By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City’s first win of the season was noteworthy for more than one reason.
The Tornadoes’ 75-50 victory in a boys-only game at Lake County Saturday night took some of the sting out of an 0-3 start in that it was UC’s District 13A opener.
Freshman Malaki Brooks tallied a game-high 16 points to pace 11 Twister players who scored in a balanced offensive effort.
And senior Taylan Tribble got on the court for the first time in more than a year after missing all of last season with a major knee injury, giving Union City a boost in both the depth and athleticism departments and showing some signs of promise.
A first-half defensive effort that limited the Falcons to just 20 first-half points was critical and allowed the Purple and Gold to build a 39-21 intermission advantage with the aid of a 20-2 run after LC had tied the game at 19-all.
Brooks made four of Union City’s seven 3-pointers, two of those coming in the first quarter and the other two in fourth period to help his team solidify its advantage after the host team had cut what once was a 20-point gap to nine early in the third frame.
The Tornadoes had a good outside-inside balance as Neil Brown was strong in the post in the second period with seven of his nine points to stand out in UC’s aforementioned 18-point flurry.
The Twisters doubled up Lake County, 24-12, in the final stanza to blow the game open.
Carter Walton joined Brooks in double digits with 13 points, while both Ben McMillan and AJ Blackman finished with eight apiece behind Brown’s nine.
GIRLS
McKenzie 52, UC 40
The Lady Tornadoes – who saw their Saturday game postponed due to the quarantine issues with LC girls’ program — are still looking for their first win of the 2020-21 campaign after falling for the third time in as many meetings against tough opposition Friday night in a girls-only road game.
The combined record of UC’s three foes thus far (Westview, Covington, McKenzie) is 21-3.
Union City trailed just 24-22 at halftime. The Lady Rebels limited the Twister girls to just eight second-half field goals, though, in outscoring them 28-18 over the final two frames.
It was 40-34 heading into the fourth quarter, but UC could manage but two shots from the field and two more from the foul line.
Jada Williams led UC and a trio of twin-figure scorers with 14 points. Amari Bonds pitched in 13 points and Sophie Theobald added 11. Williams also snagged eight rebounds, while Bonds pulled down seven.
Union City’s schedule has again been altered heading into this week as the Dresden boys’ program is under quarantine, thus postponing Tuesday’s home twinbill.
The Tornadoes are still slated to play at Greenfield this Friday in a pair of 13A games that have already been rescheduled twice. Tip-off for the girls’ game is 6 p.m.
The UC boys are scheduled to play Bartlett Saturday afternoon at 4:30 in the Charles Cowles Classic in Dyersburg.