Bobcats upset No. 6-ranked Stanfield, 70-63

UNION'S JAKE MONTGOMERY scored four points in the Bobcats' 70-63 upset win over Stanfield Monday.

UNION — While its been a tough season for the Union boys basketball team, Monday proved to be bright spot for the Bobcats.

UHS ended its six-game skid with a 70-63 victory over Stanfield, which entered the game second in the conference and ranked No. 6 in the latest OSAA 2A ranking.

“This is a huge win for us,” coach Brett Dunten said.

The game went back and forth throughout the first half, with both teams shooting the ball well. 

Stanfield’s Devin Bailey knocked down four three pointers in the first eight minutes, but the Bobcats hung with the visitors and the game was tied 21-21.

Union separated itself in the second quarter, taking a 37-32 lead into halftime.

Then came the third quarter.

The Bobcats got off to an 11-2 start in the third, getting multiple second-chance opportunities and playing with a chip on their shoulder.

“J.D. (Graves) really gave us a lot of energy in the third, especially on the glass,” Dunten said.

Union took a 53-36 lead into the fourth and looked to be in control.

The Tigers didn’t go away, however, and cut the lead to 56-46 with four minutes left, then got it to 66-58 after three free throws by Bailey with 30 second remaining.

But Union would hit its free throws to ice the game and pick up one of its biggest wins of the year.

Johnny Kennon had 21 points to lead the Bobcats, while Kody Fouts added 20. Brazin Wellington chipped in 11 points, while Ty Coon had eight. 

Jake Montgomery scored four.

Bailey and Eddy Ramos both had 22 points to lead Stanfield.

While Union is out of the race for a spot in the district tournament, the Bobcats will finish their season against the Pilot Rock Friday before hosting Enterprise Saturday.

“Hopefully we can finish off these final games and show our character and integrity,” Dunten said.

The win improves the Bobcats to 5-16 overall and 2-10 in the BMC.

Stanfield, now tied with Weston-McEwen for second place, is 15-7 and 9-3.

Lady Cats 40, Tigers 37

UNION — The Lady Cats might be catching fire at the right time. 

After moving into sole possession of third place in the Blue Mountain Conference with wins over Stanfield and Weston-McEwen this weekend, Union downed the Tigers again Monday night, 40-37 for its fifth straight win with one weekend left in the regular season.

Both teams got off to a slow start Monday, with UHS leading 6-5 after the first quarter. Then in the second, the Lady Cats started on a 9-0 run to stretch its lead, only to see Stanfield finish on a 9-2 run of its own to cut it to 18-16 going into halftime.

The game went back and forth for the first part of the third quarter, with the Tigers taking a 22-21 lead with 4:55 left. But Union responded with a 9-0 run to finish the quarter and went into the fourth with a 30-22 lead.

Stanfield cut the lead to three points (34-31) at the four-minute mark, but behind free throws from Keesha Sarman and Josie Southard the Lady Cats extended the lead to 39-31 with fifty ticks left in the quarter.

The Tigers made once last run over the final stretch, but an air-ball at the buzzer downed the chance to send the game to overtime and Union got its second win over Stanfield in three days.

Sarman led Union with 11 points, while DanI Sturm had eight. 

Southard and Kaci Langford both chipped in with six, and Katherine Hammond had four.

Emma Gabriel had a game-high 16 points, including four three pointers for Stanfield.

Union is now 8-4 in the BMC and play Pilot Rock Friday before hosting league-leader Enterprise Saturday.