Union boys basketball hopes ‘things will come together’ after 6th straight loss to Redbank Valley
KARNS CITY — Union avoided disaster in the second quarter. That was Step 1.
The Golden Knights couldn’t pull off Step 2.
Trailing 19-4 after the first eight minutes, Union outscored Redbank Valley 11-7 in the second quarter to pull within 11 at halftime. The Bulldogs scored the first six points of the third quarter, and Union never got closer than 15 the rest of the way in a 65-40 boys basketball loss Monday night in the opening game of the Karns City Shootout Tournament.
“We had to get off to a good start in the first three or four minutes of the third quarter,” Union coach Logan Pistorius said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen”
The loss was Union’s sixth straight as the Golden Knights fell to 1-6 on the season.
“Our team has faced a lot of adversity this year,” Pistorius, a Karns City graduate, said. “We’ve had injuries, some guys have quit the team. ... But these kids keep playing hard. I put three freshmen on the floor tonight to give them a little experience.
“Things will come together as the season goes on.”
Braylon Wagner paced Redbank Valley (7-2) with 20 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists. The senior guard left the game early in the fourth quarter after suffering a broken nose. He averages nearly 30 points per game.
“I hope he’s OK. Obviously, he’s a big part of what we do,” Bulldogs coach Jake Dougherty said. “That was a nasty one.”
Kaden Sturgeon contributed 18 points for Redbank Valley while Jaxon Huffman tallied 12 points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
“This was a physical game, but basketball is supposed to be physical out there,” Dougherty said. “There’s a lot of history between these schools, in football, basketball, all sports. Rivalries are going to spark physical play.”
Jorge Reyes, a senior forward, paced Union with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. Micah Kindel came off the bench to score 10 points. Trent Fleming had six rebounds and three assists.
The Bulldogs raced out to a 44-23 lead six minutes into the third quarter.
“That run they had at the start of third quarter was the difference in the game,” Pistorius said.
UNION 40
Trent Fleming 2-11 0-0 4, Parker Bish 2-4 0-0 4, Jackson Renwick 1-9 0-0 3, Jorge Reyes 6-13 2-4 14, Max Gallagher 0-3 0-0 0, Micah Kindel 5-6 0-0 10, Carson Crissman 1-1 0-0 2, Andrew Kifer 1-2 0-0 3. Totals: 18-49 2-5 40.
REDBANK VALLEY 65
Kaden Sturgeon 4-8 10-11 18, Braylon Wagner 7-17 6-6 20, Jaxon Huffman 5-6 0-1 12, Titus Smith 2-4 0-0 4, Eli Rex 2-4 1-2 5, Wyatt Byers 2-3 1-2 6, Tate Fricko 0-0 0-0 0, Jarrett Gould 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 22-14 19-21 65.
Union 4 11 14 11 — 40
Redbank Valley 19 7 23 16 — 65
3-point goals: Union 2 (Renwick, Kifer), Redbank Valley 3 (Huffman 2, Byers)
Tuesday: Redbank Valley vs. A-C Valley, 6 p.m.; Union vs. Karns City, 7:30 p.m.
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Union's Parker Bish (2) looks for an opening against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Jorge Reyes (15) takes a foul shot against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Carson Crissman (34) looks to pass against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Jorge Reyes (15) looks to pass against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Jackson Renwick (4) looks to pass against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Trent Fleming (1) shoots a layup against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Jorge Reyes (15) drives to the basket against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Jorge Reyes (15) goes up for a basket against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Union's Parker Bish (2) looks to make a shot against Redbank Valley in a boys basketball game Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, during the Karns City Shootout at Karns City High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
