By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Unfortunately, Gibson County proved to be the Union City girls’ nemesis again.
The Lady Tornadoes’ season ended at the hands of GC for the fourth straight season Monday night, the top-ranked Lady Pioneers posting a 47-35 victory in the Region 7A semifinals.
UC’s 2020-21 campaign ended for the third consecutive year at the same juncture and for the fourth year in a row on Gibson County’s homecourt.
The Lady Tornadoes finished 14-12.
Sisters Micah and Madison Hart combined for 28 points and provided a solid outside/inside punch for GC (31-1), which withstood a gritty effort by the Lady Twisters.
Arkansas State signee Jada Williams ended her stellar Purple and Gold career with a game-high 18 points, finishing her high school playing days with more than 1,400 markers all totaled.
Williams was forced to carry a good chunk of the offensive load for Union City though, as the rest of the Tornado girls could combine for just 17 points against a Pioneer squad that was solid on both ends of the court.
UC did an admirable job defensively on the older Hart (Madison, a junior), limiting the Class A Miss Basketball finalist to 13 points after she torched the Twisters for 31 in last year’s regional semis. It was freshman Micah, however, who made many of the Lady Pioneers’ biggest shots – three 3-pointers and 4-of-6 free throws in the final 1:35 included.
The Lady Twisters led twice in the opening quarter, the second time (11-10) when Kia German stuck home a follow shot after Williams had scored on back-to-back possessions.
A shake-and bake bucket by Williams had Union City within 20-17 just before halftime and Amari Bonds’ 3-pointer to open the second half drew the Tornado girls within 22-20 at the seven-minute mark.
The younger Hart drained treys on consecutive trips for Gibson County though, before her older sister then made the last of the Lady Pioneers’ seven triples and drove for a deuce to stretch the hosts’ lead to double figures, 37-27, at the period’s end.
Sophie Theobald’s 3-pointer with five minutes to play trimmed the difference to 39-32, but UC never got any closer. Williams’ field goal with three minutes left was the Lady Tornadoes’ last of the game.
The contest was also the last in a UCHS uniform for senior Kylie McCadney.