DeShields scores 27 in Red Raiders’ 97-61 victory
Jonathan Guth
Uniontown鈥檚 Billy DeShields puts up a jumper over the outstretched hand of Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Chase Vaughn during their Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 10. DeShields, who scored a game-high 27 points in the Red Raiders鈥� 97-61 victory, has been selected to the FCCA Boys Basketball Recognition Team.
Elizabeth Forward's Chase Vaughn is guarded by Uniontown's Isaiah Melvin during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
Uniontown's Ray Robinson is about to deliver a pass while being guarded by Elizabeth Forward's Patrick Filson in Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
Elizabeth Forward's Zachary Boyd takes a jumper shot as Uniontown's Bryant Grady gets a hand in his face during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
Jonathan Guth
Uniontown鈥檚 Isaiah Melvin dunks in a Section 3-AAAA game against Elizabeth Forward at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 10. Melvin has decided to further his academic and athletic career at Thiel College.
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 Patrick Filson drives to the basket while being guarded by Uniontown鈥檚 Jahmere Richardson during Friday鈥檚 Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
Jonathan Guth | 缅北禁地
Uniontown鈥檚 Jahmere Richardson dunks against Elizabeth Forward in a game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 10. Richardson scored 17 points on Sunday as the Red Raiders defeated Ambridge, 56-52, in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame Classic at Montour High School.
Uniontown's Bryant Grady is about to pull down a rebound in front of Elizabeth Forward's Chase Whatton during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
Uniontown's Billy DeShields puts up a floater over the outstretched hand of Elizabeth Forward's Chase Vaughn during Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium. DeShields had a game-high 27 points in the Red Raiders' 97-61 victory.
Uniontown's Billy DeShields is guarded by Elizabeth Forward's Chase Vaughn (15) and Zachary Boyd in Friday's Section 3-AAAA game at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium. DeShields scored 27 in the Red Raiders' 97-61 victory.
Billy DeShields scored a game-high 27 points to move into seven place on the all-time scoring list at Uniontown, and the Red Raiders rolled to a 97-61 victory over Elizabeth Forward on Friday in Section 3-AAAA play at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium.
The senior guard has 1,118 points in his career, and passed Jordan Pratt (1,108) and Junior Mays (1,092). Chris Jacobs is the sixth-leading scoring in program history with 1,131 points.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know I was that high on the list,鈥� DeShields said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very cool feeling to know that.鈥�
鈥淏illy is wonderful,鈥� Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. 鈥淭hese kids are excited to see their teammates do well, and tonight was a great team win.鈥�
DeShields made 12 field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 1 of 2 at the foul line. Uniontown鈥檚 starting five was in double figures, as Jahmere Richardson (20), Isaiah Melvin (16), Ray Robinson (10) and Bryant Grady (10) were significant contributors.
Melvin and Richardson have been known to excite the Red Raider faithful with their dunking prowess, and Friday was no different as both had two slams apiece, including Richardson鈥檚 first dunk seconds into the game.
鈥淲e had another game with highlight dunks,鈥� Kezmarsky said.
The Warriors (1-3, 3-7) weren鈥檛 intimidated in the first quarter, as coach Matt Loftis鈥� team had a 19-13 lead with less than two minutes to go before Robinson made back-to-back threes for a tie game heading into the second.
鈥淚f you look at the scores of Elizabeth Forward鈥檚 games, they lost to Ringgold by one, and are a really gutsy team,鈥� Kezmarsky said. 鈥淭hose kids have been playing for a long time, and the they shoot the ball. They are a good team, and their coach does an excellent job.
鈥淲e want to attack the zone, and I thought in the fourth quarter, we did really well, and when we hit shots, we are a tough team to beat. Billy (DeShields) is handling the ball a lot more for us this year, and Bubba (Robinson) is giving us big shots. Our kids kept playing, and we just want to keep getting better and better.鈥�
Uniontown (4-0, 9-1) went on one of its patented runs 鈥� this one being an 11-0 spurt 鈥� to take a 30-19 advantage with 5:46 left in the second quarter.
鈥淲e just wanted to come out and take their heart in the second quarter,鈥� DeShields said. 鈥淲e were a little off in the first quarter, but that is no excuse. We have to play well for four quarters. We made it happen today, and we just want to get ready for Tuesday. We are looking to win the section first, then go for a WPIAL.鈥�
鈥淲e want to limit the turnovers, but once we start turning the ball over that allows them to get in their fastbreak,鈥� Loftis said. 鈥淯niontown is a unique team because there is nobody in our section like them. It is hard to simulate their style in practice because we just don鈥檛 have those types of athletes on our team. They are a very good team, and I think they are better than last year, which is saying a lot because they were very good last year.鈥�
The Red Raiders outscored the visitors, 27-13, in the second for a 46-42 halftime lead. Uniontown had another 27-13 advantage in the third for a 73-41 lead heading into the fourth. The home team had a 24-20 edge in the fourth.
Patrick Filson led Elizabeth Forward in scoring with 15 points on six field goals, including three 3-pointers. Teammates Zachary Boyd (14), Chase Vaughn (12) and Chase Whatton (10) were also in double figures.
The Red Raiders travel to Waynesburg Central (1-3, 6-6) on Tuesday in Section 3-AAAA play.
鈥淲e have to get ready to go to Waynesburg and play,鈥� Kezmarsky said.
The Warriors are also in section action on Tuesday, as they host Belle Vernon (3-1, 9-4). Both games are set to tip-off at 7:30 p.m.