By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–After struggling offensively for much of the night, the Union City girls were perfect when they had to be.
The Lady Tornadoes clawed back from a five-point fourth-quarter deficit, then completed a perfect 13-for-13 night from the free throw line in the final 63 seconds to beat Gleason 49-42 for third place in the District 14A Tournament Saturday night.
UC (15-15), which beat the Lady Bulldogs for the third time in as many meetings and won for the seventh time in its last nine games, will now play at District 13 runner-up Middleton next Friday in the Region 7A quarterfinals.
The gritty Twister girls played to their strength in claiming consolation game honors Saturday, staying the course with their physical defensive play until making timely free throws after Debrionna Jones’ bucket with 1:47 to play gave them a 41-40 lead.
Marlee Theobald and Sh’Nyla Moss then sank four foul shots each in the last 1:03 to seal Union City’s victory.
“This game was for pride and confidence more than anything,” Lady Tornado head coach Mason Storey said afterward. “And credit to our kids for finding a way to beat a well-coached team three times in the same year.
“The way the game was played and the pace that it was played was kind of our thing with the way we play defense. We were able to weather the early storm and put pressure on them that I thought wore them down at the end.”
Gleason (15-14) scored the game’s first eight points and rode the offensive talents of Autumn Mingle (30 points) to a 22-16 halftime lead.
UC – which made just five field goals over the first two periods – finally showed some offensive life with nine straight markers to open the third stanza to take its first lead. Aujani Moss bottomed a pair of charities to knot things up at 22 before Sh’Nyla Moss gave the Lady Twisters their first lead with a layup off a Gleason turnover.
Union City’s lead grew to 30-24 after a Jayla Turner triple, but the Lady Bulldogs closed the period with a 10-2 surge to go up 34-32 entering the stretch run.
Gleason led by five early before UC put together its most consistent offensive span of the night.
Sh’Nyla Moss drew her team within 40-39 with 3:24 to play before Jones converted from the paint with under two minutes to go to put the Lady Tornadoes in front to stay. Dead-eye shooting from the foul line then sealed the deal.
“Free throws were an issue for us early in the season, but we’ve really picked it up after Christmas – especially in the postseason,” Storey continued. “Our kids have gotten into the gym on their own in addition to our work in practice to focus on that, and you saw it pay off tonight.
Sh’Nyla Moss led three double-digit scorers for the victors with 17 points – nine coming in the final frame. Theobald added 11, and Jones finished with 10.
The Lady Tornado trio also claimed spots on the All-District team based on regular season play. Additionally, Moss was chosen for the All-Tournament squad, and Theobald earned a place on the All-Defensive Team.
Theobald, Bailey Wagoner, and Ada Rogers were named to the All-Academic Team – an honor reserved for seniors with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Second-seed Greenfield claimed the tournament championship with a 55-36 victory over No. 1 South Fulton