Uniontown girls beat West Franklin

POMONA-- Uniontown's girls may be one of those teams that one doesn't want to play in the first round of Sub-State.

Eagle girls won their sixth straight game Tuesday night with a 48-42 win over West Franklin here. Prior to the winning streak, Uniontown had lost nine in a row and had a record of 2-11.

"The girls really stepped up tonight," Uniontown head coach Ken Holt said. "Jacy Ermel and Abbie Smith really played well and set the tone. Breanna (Esslinger) hot some big shots."

The game was even at halftime, 22-22. Uniontown got a slight advantage in the third period and held a 33-31 lead going into the fourth.

The Eagles took advantage as West Franklin's big scorers began to foul out. In a bit of an anomaly, the Falcons were called for 18 fouls -- but only four players had fouls assessed against them and three of them fouled out.

Ermel finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Eagles (8-11). Abbie Smith added 10 points and also had six rebounds and five assists.

Rachel Sleichter led Pomona with 11 points while Laiken Rockhold and Rose Griffin each scored 10. Sleichter and Griffin eventually fouled out.

The boys' score was not available at press time.

Both Uniontown teams host Central Heights in the regular-season finale Friday.

UNIONTOWN: Clayton 12 0-0 2, Rathbun 1-2 0-0 2, Smith 1-9 8-11 10, Spainhoward 3-7 0-2 6, Poyner 0-1 1-4 1, Ermel 7-10 4-7 18, Jurgensen 0-1 0-0 0, Esslinger 3-4 1-1 9. TOTALS: 16-36 14-25 48.

WEST FRANKLIN: Sleichter 2-5 7-8 11, Rockhold 3-7 4-7 10, Griffin 4-9 2-3 10, Horton 2-11 1-4 5, Harmon 1-3 0-0 3, Greer 1-3 0-0 2, Sharp 0-0 1-1 1, Fredericks 0-1 0-2 0, Cates 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13-40 15-25 42.

West Franklin.... 11 11 9 11 -- 42

Three-point field goals: Uniontown 2-6 (Esslinger 2-3, Clayton 0-1, Smith 0-2).

Total fouls: Uniontown 20, West Franklin 18. Fouled out: Sleichter, Griffin, Horton.

Rebounds: Uniontown 37 (Ermel 15), West Franllin 24. Assists: Uniontown 11 (Smith 5), West Franklin 7. Turnovers: Uniontown 18, West Franklin 18