By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s final regular-season home games weren’t what the Tornado teams had hoped for.
Westview swept the Twisters in Wednesday’s make-up contests – the second-ranked Lady Chargers winning the opener 40-19, and the Martin boys holding off UC in the nightcap 58-52.
The results spoiled Senior Night for five players honored (three girls, two boys) during ceremonies at separate intervals.
The Twister squads will now go into Friday’s regular-season finale at Gibson County, looking to improve their postseason seedings in District 12-AA.
Union City’s girls (15-8, 4-3) need a win over the third-ranked Lady Pioneers to earn a tie for the league’s second seed. A loss would lock the Lady Tornadoes into the third spot. GC and UC will play in the second of two tournament semifinals next Thursday night at Westview High School regardless of Friday’s outcome.
The Twister boys (9-15, 4-3) will now finish either third or fourth – depending on Friday’s result. A win would give Union City an automatic spot in the semifinals next Friday (Feb. 18) and a regional berth, while a loss could relegate the Tornadoes to fourth and a play-in elimination game against No. 5 Huntingdon next Tuesday.
Either Milan or Westview will host the 12-AA boys’ tourney.
BOYS
Westview 58, UC 56
The Tornadoes twice battled back twice from seven-point deficits to enter the final frame deadlocked at 36-all.
Westview (10-10, 5-2) made 16-of-20 free throws in the fourth quarter, though, and got a huge 3-pointer from Garner Anderson with just under two minutes to play to pull ahead and keep UC at bay.
The Chargers gave themselves numerous second chances with offensive rebounding in the contest and also took advantage when the Twisters couldn’t convert several opportunities from close range.
Union City led twice in the early stages of the final period after 3-pointers by Ben Kail and D.J. Robinson, respectively, and was last tied at the 3:21 mark when Jaylen Lewis powered home a bucket to even the count at 45.
After a pair of Damarion Pearson charities gave Martin the lead for good 20 seconds later, Anderson buried his critical trey to make it 50-45. A Robinson bucket sliced the difference to three points, but the Chargers were money from the foul line the rest of the way.
Westview connected on 24-of-34 foul shots for the game while UC had just 11 attempts, making seven.
Robinson led all scorers in the game with 20 points. Lewis pitched in 12, and Malaki Brooks gave the Tornadoes three players in double figures with 11 markers.
GIRLS
Westview 40, UC 19
The Lady Tornadoes were much more competitive than in an earlier 37-point mercy-rule loss but still struggled greatly on the offensive end while failing to score as many as 20 points for the second time in two meetings with the Charger girls (23-2, 7-0).
Union City made just four field goals in the contest with nobody other than Amari Bonds connecting from the floor.
Bonds scored 15 of the Twisters’ 19 points. Both Khia German and Marlee Theobald hit a pair of free throws to round out the UC scoring.
Still, the Lady Tornadoes – playing a deliberate style — were within striking distance at the end of the first period (13-5) and at halftime (22-9).
It was 33-17 after three but Union City could manage but a pair of charities from Theobald in the final eight minutes.