By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Both Union City basketball teams enjoyed a little Saturday matinee.
The Golden Tornadoes swept Dresden in a pair of District 13A early afternoon weekend games, winning the girls’ opener 44-34 and the boys’ nightcap 63-44.
The contests were moved up to the early afternoon from their original regular 6 p.m. starting time in an agreement by both schools.
The UC girls bounced back from a narrow loss the night before, despite the absence of head coach Antawn Coby, who was away from the team due to a family death.
Amari Bonds accounted for more than half of the Lady Tornadoes’ points, hitting for 23 markers to lead the victors. Union City is now 6-8 overall and 4-1 in league play.
It was a case of the more the merrier in the nightcap as a dozen different Twisters had at least one more in the scoring column in UC’s sixth straight triumph.
A 20-5 third-quarter flurry expanded the Tornadoes’ 28-16 lead to a comfortable status as all 15 players who suited up for the Purple and Gold saw action.
Union City will play at home twice this week, hosting Lake County Tuesday and Greenfield on Friday.
UC 44, Dresden 34 (G)
The Lady Tornadoes outscored the visitors 27-11 in the middle two frames to rebound from a slow start and build a 34-19 lead heading into the stretch run.
Bonds had seven of UC’s 11 points in an 11-3 third stanza and then finished off her good day with eight markers in the final frame.
Jada Williams joined her teammate in double figures, while both Sophie and Marlee Theobald tallied five points apiece.
Dresden fell to 4-6 overall and 0-4 in the district.
UC 63, Dresden 44 (B)
Ben McMillan, Carter Walton, Neil Brown and Dominic Broadway all scored eight points in a balanced attack as Union City (10-6, 6-0) completed a first half sweep of the district and held on to first place in the league standings.
The Tornadoes led 14-8 after one and 28-16 at the intermission before essentially putting away the Lions with their third segment surge.
Malachi Brooks made two of the Twisters’ three 3-pointers in the final frame as UC played mostly non-starters over much of the fourth quarter.
Dresden’s Zach Crawford led all scorers with 15 points.