By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
A 3-10 start to the season is but a mere distant memory for the Union City boys.
The Golden Tornadoes completed an impressive turnaround to their 2024-25 campaign Friday, winning their eighth straight game and locking up the District 14A regular season championship with a 76-68 victory at Gleason.
Ben Kail scored 22 points, and freshman Hollister Johnson continued his natural maturation process with 20 as UC – toughened up by a rigorous non-league schedule – triumphed for the 10th time in its last 11 games to improve to 13-11 overall.
The Twisters also locked up the top seed in the upcoming district tournament, which comes with a first-round bye and an automatic berth into the regional tourney.
Union City’s girls moved a step closer to the same perks after hammering the Lady Bulldogs 61-18 in the opener for their seventh consecutive victory to maintain sole possession of first place in 14A.
The Twister girls (18-7, 7-1) – playing without head coach Mason Storey (illness) – dominated Gleason in the second half, outscoring the host team 36-4. Sh’Nyla Moss led a trio of double-digit scorers with 21 points, while Alli McMillan dropped in four 3-pointers for 12 markers. Uriah Davis posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
UC will play three road games over a span of four nights next week to wind up its regular season, beginning with a trip to Greenfield on Tuesday. Doubleheaders at South Fulton (Thursday) and Henry County (Friday) will follow.
BOYS
UC 76, Gleason 68
The Tornadoes took second-place Gleason’s best shot but had enough depth and firepower to hold off the feisty Bulldogs.
Kail had 15 of his points in the second half after a cold-shooting start, essentially putting the Purple and Gold in control with a pair of 3-pointers and a deuce to open the final frame and give his team a 60-49 advantage.
Kenny Moss powered home an old-fashioned 3-point play during a critical time halfway through the stretch run, and Finn Frankum – who had all nine of his markers after the intermission – buried a triple to keep the suspense at a minimum.
Union City salted away the contest with 5-of-6 free throws in the final 44 seconds after the Bulldogs had gotten within six with Kail and Frankum sinking two apiece.
Johnson and Kwinton Purifoy gave the Twisters a potent attack around the basket, especially in the first half when they combined for 23 of their teams’ 34 points. UC erased a slim 16-13 deficit after one with a 21-14 rally in the second stanza to carry a four-point lead into the break.
Purifoy finished with 12 points – 10 of those in the first half.
GIRLS
UC 61, Gleason 18
The Lady Tornadoes held a monster 47-26 rebounding advantage, capitalizing big in the second half on several of their 25 offensive caroms.
Ahead 25-14 at halftime, Union City got two 3-pointers each from McMillan and Moss and six points from Davis to highlight a 22-2 flurry. Included in that run were six consecutive foul shots and a run of 14 answered markers.
Blair McKinnis dialed up long distance twice early in the fourth quarter for the last of UC’s 10 triples before the Lady Tornado bench brigade finished out the final six minutes.
Debrionna Jones had 11 rebounds for the Twister girls.