×

Union Local soars past Martins Ferry to remain unbeaten

T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY UNION LOCAL freshman Reagen Vinskovich goes up for two of her 27 points as Martins Ferry's Richella Spielvogel defends during the first quarter of Thursday's game in Morristown. The Jets prevailed, 73-57. Additional images may be found at timesleaderonline.com

MORRISTOWN — Through the first five games of the season, Union Local had established itself as one of the area’s up-and-coming teams.

But, just how good are the Jets? That’s the question that seemed to pop up each time.

The Jets answered some of that Thursday evening when they used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from Martins Ferry for a 73-57 victory inside a boisterous ‘Hangar’ at Union Local High School.

“We cleared a hurdle and our kids grew up a lot tonight,” UL head coach Rob Barr said. “We could have folded, especially late in the third quarter when they came back and took the lead on us, but I’ve seen it from these kids … they just don’t take to losing.”

Indeed.

The Jets (6-0), who played just six players in the game, got all they wanted from a Martins Ferry (4-2) club, which had won four straight coming in, but had an answer each time.

“That team is good and those kids earned my respect,” Ferry head coach Dave Reasbeck said. “They just go. I thought the difference in the game was layups, actually. We gave up far too many and we missed too many, especially in the second quarter.”

The game was spirited from the opening tip. A back-and-fourth first quarter, which saw both an intentional foul and a technical foul assessed to Martins Ferry, ended with the Jets holding a 24-18 lead.

The Purple Riders — behind 12 points from senior pivot Richella Spielvogel — trimmed the deficit to three at 39-36 at halftime.

“We were right there and I thought Spielvogel played very well,” Reasbeck said. “It was a game of runs and a very questionable technical (foul) stopped our run in the first half. Teams can hang on Richella. She works harder than anyone in the offseason and she gets punished. She can’t touch them because they go flying. That’s not fair and I feel bad for her. She gets hung on, but she breathes on a girl and she gets the foul. But, that’s nowhere near the reason why we lost.”

While that stretch fired up the crowd, it certainly wasn’t the reason for the outcome. After Shayla Schuster scored just before the horn for the Purple Riders to end the third to make it a 52-49 reading, the Jets simply took over.

“We weren’t going to lose tonight. We were either going to win or learn,” Barr said. “Actually, I think we did both. We won and we learned how good we are and can be.”

Union Local opened the fourth with back-to-back buckets from junior Casey Kildow. A Maria Clark trey and a Madison Ging bucket stopped the bleeding and got the Riders to within two at 56-54.

Then the Jets’ talented rookie got involved. Freshman post Reagen Vinskovich, who has been outstanding in the early going, scored and highly regarded classmate Torre Kildow got a short jumper to drop to end the Ferry spurt.

“Ferry is a very good, well-coached team that was shooting the ball really well for the better part of two-and-a-half quarters,” Barr noted. “I think our constant running of the basketball may have worn them out because they missed some of those 3s short in the fourth.”

Two Riders foul shots got them back to within four, but Union Local proceeded to score the game’s next 11.

Vinskovich, who tallied 27 points and 17 rebounds, scored seven in the fourth, while Torre Kildow scored nine of her 23 in the final quarter.

“These girls do not care who scores,” Barr said. “All of these girls are always looking for the open girl. They’re so athletic that they get out on the break well.”

Martins Ferry was led in the scoring column by Ging, who has also been impressive thus far in the early season. She scored 19 and was supported by Spielvogel’s 14. Clark and Jaden Stalder went for nine and eight, respectively.

“We’ll bounce back,” Reasbeck said. “This is one game. We lost to a good team on the road. We get to play them again.”

Both teams return to action Monday. Martins Ferry hosts Harrison Central in a 6 p.m. varsity only affair, while the Jets head to Bellaire.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today