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UNIONTOWN —
The last time Northeast and Uniontown played, both teams were undefeated in the Three Rivers League, and both teams were looking to clinch a share of the league title. That game, in Arma, was won by Northeast 43-31.
On Friday, the teams got a rematch at a different setting. In the second round of 2A substate basketball, Northeast fended off Uniontown 41-38 despite a tough effort by the home squad to advance to the substate finals.
“We talked to the kids before the game about composure, and never losing their composure no matter what,” said Northeast boys coach Matt Hiatt. “Get at it was the plan. The kids did a great job of haning in there, and in the end it all worked out for us.”
Through halftime, the Vikings and Eagles appeared to be fairly even, as the teams were tied after one quarter and went into halftime with a 17-16 Viking lead.
Coming out of halftime, Uniontown’s Zach Travis hit a three that would give the hometown fans a two-point lead. But Northeast would answer, scoring the next 12 points, on two field goals by J.T. Richardson, a three-pointer by Jon Baker and five points by Chase Cleland to give the Vikings a 10-point lead by the end of the third quarter. In fact, those three Vikings each scored in double figures, with 13, 10 and 11 points respectively.
“J.T.’s a winner, and he finds a way to get it done almost every night,” Hiatt said. “We would not be where we are at without him. Baker was our leading rebounder tonight (eight rebounds). He does all the little things to keep us in the game.”
But Uniontown would not go away quietly. In fact, the Eagles had a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 34 with 2:50 to go. But Northeast calmly got to the line and sunk a number of its free throws. Baker and Cleland hit the first three, then Noah Popejoy scored (but missed the free throw) to give the Vikings a five-point lead that could not be caught as the Vikings pulled away.
Second-seed Northeast (16-4) will advance to play one-seed Madison/Hamilton Saturday night in Uniontown at 7:30 p.m. to determine who gets to advance to the Class 2A state championships in Manhattan.
The last time Northeast and Uniontown played, both teams were undefeated in the Three Rivers League, and both teams were looking to clinch a share of the league title. That game, in Arma, was won by Northeast 43-31.
On Friday, the teams got a rematch at a different setting. In the second round of 2A substate basketball, Northeast fended off Uniontown 41-38 despite a tough effort by the home squad to advance to the substate finals.
“We talked to the kids before the game about composure, and never losing their composure no matter what,” said Northeast boys coach Matt Hiatt. “Get at it was the plan. The kids did a great job of haning in there, and in the end it all worked out for us.”
Through halftime, the Vikings and Eagles appeared to be fairly even, as the teams were tied after one quarter and went into halftime with a 17-16 Viking lead.
Coming out of halftime, Uniontown’s Zach Travis hit a three that would give the hometown fans a two-point lead. But Northeast would answer, scoring the next 12 points, on two field goals by J.T. Richardson, a three-pointer by Jon Baker and five points by Chase Cleland to give the Vikings a 10-point lead by the end of the third quarter. In fact, those three Vikings each scored in double figures, with 13, 10 and 11 points respectively.
“J.T.’s a winner, and he finds a way to get it done almost every night,” Hiatt said. “We would not be where we are at without him. Baker was our leading rebounder tonight (eight rebounds). He does all the little things to keep us in the game.”
But Uniontown would not go away quietly. In fact, the Eagles had a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 34 with 2:50 to go. But Northeast calmly got to the line and sunk a number of its free throws. Baker and Cleland hit the first three, then Noah Popejoy scored (but missed the free throw) to give the Vikings a five-point lead that could not be caught as the Vikings pulled away.
Second-seed Northeast (16-4) will advance to play one-seed Madison/Hamilton Saturday night in Uniontown at 7:30 p.m. to determine who gets to advance to the Class 2A state championships in Manhattan.
