Eagle boys win home finale; Falcon girls prevail

Uniontown's Jesse Johnston (3) flies through West Franklin's defense as he goes for a layup during the first half of play at Uniontown Tuesday night. Johnston scored 10 points for the Eagles as they won their last home game of the season, 61-55. (Captured Images/Kenny Felt)

UNIONTOWN -- Uniontown's boys rallied from a 17-9 first-quarter deficit to defeat Pomona-West Franklin, 61-55, at the West Bourbon Elementary School gymnasium Tuesday night.

Eagle girls were not as fortunate, competing well early before falling to West Franklin, 53-40.

Travis Aikins scored a career-high 23 points to help the Eagle boys (11-8) rally. Jesse Johnston added 10 points.

"Our boys did a good job of keeping their composure and battling back," Uniontown head coach Nathan Hinrichs said.

The Eagles fought back to trail by just two, 27-25, at the half. They outscored the Falcons (4-15) by a 19-12 margin in the third.

West Franklin girls 53, Uniontown 40.

Uniontown's Abbie Smith (white uniform) tries to keep the ball away from a West Franklin defender during play at Uniontown Tuesday night. The Eagles lost to the visiting Falcons in their home finale by a score of 53-40. (Captured Images/Kenny Felt)

Sam Schaffer scored 23 points and Melissa Reed added 20 for the Falcons (9-10).

Despite those performances, Uniontown (4-15) managed a 12-12 tie after one period of play. The Falcons managed to get a 28-24 advantage by halftime and 40-34 after three.

"This was a pretty good ball game -- really closer than the score indicates," Uniontown head coach Ken Holt said. "Both teams played well. It just came down to (the Falcons) shooting well down the stretch and making free throws."

West Franklin was 17 of 35 from the field and 17 of 25 at the free-throw line. Uniontown went 17 of 44 from the floor but just five of 14 at the charity stripe.

West Franklin also won the girls' junior varsity contest, 32-18. Brooke Harper and Marliss Allen each scored five points for the Eagles.

Girls

POMONA-WEST FRANKLIN: Schaffer 6-9 9-12 23, Reed 8-12 4-7 20, C.Rockhold 1-6 4-4 6, L.Rockhold 2-5 0-0 4, Griffin 0-1 0-1 0, Boor 0-1 0-0 0, Greer 0-1 0-1 0, Cates 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 17-35 17-26 63.

UNIONTOWN: Esslinger 4-14 2-4 10, Stephens 3-8 2-2 9, Smith 4-7 0-2 8, Shank 3-7 1-5 7, Spainhoward 3-5 0-1 6, Rathbun 0-4 0-0 0, Warren 0-0 0-0 0, Clayton 0-0 0-0 0, Schnichels 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 17-44 5-14 40.

Uniontown............................ 12 12 10 6 -- 40

Three-point field goals: West Franklin 2-3 (Schaffer 2-3), Uniontown 1-6 (Stephens 1-2, Esslinger 0-1, Rathbun 0-3).

Total fouls: West Franklin 12, Uniontown 25. Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: West Franklin 19, Uniontown 28 (Esslinger 8). Assists: West Franklin 14, Uniontown 15 (Smith 4, Rathbun 4). Turnovers: West Franklin 15, Uniontown 17 Steals: West Franklin 1, Uniontown 6 (Shank 3).

Boys

POMONA-WEST FRANKLIN: Chanay 8, Harmon 11, Slocum 2, Brady 11, Cunningham 2, Campfield 10, Wadkins 9, Nitcher 2. TOTAL: 55.

UNIONTOWN: Johnston 10, Spainhoward 8, Aikins 23, Bloesser 7, Johnson 8, McAnulty 2, Mason 3. TOTAL: 61.

Uniontown................... 9 16 19 17 -- 61

Three-point field goals: n/a.

Total fouls:n/a.