Mike Hutchens
Communications Director
Union City, unfortunately, saw its girls’ basketball season come to a familiar stopping point.
The curtain came down on the Lady Tornadoes’ season in the regional semifinals for the third straight season and fifth time in the last seven years following a 50-35 setback vs. fourth-ranked Westview on Monday night.
UC, which had stunned the tradition-rich Lady Chargers in overtime in their final regular-season game, ended the year with a 16-14 record.
Subpar shooting – an Achilles heel for the team much of the season – contributed greatly to the Twister girls’ ultimate demise as they made just 21 percent (10-of-46) of their field goal attempts, including 2-of-20 from 3-point range.
“We struggled a good bit from the perimeter all season, and to beat a zone you have to be able to make some shots from the outside to open things up on the inside,” Union City head coach Mason Storey said. “They gave us some clean looks in the high post, too; we simply just couldn’t score.
“We knew what was coming. You’ve got to be able to put the ball in the hole.”
Still within 24-20 at halftime despite making just five field goals over the first two periods, UC saw its chances at another Martin upset go by the board when it was outscored 18-5 in the third stanza. During that eight minutes, the Lady Tornadoes sank but two shots – none over the last six minutes of the frame when the host team went on a 12-1 run.
Behind by as many as 20 early in the final frame, the Twisters did show some grit by clawing to within 47-35 with two minutes to play. Addy Launer made a 3-pointer, LaRiyah Gordon knocked down 3-of-4 free throws, and Sh’Nyla Moss and LaKiyah Gordon each accounted for a deuce to give Union City a glimmer of hope.
The Tornado girls failed to score the rest of the way, however, and lost both Moss and Blair McKinnis to fouls in the final 1:51.
“We missed some rotations on defense, and they made us pay, but I thought we matched their physicality and toughness for a good bit of the game,” Storey added. “We were prepared and weren’t intimidated by the stakes of the game.
“We just couldn’t make shots. We never got into any rhythm on offense. And to have beaten a team of Westview’s caliber earlier and have another opportunity to do it again and not come through is tough.”
Moss ended up with 14 points to lead the Twisters. She had six of those in the second quarter, and Alli McMillan made all seven of her free throws during that span when UC remained close.
Union City loses but one senior – LaKiyah Gordon – from this year’s squad.