Izaiah Manuel’s putback in the paint with 1.4 seconds left lifted Union County to a 67-65 overtime win over Trigg County Tuesday in the Class 2A Sectionals in Morganfield.
The Braves avenged an earlier season 16-point loss to Trigg County as they move on to Friday’s 2A semifinals against Calloway County.
The Wildcats trailed for the entire second half, including a 10-point deficit early in the fourth quarter.
Tutu Gude helped rally Trigg with a 3-pointer that capped a 10-3 run and got the Wildcats to 56-55 with four minutes left.
A Kris Hughes bucket with 42 seconds left put the Braves up 61-58. Gude buried a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to tie the game. Union didn’t get off a good shot in the final seconds to send the game to overtime.
Gude opened the OT with a bucket that gave Trigg its only lead of the extra period. Hughes followed with a pair of free throws, and Daishawn Curry added a bucket with 3:20 left to give the Braves a 65-63 lead.
Jhaden Vaughn tied the game with a putback with 1:13 left. Union County held for the final shot and Manuel drove the lane in the final seconds. His first shot was blocked by Vaughn, but he grabbed the miss and hit a shot in the paint with 1.4 seconds left to break the tie. Trigg’s full-court pass was intercepted by Hughes to end the game.
Trigg County will look back at free throws (4-of-12) and shots in the paint (7-of-17) as two areas that failed them in the loss.
Luke Washer scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Vaughn, who returned after missing a game with a finger injury, scored 13 points and added 18 rebounds and eight assists.
Landon Jones, who did not play in Union’s loss to Trigg County last month, led all scorers with 21 points. Hughes added 17 points and eight rebounds and Manuel scored 12 points, 11 below his season average.
Union County will play Calloway County in Thursday’s 2A semifinals at Webster County.
Trigg County will travel to Logan County Saturday.
Trigg County 12 16 17 16 4– 65
Union County 15 18 18 10 6– 67
Trigg County (8-7) – Washer 20, Vaughn 13, Gude 9, Reynolds 8, Stewart 7, Bush 6, Linton 2
Union County (7-6) – Jones 21, Hughes 17, Manuel 12, Curry 11, Hancock 4, Pollard 2
