A Great Day to be a Redskin. Johnson, Hartzler, help Union Hang on for 37-36 win, 6A title

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Senior Sedrick Johnson knew time was running out on the Redskins’ undefeated season.
So the Union senior amped ip his game, scoring all nine of his points in the second half to the top-ranked Redskins from a nine-point deficit and the win, 37-36 over No. 2 Edmond Memorial.
First, the Redskins had to break the Bulldogs’ stall game.

“We knew we had to get up and pressure because they were going to stall,” Johnson said. “We got the ball and made plays. Coach (Rudy) Garcia told me I had to attack. That’s what I did.”
The win gives Union an undefeated season at 29-0.

“It’s awesome,” Garcia said immediately after the game. “No one’s done it. It’s history. These guys have been a team of destiny all year long. We got behind in some games and always fought back. We had a will to win.”

Edmond Memorial (26-2) went to the stall game in the third period, sporting a 24-17 cushion. But Union continued to chip away, taking the lead for good on Yuri Hager’s free throw with 2:16 remaining.

The Redskin center finished with a team-high 12 points.
“Coach told us we had to make plays in the third quarter if we were going to win,” Hager said. “I figured once they would get up, they would stall. We just locked down our defense and came back and won.”

A Mabee Center crowd of 7,000 saw Edmond Memorial bolt out to an early lead.
But the stall game seemed to have an opposite effect as Union patiently waited for its scoring opportunities.

Johnson and J.C. Hartzler finished with nine and seven points, respectively.
After Jordan Woodard scored to cut Union’s lead top 36-35, Hartzler hit a free throw with 17 seconds remaining to make it 37-35.
But James Woodard was fouled on the opposite end. He missed the first but hit the second. Edmond Memorial got one last chance but Jordan Woodard’s shot banked off the rim.

J.C. Hartzler hit one of two free throws with 17.1 seconds to push the Union lead to 37-35. But James Woodard drew a foul on the opposite end. He missed the first but hit the second to pull the Bulldogs to within 37-36 with seven seconds to go.

Union scored seven quick points before Edmond Memorial got untracked with the game’s next seven points to give the Bulldogs an 8-7 lead late in first period.
While the Redskins cooled off, the Bulldogs did not, outscoring Union 6-1 down the stretch for a 14-8 first quarter advantage.

The Redskins’ offensive woes continued into the second stanza, falling behind 20-13 midway through the period. Aaron Young came off the bench to spark the Bulldogs with five points.
Hartzler and Hager led Union with a combined 14 points.
Edmond Memorial (26-2) was led by Jordan and James Woodard with nine points apiece.