HUMBOLDT — Both Uniontown High teams found themselves on the short end of a pair of nail-biters Thursday.
On the girls’ side, the early season clash featured a pair of standout performances, one from Uniontown; the other from Erie High.
Uniontown’s Jacy Ermel and Erie’s Tiffany Dean each scored 28 points for their respective teams.
The game itself was just as close, as Erie outscored Uniontown 10-3 in overtime to register a 54-47 win in the second round of the Humboldt Preseason Tournament.
On the boys’ side, Erie eked out a 43-41 win over the Eagles.
The losses were the first of the season for both Uniontown’s girls and boys. Both stand at 2-1, although they have little time to mope. The return to Humboldt tonight to take on Crest in the final round of the round-robin tournament.
Despite the loss, Lady Eagle head coach Ken Holt said the game would prove beneficial.
“It was a really good ball game,” he said. “We struggled hitting our shots. Both teams played aggressive man defense.”
The game was nip and tuck throughout with the squads tied at 14-14 after one period, 26-26 at halftime and with Erie on top 36-34 after three. Uniontown knotted the score at 44-44 at the end of regulation.
The primary difference came in shooting. Erie shot a scorching 61 percent from the floor, including 4 of 5 from three-point range, while Uniontown hit at only a 29 percent clip. Both teams committed 25 turnovers.
Ermel also had 11 rebounds, three steals, three assists and three blocks. Breanna Esslinger and Hope Jurgenson each had three steals. Hayden Rathbun dished out four assists.
Katie Brungardt added 12 points for the Red Devils.
ON THE boys’ side, Eagle head coach Nathan Hinrichs said missed free throws proved to be the team’s downfall.
“We had plenty of chances to win this one, but made too many mistakes down the stretch,” Hinrichs said.
Uniontown missed 18 free throws in the contest.
Uniontown led 22-17 at the break before Erie rattled off a 13-4 run in the third quarter to lead 30-26. The game was back-and-forth from there.
Zach Travis paced the Eagles with 15 points, followed by Brenton Esslinger with 13. Ryan Ramsey added six points, Dakota Wiley, Robert Kuns and Max Labbe had two each and Tyler Hall scored one.
Cameron Gilligan scored 13 to lead the Red Devils.
Uniontown girls (14-12-8-10-3—47) (FG/3-pt): Shinn 0-0-1-0, Rathbun 2-0-4-4, Rockhold 0-0-1-0, Ermel 8-12-2-28, Coyan 0-0-1-0, Shook 2-0-3-4, Jurgenson 0-1-4-1, Harper 1/1-0-2-5, Esslinger 0/1-2-2-5. TOTALS: 13/2-15-20-47.
Erie girls (14-12-10-8-10—54) (FG/3-pt): Cleaver 3-0-5-6, Dean 9/2-4-1-28, Brungardt 2-2-2-1-12, Mitchell 1-1-3-3, Cornett 1-0-1-2, Oliphant 0-2-3-2, McGuire 0-1-2-1. TOTALS: 16/4-10-16-54.
