By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Streaking Union City ran its boys’ winning streak to nine games with a 70-41 thumping of Greenfield Tuesday night.
The Golden Tornadoes’ convincing 29-point victory mirrored their first meeting with the ‘Jackets this season, as UC dominated an earlier matchup less than three weeks ago by a similar 69-42 margin.
UC (14-11, 9-0 in District 14A) was in control from the opening tip as Finn Frankum scored the Twisters’ first seven points and all 11 of his season-high markers in the opening half.
The nightcap victory salvaged a split for the Tornadoes as the ninth-ranked Union City’s girls saw their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 50-35 loss to No. 10 Greenfield in the opener.
The Twister girls never found their groove offensively, managing just three first-half field goals when they dug themselves a 26-11 hole. The 35 points marked UC’s second-lowest output in a game this season.
Union City (18-8, 7-2) now needs to beat South Fulton Thursday night to forge a three-way tie with G’field and Dresden in the final district standings to necessitate a coin flip for the league’s top postseason seed.
After playing at SF on Thursday, the Tornado teams will close their respective regular seasons with a non-district doubleheader at Henry County on Friday night.
BOYS
UC 70, Greenfield 41
The Purple and Gold continued its district dominance with its eighth double-digit margin victory in nine games vs. 14A opposition this season.
Ahead 16-11 after one and 33-20 at halftime, Union City put the finishing touches on another blowout with a 37-21 margin over the final two periods.
Ben Kail had 10 of his game-high 16 points in the third quarter before Twister reserves again got extensive playing time in the final eight minutes.
UC forced 25 G’field turnovers in the contest, to just eight committed by the Tornadoes. Thirteen players scored for the victors, with eight hitting two or more buckets.
The ‘Jackets fell to 10-17 overall and 2-8 in the district.
GIRLS
Greenfield 50, UC 35
Union City couldn’t duplicate an earlier 17-point victory over the Lady ‘Jackets and missed out on a chance to claim the district title outright.
The Twister girls’ only bucket of the first quarter was a 3-pointer by Sh’Nyla Moss as they fell behind 14-5.
UC made a little noise in the opening stages of the third stanza, carving its deficit to 33-23 on triples by Moss and Uriah Davis, but Greenfield ran off the period’s final nine points to re-establish control and lead by 19 (42-23).
The Lady Tornadoes got no closer than 15 the rest of the way.
Moss finished with 14 points and was the only Union City player in double digits.
Greenfield is now 21-5 overall and finished 8-2 in district play.