Union City, fighting for its playoff life, made a key defensive adjustment that nearly saw them snap the Knights 8-game winning streak.

The Knights were able to solve just enough of that Bears defense; however, and came away with a 51-45 win, their ninth straight.

“They had a funky little defense,” Eisenhower coach Ryan Williams said. “I’d say it was a box-and-1, but it was more like a diamond-and-1. It got our guys flustered.”

So flustered that the Knights didn’t take their first lead in the game until there were 20 seconds left in the first half.

Times Observer photo by Brian Hagberg Eisenhower’s Jaydon Hayes tries to wrap a shot around a Union City defender during the first quarter of their game at Eisenhower High School, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. Hayes had 16 points as the Knights picked up a hard-fought 51-45 victory over the Bears.

Eisenhower took the opening tip and held possession for nearly a minute before getting a shot off. The shot missed and Union City was able to score first. The new defensive scheme had Eisenhower out of rhythm offensively for most of the quarter and threes from Andrew Hoban and Miles Parker gave the Bears a 10-6 advantage with two minutes to play in the opening frame. The Bears led it 12-8 after one.

“They had us messed up,” Williams said.

The Knights started applying more pressure defensively themselves in the second quarter and a Tajah Warren steal and breakaway layup tied it at 14-14 with five minutes to go in the half. Jaydon Hayes picked up his second personal foul just a minute later and Union City quickly took advantage of his absence.

Bronnan Higley’s three-point play with 2 1/2 to play capped a 7-0 Bears run and appeared to give Union City all the momentum.

Hayes returned for Higley’s free throw, got a pass on the left corner just beyond the three-point line and calmly sunk the distance jumper to get the Knights rolling. Zack Fincher followed with threes of his own on back-to-back possessions to give the Knights their first lead at 23-21. Union City got a late layin and Fincher’s attempted buzzer beater rattled around the rim before dropping harmlessly to the floor, leaving the game tied at 23 heading into the half.

Troy Myer and the Eisenhower Knights received a first round by in the District 10 Class 2A playoffs.

“We started playing better defense (in the second) and it led to breaks,” Williams said.

The Knights got a pair of steals and breakaways to start the third quarter, but Hoban hit back-to-back threes to get the Bears right back on top, 31-27 with just over four minutes to go. A Drew Williams three and Warren breakaway put Eisenhower ahead 34-31, but Hayes picked up his third personal and had to exit. The Bears again took advantage and took a 35-34 lead into the fourth.

Hayes’ three-point play early in the fourth quarter put the Knights up 39-35. Union City continued fighting, tying the game at 39-39 and 41-41. Eisenhower changed offensive strategy and had Hayes stay almost stationary on the perimeter. The move opened lanes for Troy Myer who took full advantage, scoring five of his seven points late in the frame to help Eisenhower seal the win.

“Troy played one of the best halves I’ve seen him play all season,” Williams said. “He was active on defense. He’s like another coach on the floor running the offense. We let Jaydon occupy two guys (outside) and (Troy) started to score.”

Though admittedly nervous about potentially losing, Williams knows having to adjust on the fly will only help his team come playoff time.

“Teams from the south know Jaydon can score so we’re going to see some weird things coming at us,” he said. “I like tight games like this. We learn a lot.”

Hayes still managed to have a team-high 16 points while Warren added 15.

The Knights have to get right back after it as they travel east to face cross-county rival Sheffield tonight.

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UNION CITY (45)

Parker 1-2-2-5, Hoban 3-0-0-9, Kinney 2-0-2-4, Gardener 2-0-0-4, B. Higley 8-3-3-19, J. Higley 2-0-0-4, Dougherty 0-0-0-0, Bijaczko 0-0-0-0, B. Hornaman 0-0-0-0, K. Hornaman 0-0-0-0, Wienczkowski 0-0-0-0, Eliason 0-0-0-0

EISENHOWER (51)

N. Smelko 1-0-0-2, Myer 2-3-4-7, Z. Fincher 2-0-0-6, Warren 7-1-2-15, Hayes 6-3-5-16, Williams 1-0-0-3, Alexander 0-0-0-0, L. Smelko 0-0-0-0, A. Fincher 0-0-0-0, Trumbull 0-0-0-0, Martone 0-0-0-0, Robinault 0-0-0-0, Beers 0-0-0-0

By Quarters

Union City 12 11 12 10 – 45

Eisenhower 8 15 11 17 – 51

Three-point FGs: Union City (4) – Hoban (3), Parker; Eisenhower (4) – Z. Fincher (2), Hayes, Williams

– – –

JV UNION CITY 53, EISENHOWER 39

Eisenhower: Owen Trumbull 7, Jared Martone 6, Will Schwanke 6, Zach Rohlin 5, Caleb Robinault 5, James Pollard 5