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Union Local survives test from Monroe in 3A

UNION LOCAL’S Hannah Merritt (30) drives around Monroe Central’s Kenzi Bishop during Monday night’s Wheeling Hospital OVAC Class 3A tournament semifinal inside “The Hangar.” Merritt led the undefeated Jets with 20 points in a 63-59 victory over the Seminoles.

MORRISTOWN — Nothing surprises Rob Barr anymore.

Battling through sickness and faced with the fact that it’s tough to beat a team three times in one season, top-seeded Union Local held off a late, furious charge by visiting No. 4 Monroe Central, 63-59, Monday night in Wheeling Hospital OVAC Class 3A tournament semifinal action before a nice-sized crowd inside “The Hangar.”

With their 21st win in as many starts, the Jets will meet No. 2 Fort Frye which defeated third-seeded Bellaire, 61-46, in the other semifinal on Monday night, for the championship Saturday at 6 p.m. inside the Health and Physical Education Building on the campus of Ohio University Eastern.

“We got through it. We don’t have anyone healthy,” Barr said after watching the Seminoles outscore his Jets 33-26 in the second half. “Reagan (Vinskovich) hasn’t practiced since the Linsly game (on Thursday), and she was sick then, She was sick tonight. Hannah (Merritt) has only practiced once. She was sick all weekend. Keira (Gregor) is sick right now.

“After seeing who was available for us tonight, I was really nervous,” Barr acknowledged. “Kudos go to Baylee Rex and Alleigh Cheatham. I think we got two points from them, but they gave us huge, huge minutes off the bench. They went in there and played hard. They got Reagan a break and they got Keira a break.

“The other three players … yeoman’s work. They played the entire game,” he said of Merritt and the Kildow sisters, Casey and Torre. “They had too. We’re a little bit sick. I think we’re going to take a day off but we’ll be ready for Saturday.”

The Jets led 50-40 entering the final quarter and stretched it a point, 56-45,when Merritt drilled the last of her four bonus goals with 5:46 left on the clock.

However, Amy Bettinger scored on the inside to jump-start a seven-point spree that narrowed the deficit to 56-52 when Kalista Friday final of her four treys with 3:49 showing.

Rex and Merritt scored on consecutive backdoor cuts to seal the deal at 60-52. Trista Morris connected on a pair of triples in the last minute but it was too little, too late.

“Our turnovers in the first half once again came back to haunt us,” Monroe Central head coach Troy Baker pointed out. “We dug ourselves a hole early that we weren’t able to overcome, and they (UL) kept hitting shots.

“We had two tough games with them early in the season. I think we played them in our second and eighth games,” Baker recalled. “In both of those games they hit some shots in the fourth quarter that changed the game and allowed them to pull away.

Union Local led 19-14 after one quarter as Torre Kildow netted six of her 13 points. After the Seminoles cut the margin to 21-19 midway through the second quarter, the Jets knocked down three-point shots on successive trips downcourt as the margin grew to 30-19. The hosts took a 37-26 advantage into the lockerroom at the half.

Behind Haylynn Hiles’ eight points in the third quarter, Monroe Central narrowed the lead to 50-40, setting the stage for the final eight minutes.

“We had a couple of runs there in the second half. Once we cut it to seven and then it went right back to 14. I don’t know whether we got gassed or what there, but I wish I could have that seven points back and a timeout to change that up,” Baker looked back. “That’s two good ball teams going at it right there.

“I thought (Hannah) Merritt really stepped it up and was kind of the difference in the game,” he noted. “She hit some big shots.

“I’m proud of my girls. It stings that we’re not going to OUE, but they put it all out on the floor. I don’t think the girls have any regrets with the outcome of the game.”

Joining Merritt in double figures were Reagan Vinskovich with 14. Torre Kildow had 13 and Casey Kildow 11.

Friday paced Monroe Central with 14 markers. Bettinger added 12.

Monroe Central plays at Bellaire Thursday night in the third-place game. There is no JV game. Varsity tip at 6:30

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