Union boys win Class 6A regional
BY MICHAEL KNIGHT World Correspondent
Sunday, February 24, 2013
2/24/13 at 7:42 AM
STILLWATER - No. 12 Union became the Class 6A boys regional champion for a third consecutive year with a 76-71 overtime victory over No. 7 Stillwater on Saturday.
The Redskins were led by Jeff Mead and Carson Meier, who had 27 and 23 points.
"We made some plays down the stretch, and in overtime we took control of it and were able to get the win," Union coach Rudy Garcia said.
Union survived a hot shooting night from Stillwater's Carson Teel, who finished with 21 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Stillwater's Rico Thompson led all scorers with 35 points.
Mead scored Union's first four points in the overtime period. The junior scored 24 of his team-high 27 points after halftime.
"Big players know when it's time to take over, and he did a great job for us," Garcia on Mead's second-half performance.
Union took a four-point lead into halftime. The Redskins built the lead on second-chance opportunities. Stillwater had no answer for Meier and Josh Palmer, who dominated the offensive glass.
Union went on a run halfway through the third quarter to take a seven-point advantage, but Teel brought the Pioneers back into the game. The junior finished the third quarter with four 3s, pulling Stillwater within one point going into the final quarter.
Stillwater took all of the momentum into the fourth quarter, going on a 9-0 run to take a 60-54 lead with 3:55 left in the game. With just over one minute to go, Union's Alex Barton hit his only basket of the game, a 3-pointer from the left wing to tie the game at 62.
Thompson made two free throws, and Meier answered with a turn-around layup with 20 seconds left in regulation. Thompson's floater missed to the right and the two teams went to overtime.
Union advances to the winner's bracket in the area tournament next week. The Redskins will face rival Jenks after the Trojans beat Bixby 77-54 Saturday night.
"It's a rivalry game, they've gotten us twice this year," Garcia said. The Trojans won both regular season meetings by eight points in each game.
Stillwater will face Bixby in the consolation bracket for the second consecutive year. Bixby won last year's meeting, ending Stillwater's season.
Union 76, Stillwater 71
| Union |
17 |
13 |
22 |
12 |
12 |
- |
76 |
| Stillwater |
15 |
11 |
25 |
13 |
7 |
- |
71 |
Union (16-9): Mead 27, Meier 23, Palmer 10, Davis 6, Olden 5, Barton 3, Wannemacher 2
Stillwater (17-7): Thompson 35, Teel 21, Dickey 9, Brown 2, Budke 2, Watkins 2
Original Print Headline: Union downs Stillwater
