BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
A three-pointer by Michael Bruzzese and a steal by Andru Siemer helped the Keystone Heights High School boys basketball team hold off Union County in the final seconds and win 55-48 on Jan. 19 in Lake Butler.
Bruzzese, Seth Gagnon and Zeke Pelham combined to score 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Indians (11-8) won for the third time in four games.
The Tigers (8-8) scored the first six points of the game, which began with a steal by Union’s Cole Andersen-Davis. That led to a basket by Andersen-Davis, while a Gavin Jenkins scored the second basket, receiving a pass from Johnte’ Nichols and slamming it home. Dee Williams added a basket off his own steal.
Pelham knocked down a three-pointer to put Keystone on the board. Garrison Teague made 1 of 2 free throws for the Indians, with Gagnon rebounded the missed attempt and putting it in for a bucket, tying the score at 6-6.
Keystone added four more points in closing the first quarter with a 10-0 run. Gagnon had a dunk, while Siemer scored on a layup off a Cartez Daniels inbounds pass.
It was 16-10 in favor of the Indians in the second quarter when Williams scored three straight points. After making 1 of 2 free throws, he scored following a steal by Jayce Puni.
A Wil Rogel basket and two free throws by Pelham helped Keystone increase its lead to six. Union then got consecutive baskets from Andersen-Davis and Thomas Williams, but the Indians’ Teague made a three-pointer to put Keystone ahead 24-19.
Pelham scored following a turnover to help send Keystone into halftime leading 26-20.
Dee Williams did his part to pull his team closer, scoring six of the Tigers’ first eight points of the third quarter. It was 27-22 when he scored on a drive to the basket to make the margin three. Teague answered with a successful drive to the basket of his own, but Williams then scored two straight baskets to make the score 29-28.
The Indians closed the third quarter with a five straight points. Gagnon had a free throw and a field goal, while Pelham scored off his own steal, putting Keystone up 34-30.
Union scored six straight points in the fourth quarter during a stretch in which the Indians committed three turnovers and went 0 for 4 at the foul line. Nichols scored after the first turnover. Jenkins and Andersen-Davis came up with consecutive steals on which they were fouled driving to the basket. Jenkins made both of his free-throw attempts, while Andersen-Davis made one. Deonte Jones was then fouled on a rebound-putback attempt, making one free throw to leave the Tigers trailing 37-36.
Keystone answered with six straight points. Gagnon made two free throws, followed by Bruzzese knocking down a three-pointer. Pelham then made two free throws to make the score 44-36.
The Tigers went through a stretch where they missed four straight field-goal attempts before getting consecutive baskets from Nichols and Jones. Jones’ score came off a Thomas Williams steal.
A Jenkins free throw made it a three-point game with 2:02 remaining. Gagnon and Thomas Williams traded baskets. Gagnon then made two free throws, followed by a basket by Union’s Andresen-Davis. Bruzzese then made his second three-pointer of the quarter to put the Indians ahead 51-45 with 53 seconds left.
Union missed a field-goal attempt on its next offensive series, but the Indians committed a turnover with 32 seconds remaining. The Tigers couldn’t capitalize as Siemer came up with a steal for Keystone, which led to a basket by Pelham with 24 seconds remaining. Pelham was fouled on the shot and made the ensuing free throw to make the score 54-45.
Nichols made a three-pointer to account for the Tigers’ final points, while Siemer made a free throw to account for the 55-48 final.
Gagnon and Pelham finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively, while Bruzzese had nine. The Indians also got six points from Teague, four points from Daniels, three points from Siemer and two points from Rogel.
Dee Williams led Union with 11 points, while Jenkins, Nichols and Thomas Williams each had nine. The Tigers also got seven points from Andersen-Davis and three points from Jones.
Keystone entered the game off a 60-48 loss to Palatka, but won two straight prior to that, defeating Tavares 83-40 and Middleburg 66-41.
The Indians travel to play Baldwin on Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. and will host Crescent City on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m. They play home games against Oak Hall on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Harvest Community on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m.
Union, which entered the Keystone game off a 56-46 win over Interlachen, travels to play Trenton on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. and will host Bell on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m. The Tigers travel to play Dixie County on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. before playing home games against Crescent City on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Middleburg on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m.
