By Mike Hutchens, Union City Schools Communications Director
Union City now knows who, when, and where as far as its postseason basketball schedule is concerned.
Following a regular season-ending doubleheader loss to Gibson County Friday night, the UC girls will enter the District 12-AA Tournament as the third seed after dropping a 53-35 decision to the third-ranked Lady Pioneers.
Union City and second seed GC will meet again in the district semifinals Thursday night at 7:30 at Westview High School. The Lady Tornadoes will then play in either the championship or consolation game on Saturday (Feb. 19) before advancing to the regional tourney.
The UC boys – following a 66-53 loss to Gibson County Friday – fell to the No. 4 seed and now must win a play-in game Tuesday at home against Huntingdon to continue their season. Should the Twisters win in the 7 p.m. contest, they would advance to the 12-AA semis against top-seeded Westview Friday (Feb. 19) at 6 p.m. on the Chargers’ homecourt.
A loss Tuesday would end Union City’s season.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
GIRLS
GC 53, UC 35
The Lady Tornadoes (15-9) fell to their second highly ranked foe in three nights but will get a third chance at Gibson County (25-3) in next week’s district semis.
Marlee Theobald’s five points early kept UC close in the opening minutes before the Lady Pioneers spurted to a 21-8 lead at the first quarter horn behind 12 points from Miss Basketball finalist Madison Hart.
Madison’s younger sister, Micah, had the hot hand for Gibson County in the second period, hitting for nine markers, including a 3-pointer just before the intermission that allowed up team to double up the Lady Tornadoes 34-17.
Aujani Moss knocked down a 3-pointer midway through the third stanza to draw Union City briefly within 14, but the Twister girls could get no closer the rest of the way.
Amari Bonds led UC with 16 points, while Moss and Sophie Theobald finished with six apiece.
BOYS
GC 66, UC 53
The combination of hot Pioneer shooting from the field and cold UC free throw shooting did in the Tornadoes, who have dropped four of their last six games.
Union City has defeated Huntingdon in both the teams’ regular-season meetings.
The Tornadoes (9-16) trailed by as many as 15 points after an early GC surge of 12 straight points. Union City did fight back to within 46-43 at the end of three periods when Ben Kail hit a trio of 3-pointers, and D.J. Robinson knocked down two free throws just before the quarter horn.
Gibson County scored on four consecutive possessions early in the stretch run, though, to again pull away.
UC missed 10 of 21 free throws, four in the final frame.
Malaki Brooks hit four 3-pointers and led all scorers with 23 points for the Twisters. Kail finished with 12 and Jaylen Lewis pitched in 10.
Photo credits to Mike Hutchens