ëƵ

close

GAME OF THE WEEK: Red Raiders suffer heartbreaking loss to Cougars

By Jonathan Guth Jguth@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
1 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Billy DeShields leaves his feet before attempting a pass against the defense of BlackhawkëƵs Ryan Heckathorn in SaturdayëƵs playoff game in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan High School. DeShields, a senior, scored a team-high 15 points, but the Red Raiders lost in overtime to the Cougars, 69-63.

2 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Ray Robinson drives to the basket as BlackhawkëƵs Ryan Heckathorn defends in SaturdayëƵs WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal playoff game at Canon-McMilllan High School.

3 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Bryant Grady is guarded by BlackhawkëƵs James Darno in SaturdayëƵs playoff game at Canon-McMillan High School.

4 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Jahmere Richardson takes a jump shot as BlackhawkëƵs Ryan McClymonds gets a hand up in SaturdayëƵs playoff game in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan High School.

5 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Keondre DeShields takes a runner as BlackhawkëƵs Ryan Heckathorn puts a hand up during SaturdayëƵs playoff game in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan High School.

6 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Billy DeShields and BlackhawkëƵs Marco Borello watch to see if DeShieldsëƵ jump shot goes in during SaturdayëƵs playoff game in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan High School.

7 / 7

Jonathan Guth | ëƵ-Standard

UniontownëƵs Billy DeShields lobs a pass into Bryant Grady, who is being guarded by BlackhawkëƵs James Darno, during SaturdayëƵs playoff game in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals at Canon-McMillan High School. The CougarsëƵ Marco Borello watches DeShields.

CANONSBURG ëƵ Uniontown overcame a slow start and appeared to be on the brink of the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals, but Blackhawk rallied from four down in the last 30 seconds of regulation to force overtime and upset the Red Raiders, 69-63, on Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.

Uniontown (20-3) had a 54-50 lead and the ball, but the Cougars (13-10) forced a turnover and Ryan Heckarthorn cut the deficit to two on a layup.

The Red RaidersëƵ Ray Robinson made 1 of 2 at the foul line for a three-point advantage with 19.8 seconds remaining, but Heckarthorn made a three-pointer with three seconds left to send the game into overtime.

ëƵThe kid (Heckarthorn) made a tough shot with a hand in his face,ëƵ Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. ëƵOur kids played hard, and you have to make foul shots and things like that to advance, but it doesnëƵt change what kind of character and how good of kids we have. They are wonderful kids, and I just wish we could have been playing Wednesday night, but it didnëƵt work out that way.ëƵ

Blackhawk opened the overtime session on an 8-0 run before Isaiah Melvin made a three-pointer with 52.7 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to five. The Cougars closed the game out at the foul line, as Heckathorn made 3 of 4 down the stretch.

Blackhawk plays top-seeded Highlands (20-3) on Wednesday in the semifinals. The site and time have not been determined.

Uniontown can still qualify for the state tournament, but the Cougars would have to win the District 7 title, as the PIAA takes five teams from the WPIAL in Class 4A.

Blackhawk used another 8-0 run to take a 12-4 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter. Kezmarsky took a timeout and Red Raiders outscored the Cougars, 9-6, the rest of the period to trail, 18-13, heading into the second.

Uniontown cut the deficit to one several times in the second quarter, and had an 8-7 edge in the frame for a 25-21 Blackhawk advantage at halftime.

The Red Raiders took their first lead since the game was 4-2 when Melvin made a three-pointer for a 26-25 advantage early in the third after Bryant Grady scored inside. Jahmere RichardsonëƵs layup in transition extended UniontownëƵs lead to 28-25 with 6:11 left in the third and Cougars coach Brooks Roorback took a timeout.

ëƵOur kids came out strong in the second half, but they (Blackhawk) are a good team that shoots the ball well and runs a good-pattern offense,ëƵ Kezmarsky said. ëƵThey are a senior-orientated team, too. We had them, but it didnëƵt go our way, but thatëƵs sports. ëƵ is not always the fairy tale where everyone rides off into the sunset.ëƵ

The Red Raiders pushed their advantage to 45-37 on a putback by Billy DeShields, but James Darno answered with a putback of his own to cut the deficit to 45-39 after three. Blackhawk had a 16-10 advantage in the fourth quarter.

UniontownëƵs senior starting five of DeShields, Grady, Melvin, Richardson and Robinson may have played their final high school game, but Kezmarsky is proud of the group that won back-to-back section titles, qualified for the quarterfinals three times and won two playoff games in their careers.

ëƵThings didnëƵt go our way down the stretch, but no matter what, it doesnëƵt change what these kids have given to the program for three years,ëƵ Kezmarsky said. ëƵWe thank each one of them.ëƵ

DeShields scored a team-high 15 points on six field goals, and was 3 of 6 from the line. He is fifth on the programëƵs all-time scoring list with 1,317 points.

Grady added 13 on six field goals, and was 1 of 2 at the line. Richardson and Robinson scored 12 points apiece, with Richardson connecting on five field goals and two free throws and Robinson making four field goals (1 three-pointer) and was 3 of 4 at the line.

Melvin had nine points on two three-pointers, and was 3 for 4 at the line.

Heckathorn led the game in scoring with 17 points on five field goals (1 three-pointer) and made all six of his foul shots in overtime. Marco Bello added 14 for the Cougars and Darno 12.

BlackhawkëƵs Tyler Fedisin (13) and Ryan McClymonds (11) were in double figures.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at /week.