Christmas comes early: Red RaidersëƵ Winfrey scores 1,000th-career point in victory over Latrobe
LATROBE ëƵ Calvin Winfrey III was hoping to score his 1,000th-career point on a dunk, but heëƵll settle for a layup.
The Uniontown senior came into TuesdayëƵs Class 5A Section 1 game at Latrobe needing 13 points to become the 20th boy in program history to reach the mark.
Winfrey did that and more in scoring a game-high 26 points in the Red RaidersëƵ 81-53 victory.
Winfrey drove and scored with 4:13 left in the third quarter for 1,001 points. He had the chance for 1,000 at the foul line earlier in the period, but made 1 of 2 for 999.
WinfreyëƵs career total stands at 1,013, as Uniontown will be heading to Orlando, Fla., to play in the KSA Tournament.
ëƵIt is a big accomplishment to score 1,000 points, and no Winfrey has ever done it, so IëƵm happy I got it,ëƵ said Winfrey on reaching 1,000-career points. ëƵI would rather get it on a bucket than a free throw. This was a big win to come to their court and beat them.
ëƵIt was great to score my 1,000th-career point, but it wouldnëƵt have mattered if we didnëƵt win the game. I will remember this day the rest of my life, so if we would have lost, it would have been bad.ëƵ
Winfrey joins teammate and cousin Notorious Grooms on the 1,000-point list. Grooms, who hit the mark last season, scored 25 points.
ëƵHe is like my actual blood brother, and I love him,ëƵ Grooms said. ëƵWe grew up together playing since we were five, and thatëƵs how we bond.ëƵ
The Red Raiders (3-0, 5-1) had more reason to celebrate in defeating the previously unbeaten Wildcats (1-1, 5-1).
ëƵLatrobe is a very good basketball team and IëƵve known (Latrobe head coach) Brad (Wetzel) for years,ëƵ Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky said. ëƵTheir kids play so hard and they push that ball. They have a style of play, and itëƵs really good.
ëƵBefore the season started, I thought we had two tough games early in Penn-Trafford and Latrobe. We beat Penn-Trafford, who is well coached and good, and right now we beat Latrobe, so right now we are 3-0 in the section and getting ready to go to Florida at 2 a.m. ëƵThese are two quality wins on the court. I think whoever wins this season is going to 12-2 or 11-3. There is a lot of parity, but the way we ran our offense tonight, and played, was really good.ëƵ
Latrobe had a strong start and led 14-8 before Kelan Milsom made 1 of 2 at the foul line and Cam Dugan hit a three-pointer after Grooms pulled down an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to 14-12.
The WildcatsëƵ John Wetzel scored two of his team-high 21 points before the Red Raiders went on a 7-0 run that was capped by Isaac EllsworthëƵs deep 3-pointer as time expired for a 19-16 lead after the first quarter. Ellsworth scored 13 points and Milsom added 12.
GroomsëƵ offensive rebound demonstrated his desire to do more than just score.
ëƵTori (Grooms) knows we need rebounding, defense and steals, and itëƵs been amazing,ëƵ Kezmarsky said. ëƵTori is an all-around basketball player, and he does what the team needs.ëƵ
Latrobe cut the Uniontown lead to 25-24 in the second quarter, but never regained the advantage once it fell behind.
The Red Raiders had a 34-30 lead at halftime, but took control in the third quarter after outscoring the Wildcats, 29-14.
Uniontown had an 18-9 edge in the final frame.
ëƵYou canëƵt turn the ball over that much against a team that good,ëƵ Brad Wetzel said. ëƵOnce they got the momentum, we couldnëƵt get it back. I thought we did a pretty decent job of denying them that momentum, but once they got it, I donëƵt think we fought as hard as we needed to get back in the game.ëƵ