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Chester County Press

Unionville bullies Octorara, 62-7

02/02/2016 01:23PM ● By Richard Gaw




By Richard L. Gaw, Staff Writer

If someone had walked into the Unionville gymnasium prior to the opening tip of last Thursday's Ches-Mont girls basketball game between Unionville and Octorara and proclaimed that the odds were severely stacked against the visiting Braves, their comment would be categorized as a severe understatement.

Octorara had entered the contest winless on the entire season, and to make matters worse, were without the services of their two floor leaders, seniors Alli Zimmerman and Sydney Townsend, who were both sidelined due to injuries. On the other side of the floor, Unionville was coming to a wrap on a respectable season, and about to take the court on Senior Night, when team leaders Sam Pancoast, Ellie Covert, Riley Schrof and Julie Lattari would be recognized after the game.

Were the Mercy Rule have been in effect during the game, officials would have certainly enacted it. Unfortunately, the game played to its conclusion.

Behind a balanced offensive attack that saw eight players register in the scoring column, Unionville notched a one-sided, 62-7 victory over Octorara, in the first game of a Senior Night doubleheader.

Going into the second game of the night with a 6-13 overall record, the Unionville boys varsity team surprised 16-1 Octorara by taking the Braves into overtime before falling, 56-55.

Although Maddie Shanahan's jumper 30 seconds into the first quarter served as Unionville's first points, the quarter belonged to Pancoast, who bruised her way in the paint for 11 early points that gave the Indians a 19-2 lead at the end of the quarter.

On almost every one of its offensive possessions, the Braves were not able to manage more than two passes, before a pass was stolen or a turnover was called. A breakaway layup off of a steal by Lattari gave Unionville a 28-4 lead with 4:27 remaining in the half, and by the time the third quarter began, the Indians were enjoying a 37-7 lead.

The five points that Octorara put on the board in the second quarter all belonged to freshman guard Haley Justice.

In the second half, Unionville used its insurmountable lead to work on its offense, and played nearly flawless perimeter basketball, while holding Octorara to zero points. The Indians were led by Pancoast with 15 points, Shanahan with 12 points and Lattari with 11 points. With the win, Unionville rose to 10-8 overall and 6-3 in the Ches-Mont. After a trip to Owen J. Roberts on Jan. 30, the Indians close out their regular season with a home game against Bayard Rustin on Feb. 4.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].