Robert Smith
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. – After watching Centerville post a 44-40 overtime win in Friday’s opener, Northeastern Head Coach Brent Ross knew his team was in for a fight as the No. 4 Knights prepared to face Union County in the Class 2A sectional at Hagerstown.
“Friday night of sectional week is the toughest night,” Ross said. “It’s one of the toughest nights in the state of Indiana. The first game tonight was an upset. Nobody wants to lose.”
Fortunately for the Knights (21-4), they survived the uprising by the Patriots to earn a 56-47 win to reach Saturday’s championship contest against the Bulldogs (7-14) at 7:30 p.m.
“They played up to their potential, and they played great,” Ross said of the 15-9 Patriots. “I thought (Union County Head Coach) Mark (Detweiler) had them ready to play, and he kept it close.”
Union County led 4-3 at the first stop as Logan Sanford hit a 3-pointer in the final moments of the frame.
Logan Sanford
“I think that loosened us up,” Ross said. “They went on a run, but we were back to playing up and down the floor and that’s how we’ve got to play.”
The Patriots expanded their advantage to 10-3 and then 13-5 after Logan Sanford drilled a 3-pointer at the 5:30 mark of the second quarter.
“Union County had us rattled,” Ross said. “I don’t think we ever settled down the whole game. I could never get them calmed down to do what we needed to do.”
Despite that fact, the two-time defending sectional champion Knights found enough of an answer with a 17-point run. Tyler Smith scored with 1:27 remaining in the first half to put the Knights up 22-13. They were on top 25-20 at the intermission.
“I thought we did a nice job,” Detweiler said. “Guys battled.”
“I thought we rebounded well,” Detweiler added. “I don’t think they had an offensive rebound in the first half.
The Patriots did win the rebounding battle 36-31 with Dillon Miller leading the way with 11, while scoring nine points.
“We had to limit second chance opportunities and that kept us around,” Detweiler said.
Union County got as close as 49-45 when Miller connected on a pair of free throws with 1:56 to go.
Robert Smith led Northeastern with 17 points and six rebounds. Tyler Smith finished with 16 points and Bailey Stewart tossed in 10 points.
Sanford scored and game-high 23 points for the Patriots.
Miller along with classmates Nevada Lakes, Breyden Wicker, Isaiah Spencer and Jamison Walters were in uniform for the final time for the Patriots.
Box Score
UNION COUNTY (15-9) – Preston Scott 0 4-5 4, Breyden Wicker 1 2-2 4, Cameron Donovan 2 0-1 5, Logan Sanford 9 0-0 23, Dillon Miller 3 3-4 9, Nevada Lakes 0 0-0 0, Mason Miller 1 0-0 2, Jamison Walters 0 0-0 0. Team – 16 9-12 47.
NORTHEASTERN (21-4) – Tyler Smith 6 4-7 16, Bailey Stewart 3 4-5 10, Robert Smith 5 7-11 17, Nate Reynolds 1 2-4 4, DaShawn Hampton 3 0-0 7, Kaleb Mikesell 0 0-0 0, Austin Clay 0 0-1 0, Harrison Rice 0 2-2 2, Jalen Hillard 0 0-0 0. Team – 18 19-30 56.
Union County 4 20 32 47
Northeastern 3 25 39 56
3-pointers – Union County 6 (Sanford 5, Donovan 1), Northeastern 1 (Hampton 1). Rebounds – Union County 36 (D. Miller 11), Northeastern 31 (R.Smith 6). Turnovers – Union County 23, Northeastern 15. Fouls – Union County 24, Northeastern 19.
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