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Solid start keeps Union Local unbeaten

T-L Photo/RICK THORP Union Local’s Reagan Vinskovich, left, drives Thursday night as Barnesville’s Rylee Stephens defends. The Jets improved to 17-0 with the victory.

BARNESVILLE — Torre Kildow celebrated her 15th birthday in grand fashion Thursday night, exploding for a game-high 32 points in leading unbeaten Union Local to a convincing 86-29 triumph against Barnesville.

In moving to 17-0, the Jets claimed the coveted Milk Bottle Trophy and set the stage for a mammoth Buckeye 8 girls’ basketball title contest Saturday night at Buckeye Local against another unbeaten — Indian Creek. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

“I told (the girls) before the game not to get caught looking forward,” Jets head coach Rob Barr said.

They didn’t.

Hannah Merritt dropped in a 3 seconds after UL won the opening tip and the Jets were off and running.

Union Local scored the first 20 points of the game, but it was the fact the Shamrocks (6-11), who were led by Rylee Stephens’ 14, didn’t score until 1:11 was showing on the clock that caught Barr’s eye the most.

“When we get out like that … it’s pretty easy after that because I think we play better defense that we do offense, especially the first seven or eight girls.

“I thought everyone played well.”

Merritt added 17 points, Reagan Vinskovich had 15 and Keira Gregor 12 as the youthful Jets continued their growth as a unit.

“They’ve gotten better,” Barnesville head coach Jason Perkins observed. “They play really well as a team. It’s not like you can stop one or two players. They, collectively, are good.

“They play really well together. They’re quick and they push the ball really well.”

All of those things were evident early as UL built a 22-3 after one quarter and 45-10 at halftime. Barr mixed up all 10 of his players, allowing everyone an opportunity to get into the act.

Torre Kildow led the way after hitting a 3 in each quarter.

“She didn’t force anything” Barr said of the freshman. “Every shot was wide open. Every layup was one she had to take.”

The Jets continued to showcase their unselfishness, which Barr said was exhibited perfectly by Casey Kildow, who scored just three points, but made impacts in other areas.

“She passes up so many shots to feed those girls,” he said. “I don’t know how many assists she averages per game, but she’s basically given her junior year to us succeeding and she’s been driving the bus.”

That bus will roll into Connorville on Saturday night with the Jets looking to, not just win the Buckeye 8 crown, but prove they have what it takes to take down a team Barr calls one of the best in the valley.

“They’re a good team,” he said of the Redskins. “You don’t go through the season unbeaten and not be good.”

Barr admitted he’s been working with his players in practice recently on the showdown, but said the Jets’ gameplan won’t deviate much from what’s been working thus far.

“These girls know how to play one way and I like coaching that way,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.

“We’ll get out and we’ll run and we’ll see if the other team can keep up with us.”

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