By By Jim Luke/Special to the Star
Dec. 29, 2001
PHILADELPHIA The Union Yellowjackets used their defense to hold the Nanih Waiya Warriors to nine points in the third quarter to gain the cushion they would need to hang on to a 70-68 win in the second round of the Philly-Rush Medical Holiday Classic here Friday afternoon.
The defense created opportunities for the Union offense as they built on a 40-38 halftime lead to slip out to a 57-51 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Warriors made a strong run at the end of the game, tying the score at 68-68 with a minute and a half to go. The Yellowjackets walked the ball up the court and ran time off the clock to prevent the Warriors another opportunity with the ball.
With mere seconds remaining Prentiss Evans scored the bucket to give the Yellowjackets the final 70-68 margin as the Warriors were unable to get the ball up the court for a shot at the buzzer.
The other key in the contest for the Warriors was the lack of success at the free throw line. In game Nanih Waiya hit seven of fifteen from the charity stripe while Union hit three of six.
He was also quick to give Union plenty of credit.
For Casey, it was a win, but not one that he was totally satisfied with.
Leading the Yellowjackets offensively was Douglas Wansley with 21 points and Derrick Harris with 19. Quincy Larkin added 14 and Evans had 10 points.
The Warriors were led by Blackwell with 28 points. David Frey had 16, Derick Holdiness 13 and Brandon Walker 10.
Union, 7-6, will be back in action today at 2:15 p.m. as they play Newton County in the finals of the losers bracket of the tournament. Nanih Waiya, 4-9, will open the day's action against Kemper County at 1 p.m. in the losers bracket consolation game.