 rebounds and eight factors for his staff.
Imani's second half proved higher than the primary because the staff scored a mixed 60 factors, 30 every within the third and fourth quarters, whereas the Union netted a complete of 37 factors within the second half of the sport.
“They obtained a surge and went up by 20 going into the fourth,” Coach Stanley mentioned. “At that time, you simply fall down and maintain enjoying.
