Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
KINNIKINNICK — Jack Welch had two defining plays that changed Unioto’s fortunes on Friday night.
He buried a 30-footer at the first half buzzer, giving Unioto a much-needed lift, alongside a one-point lead, heading into the break. And, with 3.7 seconds left in the game, he came up huge defensively with an inbound pass deflection.
The defensive stop didn’t allow Zane Trace to get a clean shot off late, preserving a 50-47 victory in SVC action.
“We competed really hard, but Zane Trace deserves a lot of credit. They mixed up some things and did a lot that really bothered us,” Unioto coach Matt Combs said. “They took us out of stuff and thoroughly outplayed us in the first half. But the guys just continued to fight and played really good situational basketball in the closing moments. They played smart and did just enough to get out with a win.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
The victory keeps Unioto (5-0, 5-0 SVC) undefeated in the early season and moves the Shermans to the top of the league standings — alone.
“If I’m being honest, I told the guys in the locker room that they bailed me out tonight. This was not one of the best games I’ve ever coached,” Combs admitted. “This is my 25th or 26th year as a head coach, and every league championship team I’ve ever had always has a game or two like this where it’s incredibly tight and it takes the full 32 minutes or longer to handle your business. So this is a great win for our guys.”
Buckets from Welch, Blake Fitch and Dawson Mitchell had the Shermans ahead with a 7-4 lead early. Zane Trace (5-2, 4-1 SVC), however, answered with a bucket from Roman Berry and a 3-ball from Noah Kysor to put ZT ahead 9-7 after the first quarter.
That 5-0 jolt to end the first extended into the second as Gunnar McCullough scored twice inside and Berry connected from deep, completing a 12-1 run to give the Pioneers a 16-8 lead.
Fitch hit two free throws with 2:35 left, only for Lantz Stevens to respond on the other end with a trey, making it 19-10 with 1:37 remaining in the half.
And that’s where Unioto began to fight back.
Jaxon Zickafoose, who missed the Shermans’ first four games with injury, canned a 3 and, then, Welch took over. He buried two free throws, logged a steal and a bucket, and followed with his buzzer-beater to cap a 10-0 run, putting Unioto ahead 20-19 at the break.
“Coach always preaches that defense leads to offense, so I was locking down on defense and being active, which led to some steals,” Welch said. “Our shots weren’t falling in the first quarter, but we knew they would eventually fall at some point later in the game. That shot at the end, it felt good leaving my hands. Those are shots we practice after practice is over, so I guess practice makes perfect.”
Isaac Coy opened the third with two free throws, followed by a bucket from Fitch, only for the Pioneers to respond with a bucket from McCullough and a triple from Kysor to tie the game at 24-24.
Both teams traded scores back-and-forth through the rest of the frame, scoring 11 points each and staying in each others’ back pockets in a 35-35 game at the beginning of the fourth.
“We made some adjustments on their 1-2-2 press, and maybe handled it a little better in the second half. But it wasn’t like we had all of the answers,” Combs said. “We tried to be better about handling their ball screen action, but that turned into their role players hitting shots and matching our pace all night long.”
Mitchell scored, McCullough scored, Fitch went coast-to-coast, and Coy split a pair at the line as the Shermans took a 40-37 lead.
Cayden Patterson hit a free throw and ZT’s Jamison Hill buried a 3-ball, only for Coy to knock down one from deep to keep the Shermans up by four.
Fitch then buried a pair at the line, ZT’s Grady Stewart buried a corner 3, and Coy knocked down two free ones at the stripe.
Late, Stewart scored inside and Fitch hit two more at the line for a 50-47 game.
“I’ve been in those late game situations since my freshman year, so it’s all about repetition in those moments,” Fitch said. “You just take a deep breath, calm yourself and have the confidence that you’re going to make it. I didn’t have a great offensive night and my shots weren’t falling, but getting to the free throw line definitely helps keep your confidence high to get those free points.”
The Pioneers had a chance to tie the score after an inbound pass, but that’s where Welch’s quick hands knocked the ball around.
Although ZT did get a shot off at the buzzer, the attempt missed high to put the Shermans’ victory on ice.
Fitch finished with a game-high 15 points, followed by Welch with 14 of his own. Coy added 11 points and seven rebounds to the team’s totals.
Berry led the Pioneers with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, and McCullough added 12 points and four boards.
Unioto returns to action on Tuesday, hosting Huntington in SVC action, while Zane Trace hosts McClain in non-conference play that same evening.
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