The Union High basketball team needs some help.

The Scotties lost their grip on first place in WPIAL Section 1-A with a 66-61 overtime loss at Monaca last night.

Union (8-3, 12-6), which entered the game in a three-way tie for first place, is now in third place behind Sewickley Academy (8-2) and Lincoln Park (7-2). However, those teams play today at Lincoln Park (the old Midland High School). If Lincoln Park wins, the Scotties can finish in a tie for first if they beat the Leopards when they host them Tuesday.

Union has the bye Friday, the final night of the section season.

“Obviously, I’m going to be a Lincoln Park fan tomorrow,” Union coach Dave Smialowski said last night. “I plan on going down and rooting for us to have a chance at a section title.”

The Scotties were their own worst enemy last night. The big difference came at the free throw line, where Monaca was 20 of 27 and Union just 3 of 11.

“I don’t think we were totally focused to start the game,” Smialowski said. “I told the kids that when you’re on the road, you face adversity. You have to be able to play four quarters.

“But at halftime, they (the Indians) were up nine and we got right back into it in the third quarter, so they responded. I just wish we had been able to get it done at the end.”

Union had a chance to win at the end of regulation. With 15 seconds left, Monaca had the ball, but the Scotties stole it. Anthony Thomas missed a layup, however, and Jason Burkes missed on the putback.

The overtime belonged to Monaca, which made 10 of 13 free throws to Union’s 1 of 2.

Burkes led Union with 21 points, including four 3-point field goals, and Jordan Clingensmith added 20. Chad Tokarshi had 15 for the Indians (5-5, 8-13).

Burkes, Markus Allen and Matt Adamo all had seven rebounds and Thomas handed out seven assists.