By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City’s third straight season-ending loss to Gibson County stung a lot more than the last two.
The Lady Tornadoes led the reigning Class A state champions for nearly the entire game before GC rallied for a 50-45 Region 7A semifinal victory Saturday night on the Lady Pioneers’ homecourt.
The loss ended an otherwise stellar season for the UC girls, who finished 21-12 and won a regional tournament game for the first time since the program’s 2013-14 unbeaten state championship season.
Overmatched in each of the last two postseasons vs. Gibson County, Union City – which lost last year’s region opener by 30 points and in 2018 by double figures — not only measured up to the Lady Pioneers but held a slim upper hand or was tied for more than 22 minutes of Saturday’s meeting.
Amari Bonds’ 3-pointer with two seconds left in the first period put the Twister girls up 16-13, and the Purple and Gold were not behind again until Evyn Cantrell sank a triple with 1:47 to go in the contest to give GC a 46-43 lead.
Though they got within a single point when Jada Williams scored on the ensuing possession, the Lady Tornadoes didn’t lead again.
Sophomore Madison Hart proved unstoppable in the post for Gibson County, especially in the clutch as she scored 16 of her game-best 31 points in the final period against the foul-plagued UC defense.
“The big girl (Hart) wore us out inside, but the biggest play she made all night was when she kicked it out to the girl (Cantrell) who made the three to put them ahead late,” a somber Lady Tornado head coach Chuck Reedy said. “We lost Shyon (Stephens) there with more than six minutes to go when she fouled out and we had to guard (Hart) with smaller people and our options were limited.
“I wouldn’t pick any other team in the state of Tennessee to coach, though. Our effort was outstanding. The kids were focused and followed the game plan. And I really thought we were poised to get over the hump. I have no issues or complaints about how hard we played at all.
“And that’s what makes it (the loss) even tougher.”
The two squads were never separated by more than seven points in the game.
UC held a 26-19 lead early in the second half when Williams opened the third quarter with a deuce. Davis bottomed three first-half treys and combined with Bonds – who was unstoppable with 14 points before the break – to give the Lady Tornadoes a 24-19 halftime lead.
Neither team was efficient in the third quarter and combined for just 13 points as Union City carried a 30-26 lead into the deciding stretch run.
Hart, who made 10 total field goals and 10-of-12 from the free throw line, first pulled GC even at 30 at the 5:46 mark with a pair of charities after Stephens had fouled out. A Bonds drive vaulted the Lady Tornadoes back in front and two foul shots apiece by Williams and Sophie Theobald later gave UC a four-point edge with 4:39 showing.
Theobald, Davis and Kylie McCadney all scored for the Twister girls after Hart forced another tie, but the Lady Pioneers answered each of those points with hoops from Hart on the inside – the last evening the count at 43 and accounting for a fifth tie of the period with two minutes to go.
A Union City backcourt turnover set up Cantrell’s aforementioned deadlock-breaking trifecta just 13 seconds later.
Hart answered Williams’ bucket with a pair of free throws with 58 seconds showing and the Lady Tornadoes then missed twice from the field before Annie Bass hit two foul shots with 5.8 seconds left to account for the final score.
“We made some really big shots in the first half that gave us the lead, but a lot of those same shots wouldn’t fall for us in the second half,” Reedy continued. “We just never could get the lead stretched to eight or nine points, and I think that was really critical.
“Even then though, we still had a chance at the end.”
Bonds topped the Union City scorebook with 19 points. Davis chipped in with 11 and Williams added eight.
The game was the last in a UCHS uniform for seniors Davis, Stephens, McCadney and Triana Mackins.
“Those four may never play organized basketball again, but I believe they’re better people for having been a part of our program,” Reedy insisted. “I know I’m so proud of them and what they gave us.
“As for the ones coming back, this is supposed to hurt. I hope it does and I do think it does. This is part of the natural progression of a program, and sometimes you have to get here and come up short to recognize your weaknesses and spend the offseason working on them.”
Gibson County (25-7) will face unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Greenfield in Tuesday night’s championship game.
REGION 7A TOURNAMENT
GIRLS SEMIFINALS
UNION CITY — 45
Amari Bonds 19, Kyndall Davis 11, Williams 8, Theobald 4, McCadney 2, Stephens 1.
GIBSON CO. — 50
Madison Hart 31, Cantrell 7, Hunt 4, Neal 4, Bass 2, Sweatt 2.
Union City 16 8 6 15 — 45
Gibson Co. 13 6 7 24 — 50
Records: Union City 21-11; Gibson Co. 25-7).
Next Game: GC faces Greenfield (31-0) for the regional title, Tuesday at 7 p.m., at Gibson County High School. UC’s season ends.