Unioto Edges Zane Trace for Share of SVC Boys Basketball Lead

Article Presented By Pickaway Ross CTC…

SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH AND HEAR WHAT THE COACHES HAD TO SAY AND THE McDONALD’S PLAYER OF THE GAME INTERVIEW WITH UNIOTO’S BLAKE FITCH, PLUS HEAR THE LITTER MEDIA RADIO REPLAY OF THE GAME ON DEMAND WITH LITTER MEDIA’S MIKE SMITH & TOM BEARD

SVC Boys Basketball now has co-leaders following Unioto’s 59-58 victory over Zane Trace Tuesday in a game that saw both teams with nine point leads and Zane Trace with a 54-47 advantage before the Shermans closed on a 12-4 run for the win.

The Pioneers darted out to a 5-0 start and later a 17-11 lead, before closing the first quarter with a 22-18 edge. ZT built their biggest margin of the game at 27-18 then later held a 32-28 lead, before Unioto went on an 8-0 run for a 36-32 lead at halftime.

The Tanks got out of the gate strong to start the third quarter, mounting a 41-32 advantage with 6:08 remaining in the quarter. But the Pioneers used tough pressure defense to claw their way back to a 45-43 lead over Unioto to close the third period.

With the score even 45-45, ZT’s Brock Jarrell hit a three for a 48-45 lead, that grew into a 54-47 Pioneers spread with a couple of minutes left in regulation. The Shermans used full court pressure and timely fouls, that ZT was not always able to convert on at the foul line that propeled the Tanks back to within 58-55. That’s where Blake Fitch earned his stripes, connecting on a driving bucket to make it 58-57, than after Unioto forced a Zane Trace turnover with 20 seconds remaining, it was Fitch again with the go-ahead bucket at 59-58.

Zane Trace had one last try with 8 seconds left, but could not cut through the Shermans intense pressure defense for a good look at the bucket to end the game.

Unioto’s Blake Fitch was the McDonald’s Player of the Game, leading the Tanks with 20 points and the final four tallies, while also playing ZT’s Landen Jarrell tough on defense, despite Jarrell’s game-high 23 points in his first game back after four weeks off from an injury.

Blake Hoops also added 16 points for the Shermans, while Zeke Schobelock scored 9 points before leaving the game earlier due to an injured foot. KB Perkins had 7 points before fouling out, Jordan Perkins had 4 points and Ashton Crace had 3 points and 6 rebounds.

Zane Trace was led by Landen Jarrell’s 23 points, Gunnar McCullough had 13 and 9 rebounds, Brock Jarrell scored 12, Landon Robinson 6, and Noah Houston scored 4 points.

Unioto shot 21/33- including 3/6 from the arc for a robust 64%. They were also an impressive 14/17 from the charity stripe. Unioto had 18 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

Zane Trace shot 17/31- including 7/13 from the arc for 55%. They were also 16/25 at the foul line, grabbed 13 rebounds and committed 15 turnovers.

Unioto improves to (6-1/9-5) while Zane Trace falls to (6-1/6-7).