BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
A 10-2 run to open the fourth quarter helped the Keystone Heights High School boys basketball team defeat visiting Union County 54-51 on Dec. 16.
Seth Gagnon and Andru Siemer each scored four points in the fourth quarter as the Indians (5-4) snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Tigers (3-2) were attempting to win their fourth straight game, but couldn’t quite erase the seven-point deficit they faced. Union had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Thomas Williams’ three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.
Keystone used a 10-1 run to take a seven-point lead early in the first quarter. It began with Zeke Pelham making two free throws to tie the score at 4-4. Darrion Grady came up with a steal and dribbled the length of the court for a score that gave Keystone its first lead of the game. Union’s Gavin Jenkins attempted to score on a layup following his own steal, but he had his shot blocked by Gagnon. Grady then sank a three-pointer to make the score 9-4.
Each team made one free throw before the Indians’ Michael Bruzzese made a three-pointer to make it a 12-5 game.
It was then Union’s turn to go on a run as the Tigers outscored Keystone 13-3 to close out the first quarter. Gavin Jenkins and Johnte Nichols scored consecutive baskets off offensive rebounds to pull the Tigers to within three. After a three-pointer by Keystone’s Bryce Hollingsworth, Union’s Deonte Jones scored off a turnover. Jenkins’ slam dunk put the Tigers up 16-15 before Thomas Williams was fouled on a drive to the basket. Williams made both free throws to send Union into the second quarter leading 18-15.
The teams exchanged leads several times in the second quarter, which featured four points each by the Indians’ Pelham and the Tigers’ Jenkins. Two free throws by Keystone’s Wil Rogel put the Indians ahead 26-24, but the Tigers scored three straight points, with Williams making a free throw and Dee Williams scoring after a Nichols steal.
Pelham was fouled with 1.1 seconds remaining in the half. He made the front end of the one-and-one opportunity and then sank the bonus free throw to send Keystone into the break leading 28-27.
Union got off to a quick start in the third quarter, scoring six straight points. After a Dee Williams basket opened the second half, Nichols scored off his own steal. Nichols then added a layup on a fastbreak opportunity to put the Tigers ahead 33-28.
The Indians responded by scoring 10 of the next 14 points. Garrison Teague made a free throw and had a basket off an offensive rebound. Siemer made two straight baskets to put Keystone ahead by two. Union got two free throws from Dee Williams and basket by Nichols to go back on top before Bruzzese sank a three-pointer to put the Indians up 38-37.
A basket by Nichols sparked a 6-0 Tigers spurt, which also included two free throws by Thomas Williams and a rebound putback by Jenkins.
Keystone’s Gagnon scored four straight points to end the quarter. He made two free throws before scoring off an offensive rebound as the Indians went into the final quarter trailing 43-42.
The Indians took the lead for good with four straight points to open the fourth quarter. A Cartez Daniels rebound led to a basket by Teague, while Gagnon grabbed an offensive rebound and slammed it home for a 46-43 Keystone lead.
Seimer had consecutive baskets after a score by Union’s Nichols to put the Indians up by five. A layup by Rogel made the score 52-45.
Keystone missed its next six field-goal attempts as the Tigers scored six straight points. Thomas Williams scored on a drive to the basket, while Jayden Jenkins sank a turn-around jumper. Jenkins hit a floater in the lane with 50 seconds remaining to leave Union trailing 52-51.
Gagnon rebounded his own missed shot and scored to put the game’s final points on the board. He finished with a team-high 13 points.
The Indians got eight points from Siemer and seven points from Teague. Bruzzese and Pelham each had six points, while Grady had five. Rogel and Hollingsworth added four and three points, respectively, while Bryant Kubisak chipped in two.
Union had three players score in double figures, with Nichols scoring a game-high 15 points. Thomas Williams and Gavin Jenkins finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
The Tigers also got six points from Dee Williams and four points from Cole Andersen-Davis. Jones and Jayden Jenkins each chipped in two points.
Keystone entered the game off losses to Ridgeview on Dec. 13 (62-58) and Interlachen on Dec. 15 (59-46). The Indians will next compete in the three-day Lake Area McDonald’s-Kiwanis of Starke Christmas Tournament at Bradford High School. Keystone will play North Marion at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, and Tavares at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Keystone ends the tournament by playing Suwannee at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
After opening the season with a 60-33 loss to Crescent City, Union recorded wins over Lafayette on Dec. 6 (52-42), Baker County on Dec. 9 (55-41) and Chiefland on Dec. 15 (45-41).
The Tigers travel to play Middleburg on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. before returning home to play Lafayette on Thursday, Dec. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
