By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
One close game went Union City’s way Saturday, but another didn’t.
The Tornado boys claimed a thrilling 66-65 overtime win against Memphis East to advance to the semifinals of the HUB Classic at Liberty Tech in Jackson.
Now 7-6, UC will play Power Center of Memphis in Monday’s 6 p.m. semifinals with a berth in Tuesday’s championship at stake.
Union City’s girls, however, saw reigning Class A state champion Greenfield rally from a five-point deficit in the fourth quarter to hand the Twister girls a tough 53-46 setback in the Huntingdon Point Guard Coca-Cola Classic.
UC (6-8) is slated to play winless Chester County Monday morning at 9 in the loser’s bracket of the event.
The following is a recap of Saturday’s games.
UC 66, Mem. East 65 (B)
The Tornadoes came back from a 10-point third-quarter deficit to beat East in another close contest.
Of Union City’s 13 games this season, nine have been decided by less than 10 points, with the Twisters now 5-4 in those contests.
Hollister Johnson had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a huge block at the end of regulation that sent the game into the extra session. Johnson had seven of his markers in the fourth period when UC pulled even with an 18-13 run. He ended up with five blocks in all.
J.B. Thompson finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds, Brayden Marshall gave the Tornadoes a third player in double figures with 11 points, and Clayton Montgomery came off the bench to knock down a trio of 3-pointers and tally nine markers.
Thompson sank 3-of-4 free throws in the OT and had five of Union City’s seven points.
UC led 28-26 at the half.
Greenfield 53, UC 46 (G)
The Lady Tornadoes made just one bucket in the final eight minutes after leading at the end of each of the first three quarters.
UC got off to a quick 17-8 start behind two 3-pointers from Addy Launer and led 26-20 at the intermission. Sh’Nyla Moss erupted for 13 of her game-high 26 points in the third stanza to give the Twister girls a 46-41 advantage heading into the final frame.
But Union City made just 1-of-7 shots from the field in that fourth quarter while the Lady Jackets (11-1) hit 8-of-9 attempts to storm from behind.
The trio of Ella Porter, Skylar Arnold, and Rayanna Fisher combined for all but four of their points in the contest.
Moss continued her remarkable free-throw shooting by making 12-of-13 from the foul line.
Blair McKinnis was Union City’s top rebounder with eight.
UC head coach Mason Storey announced that starter Uriah Davis had left the team over the holidays.