Boys’ Basketball

Unadilla Valley 73, Unatego 44

NEW BERLIN – During Unadilla Valley’s late season-push where it won seven of its final eight games, junior Brett Hanslmaier scored in double figures just one time.

The team’s top scorer the first half of the season returned to form on the offensive side of the ball as Hanslmaier scored a career-high 21 points to go with 15 rebounds sending the Storm forward in the Section IV Class C playoffs.

Hanslmaier’s production in recent weeks was hampered by an ankle injury and the flu, said UV head coach Matt Osborne. “He’s finally healthy,” Osborne said. “When Brett plays well, our team usually plays well.”

Earlier this season, UV prevailed by just four points over the Spartans. Right out of the gate, the Storm set a pace the visiting club couldn’t match. Jon Schermerhorn hit a three for UV’s first points, and four more three-pointers followed in the opening quarter as Ryan Postma and Ethan Grey hit back-to-back threes, and reserve Tyler Simmons banged in two treys, the latter he actually banged in at the first-quarter buzzer getting a friendly assist from the backboard.

At the first turn, UV led 26-11, an auspicious beginning to the playoff season. “The last few games we haven’t come out strong, and we’ve lacked focus and intensity,” Osborne said. “We certainly didn’t have that problem tonight.”

Unatego trailed by double digits throughout the game, but seemed to gain momentum in the third when Derek Beames’ three-point play made it 46-32 with 2:14 to play in the third.

UV answered with 10 points in the final two minutes of the quarter. Grey and Simmons had driving layups, and Hanslmaier scored the other six. Grey added 12 points in the victory, and Postma netted 11.

Braeden Beadle and Tanner Winchester scored 13 apiece for Unatego.

UV travels to Newfield Saturday.

Unatego: Jared Smith, 0 0-1-0; Kyle Spalding, 2 1-2-5; Austin Dunn, 1 0-0-2; Tanner Winchester, 4 4-4-13; Braeden Beadle, 5 2-2-13; Dean Reed, 0; Dawson Wilsey, 0; Derek Beames, 3 1-2-7; Zachary Youngs, 1 1-2-3; Jared Jones, 0 1-2-1. Totals: 16 10-15-44.

UV: Geoff Keach, 0, ; Ryan Postma, 4 1-1-11; Dylan Thomsen, 1 0-0-2; Steven Gillette,1 0-0-2 ; Jon Schermerhorn, 2 0-0-5; Ethan Grey, 5 0-0-12; Tyler Simmons, 3 0-1-8; Brennon Maynard, 0; Brett Hanslmaier, 9 3-3-21; Sam Tuttle, 2 2-2-6; Hank deGlee, 3 0-0-6. Totals: 30 6-7-73.