Sports
Vinton County Overcomes Unioto for District Championship
By: Alex Harrison
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A desperation heave from Unioto was short and to the left. Like the game for Unioto, the shot looked on target until the end when it just wasn’t good enough. Unioto led for most of the game, but the scoreboard read no time left and Vinton County up 64-63.
Unioto owned the first 23:55 seconds of the game. That’s when Tristan Bartoe put his stamp on the game.
Vinton County down one point, Bartoe threw up and swished a three before the third quarter buzzer. The Vikings went from down for most of the game to a 47-45 lead.
Bartoe got in position to take the lead when Derick Jones made a string of plays to get Vinton County a lead for the first time. Jones drove for a basket to get Vinton County within four. Later, Jones missed his shot but grabbed his own rebound and converted the second time.
Naylan Yates forced a steal and Jones put up Vinton County’s first three of the game for a 44-43 lead that Unioto quickly took back. That’s when Bartoe struck.
Bartoe began the fourth quarter with another three and the Vikings led 50-45, but Unioto was unfazed.
Clay Edler was fouled on a basket and went to the line for one. Edler made the free throw and the game was tied at 53 apiece.
The Vikings took back the lead, but Unioto was close. The Shermans never got down more than four points and nearly came back with seconds on the clock.
Peyton Hill grabbed the lead for Unioto with two of his 26 points, but Bartoe was fouled and took the lead right back to the McArthur side of the Convocation Center where it stayed.
Vinton County had the 61-60 lead, but Unioto had the ball. The Shermans tried to pass the ball around, but Bartoe was suffocation near the half-court line and forced an errant pass that sailed out of bounds with 43.9 seconds on the clock.
Bartoe then sealed the deal draining two free throws with 17.2 seconds left and Vinton County had a 64-60 lead. Bartoe finished with 27 points and was 9-9 from the charity stripe.
Peyton Hill made a long three to get Unioto down 64-63, but 1.9 seconds was not enough for the Shermans to have a better chance at a win.
This was a grudge match for Unioto (19-6) and they fell short against the Vikings for a second year in a row. Unioto, as the top seed, was defeated 50-47 by Vinton County in last year’s District Semi-final.
Vinton County (23-2) will see the winner of John Glenn and Meadowbrook in the Regional Semi-final at the Convocation Center on Saturday. John Glenn defeated Vinton County last season and ended the season as State Champions.