HUMBOLDT-When Kyle Hammond hit a three-pointer for Crest High’s Lancers to tie the game with under a minute left to play, it looked like the Uniontown High Eagles were in hot water.
The Eagles had led the entire game, only to let the Lancer boys back into it late Friday night. But in the end, the poor defensive play that had the Lancers playing catch-up all night cost them.
Uniontown beat Crest 40-38, winning its final matchup of Humboldt High’s Second Annual Emprise Bank Basketball Tournament.
“I’m proud of our kids’ effort tonight,” said Nathan Hinrichs, Eagle head coach. “We had some kids step up and show some leadership and toughness.”
The Eagles’ leading scorer on the night was Brenton Esslinger, who hit four three-pointers, with 22 points.
“We forgot who we were and what has made us successful, and we started listening to how good we were,” said Crest boys’ basketball head coach Travis Hermreck.
“We played no defense and we didn’t block out or rebound. Uniontown got all the loose-balls and we stood around on offense.”
Despite a tough night for his team, Hammond still got his. The junior had a hot hand from outside the arc, hitting five treys to score a game-high 23 points.
Uniontown boys (9-13-11-7-40) (FG/3-pt): Travis 1-5-0-7, Wiley 0-0-3-0, Kuns 1/1-0-0-5, Esslinger 4/4-2-2-22, Sympson 3-0-3-6. TOTALS: 9/5-7-8-40.
Crest boys (6-9-10-13-38): C. Bowen 0-0-2-0, Boone 0-0-2-0, Morton 0/2-0-4-6, Hammond 3/5-2-3-23, Brallier 1/2-1-1-9, J. Bowen 0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 4/9-3-14-38.
Eagles edge out Lancers
