Maddie Fulton
LIBERTY, Ind. – The Union County girls basketball team played with a purpose on Wednesday night as the Patriots hoped to stay in the hunt for the Tri-Eastern Conference crown.
“We knew after losing to Union City that we were in trouble in the conference,” Union County Head Coach Scott Gray said. “We did feel like we were playing with an sense of urgency and will be the rest of the year.”
That urgency translated into a 45-33 victory by Union County over Hagerstown.
“I thought we did a good job defensively,” Gray said. “They didn’t get a lot of great looks.”
The defending co-champion Patroits are 5-5 overall and 1-1 in conference, while Union City is 7-2, 3-0 and on top in the TEC.
“We’re going to have to have some help,” Gray said of keeping pace with the Indians. “We also have to hold up our end of the bargan. You’ve got to come to play every night. Nothing is easy.”
Union County did come to play on Wednesday as the Patriots worked to an early 9-2 lead after Maddie Fulton hit a 3-pointer with 4:46 left in the first period.
The Patriots were able to hold on with a 13-6 lead at the first stop. By halftime, Union County was on top 18-15.
Taylor Kelley
In the second half, Hagerstown’s Taylor Kelley and Hannah Rogers scored the first baskets of the third period to put the Tigers up 19-18 with 6:35 remaining in the stanza.
The Patriots answered and took the lead for good when Madison Walters scored moments later to make 20-19 at 5:10.
“When we went up 20-19 they out-toughed us the rest of the game,” Hagerstown Head Coach Chris Oliger said. “They were the better team, plain and simple.”
“We were right there where we needed to be when we scored the first couple of buckets in the second half,” Oliger continued. “Then we gave up drives, we didn’t finish or we missed free throws. They were the tougher team.”
Heading into the final quarter, Union County led 30-23 to take control of the contest.
Fulton led the Patriots with 19 points after scoring six in the first quarter and nothing in the second.
“We just talked about letting our offense run,” Gray said of his halftime dicussion. “She played a good second half.”
Tanner Henry
Tanner Henry was also in double figures for the Patriots with 15 points. Madison Walters finished with seven rebounds.
Taylor Kelly led the Tigers with a dozen points and nine rebounds.
Caysey Farmer scored seven points to lead Hagerstown’s JV to a 27-22 win. Mekayla Todd added six points.
For the Patriots, Tara Williams and Rainey Shepler tossed in six points each.
Hagerstown (6-3, 1-1) entertains New Castle on Saturday, Dec. 12. Union County welcomes Oldenburg on the same day.
Box Score
HAGERSTOWN (6-3, 1-1) – Gabby Willis 1 2-4 5, Hannah Rogers 1 5-7 7, Taylor Kelley 6 0-0 12, Brytni Dale 1 0-0 2, Savannah Houck 3 0-2 6, Victoria Pierson 0 1-2 1, Beth Jenkins 0 0-0 0, Hailee Garrison 0 0-0 0. Team – 12 8-15 33.
UNION COUNTY (5-5, 1-1) – Sierra Dowler 0 0-0 0, Tanner Henry 6 0-0 15, Maddie Fulton 5 7-11 19, Madison Walters 1 1-2 3, Sammie Elleman 3 0-0 6, Tara Williams 1 0-0 2, Danielle Franklin 0 0-0 0. Team – .
Hagerstown 6 15 23 33
Union County 13 18 30 45
3-pointers – Hagerstown 1 (Willis 1), Union County 5 (Henry 3, Fulton 2). Rebounds – Hagerstown 31, (Kelley 9), Union County 21 (Walters 7). Turnovers – Hagerstown 16, Union County 16. Fouls – Hagerstown 16, Union County 14.