Mike Hutchens
Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City High School welcomed back several players and teams from their respective glory days with reunion ceremonies.
More than 70 former players from seven different decades and all five Union City boys’ state championship teams were recognized on a night when details of the Bobby Whitby Distinguished Individual Award were announced.
The Union City girls bounced back from a sub-par effort three nights earlier and beat Trenton 55-24 Friday night.
Unfortunately, the Tornado boys once more failed to get over the hump in a tight game, losing the nightcap to Peabody 69-66 in overtime.
Playing with renewed intensity in the second half after leading the winless Lady Tide just 20-10 at intermission of the opener, the UC girls blew away the visitors with a 35-14 spurt over the final two frames.
Sh’Nyla Moss scored 14 of her game-high 23 points in the third period for the Twister girls, who improved to 6-2 with the victory.
Union City’s narrow nightcap setback, meanwhile, largely resembled several of the Tornadoes’ other outings in a 2-7 beginning. It marked the Twisters’ second OT loss in as many games to Peabody and their fourth one-possession loss of the year.
Freshman Kobe Maddox provided UC with a big lift off the bench, scoring all 13 of his points after halftime to join Ben Kail (15) and Zak Summers (18) in double figures.
The Tornadoes ultimately couldn’t overcome 28 turnovers, Peabody’s offensive rebounding, and a game-winning 3-pointer by Jamarcus Haynes with two seconds left in the extra session that snapped a 66-all tie.
Union City will next play at Dyer County on Tuesday.
UC 55, Trenton 24 (G)
Moss was the catalyst in Union City’s dominant second half, hitting a 3-pointer, converting an old-fashioned 3-point play, and sinking 3-of-3 free throws to highlight her third-quarter explosion.
The Lady Tornadoes – coming off a season-low 37-point output against Jackson Christian School on Tuesday when they shot less than 20 percent from the field – tallied the game’s first 10 points against the 0-7 Tide girls.
UC was largely lethargic for the remainder of the opening half, though, leading just 20-10 at the break.
A considerably more inspired Twister group came out of the dressing room and dominated the final two periods with new-found energy. Kennedi Robinson ignited a 12-4 run with a 3-pointer that put the Lady Tornadoes firmly in control. Moss had seven straight markers in that flurry.
Head coach Mason Storey went to his bench to give several players quality minutes as he looked to establish even more depth for his squad. Ainsley Sadler and Addy Launer had 3-pointers for Union City in their turns in the rotation in the second half.
Debrionna Jones was steady throughout the contest with 15 points, while Moss added nine rebounds to her game-high point total.
Trenton 69, UC 66, OT (B)
After welcoming back several players and teams from their respective glory days with reunion ceremonies, the Tornadoes again battled gamely before coming up short for the second time in as many meetings with Peabody in Game 2.
More than 70 former players from seven different decades and all five Union City boys’ state championship teams were recognized on a night when details of the Bobby Whitby Distinguished Individual Award were announced.
Haynes’ shot at the end was a difference-maker for the Tide (8-0), but UC held a slim lead near the end of regulation and in the final minutes of overtime.
Kail, who returned to the lineup after missing a game with an injury, made two free throws and Maddox added another to put the Twisters up 58-56 with less than a minute showing. However, Trenton forced the extra period with a bucket at the 15-second mark.
A triple by Summers and his bucket off a turnover gave Union City a one-point lead after the Tide scored the first two baskets of OT. Maddox buried a triple at the 2:17 mark to put the Tornadoes up 66-64, but that would prove to be the last tally of the game for the Purple and Gold.
UC led 20-9 after one as Kail and Summers combined for 12 points off the bench. The Twisters managed just two field goals in the second frame yet still led 24-22 at the intermission.
Nine turnovers in the third period hampered the Tornadoes, who trailed 40-38 heading into the stretch run.
Maddox and Summers each hit three times from beyond the arc, and Union City sank 9-of-10 free throws in the contest.