PITTSBURGH — Two steps forward, two steps back.
That was the story for the Union High boys basketball team against Clairton in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals last night.
Fifth-seeded Clairton (15-6) will move on to battle defending Class A champion Lincoln Park (19-5) in the semifinals Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.
The Bears used a 10-0 run midway through the first quarter to gain a 15-7 lead into the second. Forward Terrish Webb made his presence known early, snagging six points during the run. He finished with a game-high 24 points for Clairton.
The fourth-seeded Scotties (17-6) stormed back, capping a 9-0 run to take a two-point lead with a 3-pointer from forward Markel Peace. Union’s leading scorer ended the contest with 14 points and three 3-pointers.
But, as it did all night, Clairton quickly responded. This time, it was guard Tyler Boyd who did the damage, notching five points in a 12-2 run to end the half for the Bears. Union trailed by a 29-21 count heading into the third.
Boyd, Webb and Howard are three Pitt football recruits known as the “Killer Ts”. The trio of gridiron stars led the Bears football team to state four consecutive state titles and a Pennsylvania record 63 straight victories. The group proved they also are formidable on the basketball court against Union, providing 45 of the team’s 66 points.
The Scotties’ Benjamin Young cut the advantage to seven points late in the third with a 3-pointer with 2:15 remaining. Young bucketed a team-high 20 points for Union and matched Peace with three 3-pointers.
Joe Salmen was next for the Scotties with 15 points, converting all 10 of his free-throw attempts.
That was as close as Union would get, as Webb took over in the fourth quarter, notching 12 of Clairton’s 20 points to seal the win.
The loss ends the Scotties season much in the same way their 2011-2012 season concluded, in the second round. Union will graduate nine seniors this year — Peace, Salmen, Clifford Clark, John Hilke, Tre Major, Tyrone May, Drew Robinson, Wayne Seamans and Elijah Williams.
3-point goals — Clairton 6 (Clifford 2, Ford 1, Boyd 3); Union 7 (Salmen 1, Peace 3, Young 3).