KNOX — Union boys basketball coach Karen Davis slumped on the bench, shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

“If you don't play well, you're not going to win,” Davis said.

She was correct.

Union didn't play well, turning the ball over 31 times and shooting only 33 percent from the floor in a 62-50 loss to Northern Cambria in the first round of the PIAA Class A playoffs at Keystone High Friday night.

“I don't think we have been pressed all year, but I don't understand why that let us bug us,” Davis said.

Pressing is what Northern Cambria (17-10) does best on defense, and the Colts were relentless against the Golden Knights.

North Cambria's Tony Rocco recorded a rare double-double: 20 points and 11 steals.

“I told him, ‘You know, Tony, your job on the point of this press is to be disruptive,'” said Northern Cambria coach Dave Weber.

Rocco certainly was disruptive.

Still, despite the mistakes, Union led 23-22 at the half.

That lead didn't last long.

The Colts scored six points in the first minute of the third quarter to wrest the lead away. They never gave it back.

Union was the only team in the giving mood.

“It wasn't just one person, it was everybody,” Davis said of the turnovers. “ We haven't been in sync for a while now. We've been just getting by. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of my kids. But our last, best game might have been against Clarion (Feb. 24).”

The mistakes really caught up to Union in the fourth quarter.

Northern Cambria took a 10-point lead with six minutes remaining in the game and led by as many as 13 with less than four minutes left.

Brody Pollock, who was one of several Union players in foul trouble to further hinder the Golden Knights, finished with 19 points.

Andy Hancharik had 17 points for Northern Cambria, which plays Rocky Grove in the next round.

There is no next round for Union, but this was the program's most successful season in nearly 30 years. The 1991-92 season was the last time the Golden Knights had advanced to the PIAA tournament.

Union will lose three key seniors — Trent Corle, Shawn Booth and Derek Shirey — but also will return many important cogs.

“I'm so proud of these kids,” Davis said. “We've had a great year, great season. They played hard. There probably weren't many people who thought we could do what we've done.”

Davis' eyes welled up with tears as she discussed the seniors.

“They were such hard workers,” Davis said. “They were such a great group of boys. They put the time and effort into it and they will be missed.”

NORTHERN CAMBRIA 62Tony Rocco 9-15 2-5 20, Andy Hancharik 4-7 7-8 17, Joel Polites 1-6 3-4 5, Derek Bearer 0-0 0-1 0, Nick Lee 4-5 0-2 8, Adam Polites 1-5 0-0 2, Josh Bonattesta 2-5 2-2 6, Jeff Hogan 2-10 0-0 4.

Totals: 23-53 14-22 62.

UNION 50Taylor Smith 3-9 2-2 8, Brody Pollock 6-15 6-6 19, Shawn Booth 0-5 0-0 0, Trent Corle 2-6 0-0 2, Brody Shick 0-1 0-0 0, Aaron Graham 1-2 3-3 5, Derek Shirey 3-8 2-4 8, Austin Davis 2-5 0-0 4, Mike Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Kaden McGregor 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17-51 13-15 50.

Northern Cambria 12 10 20 20—62Union 15 8 15 12—503-point goals: Northern Cambria 2 (Hancharik 2); Union 1 (Pollock).