Basketball Recap: Eric Linkswiler Key Part of a Team Effort in Tigers Win

There's no place like home for Union, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Tuesday. They snuck past the Hancock Panthers with a 56-50 victory on Friday. The Tigers have seen this before: they got the W the last time they saw the Panthers, too.

Union's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Eric Linkswiler, who went 7 of 10 on his way to 16 points along with six boards and three steals. Those three steals gave Linkswiler a new career-high. Braylon Ward was another key player, almost dropping a double-double on 13 points and nine rebounds.

Union smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Hancock only pulled down three offensive boards.

Hancock's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Tucker Welch, who posted 12 points. Another player making a difference was Jacob Anderson, who scored 11 points.

Union now has a winning record of 5-4. As for Hancock, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 5-7.

Union and Hancock should be looking forward to their upcoming games as both have a sizable advantage in their respective state rankings. Union (ranked 82nd) will meet Highland (ranked 376th) at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Union is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 53.1 points per game this season. Similarly, Hancock will face off against Fannett Metal at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday up 395 places (258 vs. 653).