Friday 29th March 2024
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Amari Bonds Makes History With 2,000th Point

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By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director

Union City, Tenn.–After watching history being made in the girls’ game, the Union City boys weren’t about to let history repeat itself in the nightcap.

The Golden Tornadoes – who earlier lost an overtime heartbreaker to Huntingdon when they blew a 20-point second-half lead – built a commanding advantage again early in Tuesday’s rematch and then finished off the Mustangs this time in a 67-50 triumph at Marty Sisco Gymnasium.

UC led 33-16 at the intermission, and by never fewer than a dozen points the rest of the way as D.J. Robinson poured in 23 points to help the Purple and Gold avenge that earlier loss and break through after losing seven of its last eight games.

There was history made in the opener, however, as Lady Tornado standout Amari Bonds became just the second player in program history to eclipse the 2,000-point total in Union City’s 74-50 loss to the Fillies.

The second of two free throws by Bonds at 5:25 of the opening quarter marked her historic feat and made her just the second player in the annals of UCHS girls’ hoops to reach the lofty total.

Bonds ended up with 24 points, giving her 2,018 for her career as she chases Deedy Thomason for the school’s all-time girls’ mark (2,221). Thomason needed five seasons to set the record, as she began her career as an 8th grader in 1960 and graduated in ’65. She also played in the 6-on-6 era and before the 3-point shot came into existence.

Bonds has four more regular-season games and the postseason in her quest to overtake Thomason.

Union City will celebrate homecoming Friday night when Milan comes to town.

UC 67, Huntingdon 50 (B)

The Tornadoes (6-16, 2-3) finally put together a complete game while ensuring there would be no repeat of that earlier result.

And Robinson was the catalyst offensively, scoring on a variety of drives and slashes to the basket on his way to a game-high scoring performance.

He got plenty of help from teammate Joseph Lattus who canned five 3-pointers and all three of his free throw attempts to finish with 18 markers.

Collectively, UC turned in a quality effort on the defensive end, too, avoiding lapses that plagued them in that first meeting and in several other losses this season.

After a Robinson deuce and then a triple helped the Twisters to a 14-8 first-quarter lead, Lattus dialed up long distance three times in the second period to help fuel a 17-4 run and stretch the difference to 31-12 just before the intermission break.

It was 33-16 at the half after Union City had limited the Mustangs to just six field goals over the first 16 minutes.

Robinson’s drive made it 47-28 after three quarters, with Huntingdon never getting closer than 12 during the Tornadoes’ only lull in the contest. Lattus then connected one final time from beyond the arc down the stretch to widen the gap to 25 (59-34) in the waning minutes before UC’s starters went to the bench.

The Twisters made eight 3-pointers and 11-of-14 foul shots to account for their fourth-highest point total of the season.

Huntingdon 74, UC 50 (G)

Though the end result was not what the Lady Tornadoes had hoped for, Bonds was rightfully celebrated for her remarkable feat – receiving a standing ovation from both sides and the game ball following the contest.

The silky-smooth senior, who has now scored 491 points this year and in double figures in every game, joined Thomason as the only two players to amass 2,000 points in their respective careers.

For the season, she is averaging 22.3 points per game, and in 104 career games wearing the Purple and Gold, she has averaged 19.4 ppg.

Aggressive and attacking the basket, Bonds started fast with UC’s first eight points against the sixth-ranked Fillies – including her historic foul shots.

Huntingdon established control with a good inside/outside balance that also featured effective fullcourt pressure and was up by double figures with the contest just five minutes old (18-8).

The Twister girls showed some grit, though, cutting that gap to 20-14 on a Marlee Theobald 3-point play near the end of the first stanza. Down by as many as 17 in the second period, Union City again battled back and stood within 36-26 after Adaiysha Snow canned a 3-pointer and both Kennedi Robinson and Aujani Moss connected from the charity stripe.

The Fillies took over just after the halftime break, though, using a 14-4 run to build on their 43-30 intermission advantage.

It was 64-41 after three.

Theobald finished with nine points and Snow added eight in support of Bonds.

Union City is now 6-16 overall and 1-4 in District 12AA play.

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