Eagles split with Titans

Uniontown's Mandie Ridge (50) looks for a way around Southern Coffey County's Breanna Isch (32) during the fourth quarter of play Tuesday night. Ridge scored 5 points and handed out 5 assists for the Eagles in a 56-43 victory. (Matthew Resnick/Tribune)

UNIONTOWN -- Uniontown's girls defeated Southern Coffey County, 56-43, in their regular-season finale Tuesday night at the West Bourbon County Elementary School gymnasium.

SCC thumped Uniontown's boys, 71-45, in the nightcap.

Despite holding a commanding lead for most of the game, Eagle girls allowed SCC to claw back in the second half, primarily due to turnovers and sloppy play. With Uniontown (10-10) leading 44-22 late in the third quarter, SCC went on 15-2 run, slicing the lead to 46-37 with 2:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.

With 1:24 to go, senior forward Mandie Ridge hit the front end of a one-and one to give Uniontown a 49-40 lead, as the Eagles ended the game on an 8-3 run, pulling away for the double-digit victory.

"I think we just kind of got out of our groove, and we seem to every once in a while have a flat quarter," Uniontown girls' head coach Dustin Miller said. "I think we got a little shell-shocked, and had some turnovers at some bad times to get the momentum going back in their favor."

For Uniontown, senior Jessica Farra had a game-high 13 points, while pulling down 6 rebounds to go along with 4 assists and a block. Emily Shinn's versatility was on full display, as she totaled 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. Ridge tallied 5 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Senior guard Lakyn Coyan scored 11 points and added 2 blocks.

The Eagles led 20-6 after the first quarter and 34-14 at halftime.

"We went zone and took care of business defensively," Miller said. "For us, those defensive stops are crucial. And taking care of the ball going the other way is a big deal for us."

Miller said heading into Sub-State play next week, his team needs to improve on handling pressure in general.

"Just handling game situations when we're up, running some clock, moving the ball around and getting some really good looks at the basket offensively," he said. "Defensively, we just have to stay disciplined with our rotation, whether it be with our zone or in are man (to-man defense), get some stops and box out. All those fundamentals really come in to play. You really hope for your team at this stage in the season to be firing on all cylinders. I think we're close. And if we peak going into sub-state tournament, I'm fine with that."

Miller said he feels the team's chemistry has vastly improved since the beginning of the season.

"We have eight seniors, and with Farra moving in halfway through the season, it kind of put a little shock into our chemistry," Miller said. "The girls started buying into each other and chemistry is the biggest thing I've seen improve. And (the girls) realizing, hey, this is our senior year, 'lets go out and win some ball games to wrap up our season.'"

The boys' game was tied 13-13 after the first quarter. The Eagles (8-12) trailed 30-19 at halftime. In the third quarter, SCCHS senior point guard Aaron True erupted for 15 of his game-high 29 points. True also drilled three 3-pointers and finished a dunk in transition.

"Southern Coffey was more aggressive than we were," Uniontown head coach Jeremy Neville said. "All the tough plays they made. We just weren't able to do any of that tonight and it showed."

Senior forward Joe Duffey was the leading scorer for the Eagles with 14 points. Jacob Duffey added 9 points, while seniors Chase Gleason and Skyler Riley totaled 6 points respectively.

Uniontown will lose four players to graduation.

"We have several young guys right now we're suiting up, five freshman and two sophomores," Neville said. "We're excited about the young guys, but we still want to see the team we have now finish (the season) strong."

Uniontown's teams will play next in the Yates Center Class 2A Sub-State Tournament next week. The seeding for the boys' and girls' brackets will be determined sometime today.

Girls

SOUTHERN COFFEY COUNTY: Isch 3 5-9 11, Deal 5 0-0 10, Alumbaugh 2 5-6 9, rest of team 5 2-8 13. TOTALS: 15 12-23 43

UNIONTOWN: E.Shinn 6 0-0 12, Travis 0 0-0 0, Harper 2 0-0 5, H.Shinn 0 0-0 0, Stokes 1 0-0 2, Coyan 4 3-4 11, Wilkinson 0 0-0 0, Farra 3 6-8 13, Hathaway 1 0-0 0, Robinson 2 2-3 6, Ridge 1 3-4 5. TOTALS: 20 14-19 54.

Uniontown................. 20 14 12 10 -- 56

Three-point field goals: Southern Coffey County 1 (player not listed), Uniontown 2 (Harper, Farra).

Total fouls: Southern Coffey County 17, Uniontown 19. Fouled out: Alumbaugh.

Boys

SOUTHERN COFFEY COUNTY: True 13 0-1 29, Newkirk 2 0-0 4, Houston 4 0-0 11, Nelson 3 0-0 6, Witteman 7 1-2 15, Harred 2 2-4 6. TOTALS: 31 3-7 71.

UNIONTOWN: Riley 2 0-0 6, Miller 1 0-0 2, Gleason 2 0-0 6, Ja.Duffey 4 1-2 9, Jo.Duffey 5 4-10 14, Johns 1 1-4 3, Wood 1 1-2 3, Elder 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 17 7-18 45.

Uniontown................ 13 6 16 10 -- 45

Three-point field goals: Southern Coffey County 6 (True 3, Houston 3), Uniontown 4 (Riley 2, Gleason 2).