Mark Stanley is starting to like the third quarter.

The Union High boys basketball coach saw his team explode after halftime once again and this time it led to a 77-65 WPIAL Section 1-A road victory over Quigley Catholic — and kept the Scotties undefeated in league play.

Union (3-0 section, 4-3 overall), led just 30-24 at the half, but outscored Quigley 29-18 in Period 3 to stretch the margin.

“I don’t know what it is, but we just seem to be a third-quarter team,” Scotties coach Mark Stanley said. “It has happened several times this season already.

“I’d like to think it’s coaching and all the adjustments we make at halftime, but I doubt that has much to do with it,” he added with a laugh. “They just seem to come out with a lot of intensity after halftime.

Garrison Bell scored a career-high 31 points. Devin Wilson added 14 markers and Timmy Sumner 13, including four 3-pointers. Bell also had seven rebounds and six steals. Wilson added six rebounds.

“Garrison Bell just played a tremendous game,” Stanley said. “He did it all. It was a good game for us.”

Despite the third-quarter flurry, Quigley still had one final rally in it. Union was up by 20 at one point, but the hosts chipped away and pulled to within six after a half-court shot at the end of the third. Sumner hit a 3-pointer to open the final frame and give the Scotties some breathing room.