BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Garrison Smith made six three-pointers, finishing with a game-high 24 points and helping the Union County High School boys basketball team win its season opener 72-41 over visiting Keystone Heights.
The Tigers got big second-half performances from Smith (11 points), Montreal Woods (11 points) and Tyrese Chandler (nine points) in turning a seven-point lead into the eventual 31-point win.
It was the third straight loss for the Indians (1-3) after opening their season with a 53-24 win over Hope Christian on Nov. 17. Keystone’s other losses are 60-39 to Englewood on Nov. 18 and 55-49 in overtime to Interlachen on Nov. 20.
The long-range shots were falling early, with Keystone’s Cooper Barry hitting a three-pointer for the game’s first points. That was followed by Smith’s first three-pointer.
Another Smith three-pointer and a basket by Jaylen Pierre off a turnover put Union up 9-3, but the Indians’ Barry made it a three-point game with his second three-pointer. Keystone’s Dereon Tochterman scored on a drive to the basket, while a free throw by Barry tied the score at 9-9.
A 13-0 run put the Tigers up 24-11 in the second quarter. Jackson Andersen-Davis scored off an offensive rebound, while Smith knocked down a fall-away jumper. Woods and Darrell Merriex each scored off a rebound before Pierre made two free throws. Smith then hit a shot from beyond the arc to put Union ahead by 13.
Keystone scored seven of the final eight points of the first half. Barry knocked down a trey and then went the length of the court after grabbing a defensive rebound to make the score 24-16. After a free throw by the Tigers’ R.J. Odom, the Indians’ Baylor Ford drove the baseline for a basket to leave Keystone trailing 25-18 going into the half.
Union scored the first six points of the second half, with Chandler contributing four points.
Chandler, Smith and Woods combined to score 16 third-quarter points as the Tigers began pulling away.
The Tigers scored five baskets following turnovers in the final quarter.
Keystone got three three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including two straight by Will Begue for the Indians’ final points.
Woods and Pierre finished with 13 and 10 points, respectively, while Union also got nine from Chandler, seven from Andersen-Davis, five from Merriex, two from Cadenz Merriex and one each from Odom and Adrian Manns.
The Indians’ Barry was the game’s second-leading scorer with 17 points. Tochterman had eight points, while Keystone also got six from Begue, five from Ford, three from Bacorn and two from Donald Hill.
Union travels to play Hamilton County Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Keystone hosts Duval Charter on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. and will travel to play Baldwin on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. The Indians then host West Nassau on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
