UNIONTOWN — A short-handed Yates Center High boys basketball team struggled offensively in a 56-26 loss to Uniontown on Friday night.
The Wildcats couldn’t get in a rhythm on the offensive end of the floor early on, missing many shots underneath the basket on easy chance points. Devin Sarchet notched a layup while Cash Cummings banked in a layup and a free throw in the opening quarter.
Uniontown was paced by Colter Powell who netted a pair of two-point baskets and a Brycen Stewart layup in the first quarter. The score was knotted 6-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Cummings went for a three and Emmit George posted a layup for the only pair of Wildcat baskets in the second quarter.
“Offensively we struggled,” said Yates Center head coach Lane Huffman. “We missed quite a few shots under the basket in the first half. Missing those easy shots got us out of any positive rhythm and flow on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Eagles outscored the Wildcats in the second quarter, 23-5. Stewart netted a trio of layups and a pair of free throws while Powell banked in a couple of two’s as well as a three free throws to take a 29-11 advantage heading to halftime.
Cummings continued to aid Yates Center hitting a two and a few free throws while George scored a layup in the third quarter. Sarchet also added on a free throw in the third but the Wildcats were outscored again in the quarter, 16-8.
“We found ourselves short-handed tonight,” Huffman said. “Midway through the second quarter Garrett Audiss left the game with an injury. Cash Cummings is also battling an ankle injury. Our biggest blow was losing senior Jayston Rice to injury.”
Powell led Uniontown’s third quarter scoring when he netted a three and a pair of layups while Byron Fry also notched a pair of two-point baskets. Joey Marlow hit a triple in the third quarter as well to help the Eagles take a 26-point edge over the Wildcats heading to the fourth, 45-19.
Cam Dewitt knocked down a triple and Cummings and Emmett Brittain each went for layups in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough as they were outscored by Uniontown again in the final quarter, 11-7.
The Eagles finished off their home victory with Powell posting a layup and a pair of free throws and Fry going for a layup as well as a free throw. Uniontown held on for the 30-point victory over Yates Center, 56-26.
Cummings led Yates Center’s offensive attack after he notched 13 points even with an ankle injury. George notched four points and DeWitt and Sarchet each went for three points.
