Dec 4, 2023 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

UNIONTOWN – Washington boys basketball coach Ryan Bunting said he wanted his team to play against a top-level squad like Uniontown.

However, the Red Raiders 97-40 victory over the Prexies in Monday’s non-section game at Uniontown’s AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium didn’t provide the effort he was looking for.

“We were soft tonight,” Bunting said. “They were more aggressive and deserved to win. The way we played is not in our DNA.”

Washington fell to 0-3 with its other losses coming to Class 6A Canon-McMillan in a buzzer beater and to Class 5A Trinity.

“We are going to find out who’s made of what, and some people’s character,” Bunting said. “We tested ourselves against a good team like this tonight, and it’s a matter if guys want to keep working to get better or not.”

Uniontown (1-0) didn’t play this past weekend, as most teams got their start on Friday and Saturday, but it didn’t slow down the Red Raiders, who had a 24-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

“We watched Wash High play this weekend, and they had two close games with Canon-McMillan and Trinity, and we have played some great games with Washington over the years,” Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. “We shot the ball really well, and when the kids are trying to get into the gym at 4 for a 7:30 game, it shows how excited they are to play.”

Uniontown lost in the Class 4A state semifinals last year to eventual state champion Lincoln Park, who is once again favored to win the WPIAL and state title.

The Red Raiders had a 14-4 lead with 3:12 left in the first quarter, and Notorious Grooms led the way with 3 three-pointers for nine of his game-high 27 points. Grooms had seven of Uniontown’s 12 three-pointers, and also made three two-point field goals.

The Red Raiders outscored the Prexies, 38-11, in the second quarter for a 62-19 halftime advantage.

Uniontown’s Calvin Winfrey III scored 22 points on nine field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 2 of 4 at the line. Winfrey scored 20 of his points in the first half, as the Red Raiders unloaded their bench in the second half.

“I was happy that we got 10 players in, and they were very unselfish, passing the ball to each other,” Kezmarsky said. “I thought K’Adrian (McLee) did a good job on their big guy (De’Ondre Daugherty).”

Jamire Braxton discord 12 points for the home team, including a one-handed slam that brought the home crowd to its feet in the first quarter. Kelan Milsom and Isaac Ellsworth scored 10 points apiece for Uniontown.

The Prexies were led in scoring by Ruben Gordon, who had 19 points on seven field goals, including two 3-pointers, and was 2 of 5 at the line. Gordon had three dunks, but they didn’t carry the same excitement with Washington being on the road.

The Prexies will continue their tour of facing teams in higher classification when they travel to Class 4A Elizabeth Forward on Friday before a trip to another Class 4A squad in South Allegheny next Tuesday.

Wash High opens section play at McGuffey on Dec. 15. The Prexies’ first home game is scheduled for Dec. 19 against Charleroi.