UNIONTOWN — Opening Three Rivers League play at home was the right recipe for Uniontown High’s basketball teams.
The Eagle girls downed St. Paul High’s Indian girls 44-23 Tuesday. The Eagle boys followed with a 44-35 victory over St. Paul. Uniontown’s teams are both 1-0 in league play and 4-1 overall.
Holding the St. Paul girls to just one point in the first quarter provided the start Uniontown’s girls needed. The Eagles were up 10-1 after one quarter and led 22-12 at halftime.
There was no let up in the second half for the Eagle girls. They outscored the Indians 22-11 in the last two quarters.
“We talked before the game about how big this particular game was for us — it being a league game,” said Ken Holt, Eagle girls’ head coach.
“None of these girls have ever beaten a St. Paul team. Our girls absolutely played our best defensive game of the year. It was a real confidence booster for us.”
Hayden Rathbun led the Eagle girls with 19 points, six assists, four steals and eight rebounds. Hope Jurgensen added 13 points.
Nikkie Sears scored 18 of St. Paul’s 23 points. The Indian girls turned the ball over 41 times.
UNIONTOWN’S boys found their edge against St. Paul in the second period. The Eagles were up 12-10 when they went on a 13-5 run in the second quarter.
The Eagle boys held a 25-15 halftime lead. They were able to hold off the Indians in the second half.
“This was a nice win in front of our home crowd,” said Nathan Hinrichs, Eagle boys’ head coach. “We had some kids step up and play well tonight.”
Zach Travis fired in 12 points to lead Uniontown. Brenton Esslinger added 11 points.
Dakota Wiley scored five points while Trenton Miller and Robert Kuns each had three points. Domonic Robinson, Max Labbe and Seth Sympson each scored two points.
Willie Westhoff scored 13 points for St. Paul.
