By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City’s boys captured third place in the District 12-AA Tournament with a 39-37 victory over Gibson County Monday night.
The consolation game triumph will send the Tornadoes (11-17) into the Region 6-2A quarterfinals Saturday night at District 11 runner-up Waverly (18-4). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the winner moving on to the tourney semifinals at Milan High School Tuesday, Mar. 1.
UC survived the final hectic seconds to beat GC for the second time in three meetings in Monday’s district third-place game.
The Twisters’ D.J. Robinson made the game-deciding bucket on a drive to the basket with 48 seconds left to break a 37-all deadlock.
Union City missed the front end of three straight one-and-one free throw line chances in the final 21 seconds however that could’ve put the Pioneers away.
Gibson County (12-13) could not capitalize, though, committing a pair of costly turnovers and missing a driving lay-up and a desperation heave at the buzzer.
“I thought it was a very gritty effort by us,” UC head coach Shane Sisco said. “At this time of the year, you are what you are, but I didn’t think we’ve been very good defensively the last couple of weeks. Tonight, we were really good, I thought. Other than the third quarter, we held them to 20 points in the other three quarters combined.”
The contest was close throughout – UC’s biggest lead at 16-10 after Ben Kail drained a 3-pointer with 3:22 left before halftime.
GC’s largest advantage was five, held several times in the third stanza after a 10-2 flurry.
Joseph Lattus and DeAngelo Monroe both sank big triples in the third period for the Twisters, the latter drawing the Purple and Gold to within 32-30 heading into the final frame.
Kail buried a huge trey with 3:13 to play to break a 34-all deadlock. Gibson County drew even with 1:18 showing before Robinson’s slash to the front of the bucket provided the final margin.
UC then survived an anxious final seconds after missing from the line with 21, 11, and 4.7 seconds to play.
Robinson and Malaki Brooks finished with 10 points apiece to top the Tornado scorebook.
Brooks and Robinson were chosen for the All-District Team, while Brooks and Kail received All-Tournament Team honors.