Uintah's Matthew Cushing didn't waste any time getting the job done. He rushed to the basket like a runaway train and derailed Union High School boys team 72-52 at Roosevelt on Tuesday evening with a game high 25 points. The Utes gained their first Region 10 win vs. Union.

“We just spread it out on offense and moved the ball around. We got some boards. We have a passion for rebounds,” said 6 foot five inch center Cushing.

The Cougars had grabbed a 4-0 lead on baskets by Hunter Hullinger and Jonathan Wood, but then Uintah's Brady Davis went on a 3-point parade with three straight threes for hoop fireworks and a Ute lead of 9-6 midway into the first quarter. Cushing added two free throws for an 11-6 Uintah advantage.

“I threw them up and they went in. I was open for shots and just put them down,” said Davis, who had his three 3-pointers all in the first quarter to give the Uintah offense a powerful jolt.

Denver Buckalew, son of Burke Buckalew, former Uintah hoop star in the 1970s, zapped in a three-point play and Dallin Stewart rebounded a shot back into the hoop for a Ute lead of 16-8 after one quarter of action.

“We had great intensity on defense the whole game and made plays for steals. We moved the ball good and got it to the right guy at the right time when they were open,” said Buckalew, whose dad Burke played on a Uintah team that included Ron Ellis, Clark McClellen, Darrin Gardiner, Ron Gardner.

The Utes continued to dominate the game with Cushing netting a rebound on a free throw miss by Davis and scoring a bucket for a 10-point Uintah lead of 24-14.

Union's Spencer Ross ignited a Cat charge with a five straight points that included a 3-pointer and Hunter Hullinger had some 3-point magic of his own. Wood hit a short jumper with 1.7 seconds left in the first half that had Union back in the game and behind by just three counters at 28-25.

A basket by Hullinger had Union down once again by three at 30-27 early in the third quarter, but Uintah got busy with back-to-back field goals for a 34-27 edge.

Union's Stephen Merrell pumped in a shot to put the Cats down by 34-29. However, Uintah came alive with “bang bang” hoop play that was set up by a stealing landscape of four straight thefts with a net result being three field goals. Beau Choffin's 3-pointer buried the Cats on the bottom of a 45-29 deficit with 4:30 left in the third quarter.

Choffin, who moved to Vernal from Rexhurg, Idaho, is new to the area.

“I am a new kid and I'm getting used to the hot rivalry between the two schools (his teammates educated him about Uintah vs. Union),” he said. “Both teams battled hard and we (Uintah) played good. We shared the ball well.” Choffin is a junior at Uintah. He had some varsity time as a sophomore in Idaho last season.

Cushing's three-point play gave Uintah a huge lead. Uintah led 50-38 after three quarters, but a 3-pointer by Wood had Union down by nine at 54-45. Cushing added a field goal and two free throws to deliver a 60-47 edge to the Utes.

Choffin chopped down two-pointers and Derek Reasch and Cushing made foul pitches that had the Utes ready to declare themselves the winner with a 69-52 advantage. Cushing pumped in a free throw and Darren Mecham's field goal gave Uintah a 20-point triumph.

Uintah Coach Scott Mansfield was pleased with his team's win over the Union Cougars. The last time Uintah beat Union was on Feb. 3, 2009 by the score of 52-38. The Utes also defeated Union 66-51 in 2009 on Jan. 13 .

“We are happy to beat the Cougars. The game started with strong defensive play that we maintained the whole time. We played them (Union) straight up man-to-man, and rebounded well. We got steals with Brady Davis playing great defense. He was able to get his hands on the ball to force turnovers by Union,” said Coach Mansfield.

Uintah lost to defending state champion, Wasatch by two points on Jan. 13 in Vernal.

“We should have had that one. We let it get away,” said Coach Mansfield.

Uintah's Cushing fired in eight field goals and tossed in 9 out of 12 free throws. Davis added 14 and Choffin pumped in 13. Buckalew connected for 12 counters. Also scoring for Uintah were: Reasch, 4; Mecham, Stewart, 2.

Union had three players in double figures in Hullinger 15, Wood 11 and Spencer Ross 10. Also scoring for Union were: J.J. Morley, 6; Merrell, 4; George Kaufusi, Haydn Ross, Carver Simkins, 2.

The Cats will host Wasatch on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and Park City on Jan. 31. Union will hit the road for a game vs. Juan Diego on Jan. 27.