By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It’ll be a good Christmas for both Union City basketball teams.
Both Purple and Gold squads went on the road Monday night and beat competition that had lost just one game coming in.
The UC girls won their third straight, topping Peabody 58-43, while the Tornado boys rallied to triumph at Gibson County 47-39.
The two wins send the Twister teams into the holiday break with .500 records after each started the season at 0-3. Union City is now 3-3 on the girls’ side and 4-4 in boys’ play.
The Lady Tornadoes outscored previously 7-1 Trenton 33-15 over the middle two quarters to win for the third time in 72 hours.
Amari Bonds and Jada Williams again carried the scoring load for UC, the former hitting for a game-best 24 markers and the latter close behind with 19.
Union City posted a 19-8 second quarter run to erase a 15-11 deficit, then doubled up the host team 14-7 in the third stanza to build a 44-30 lead.
The Twister girls hit 14-of-19 from the charity stripe to help secure their win.
UC’s boys saved their best for last in the nightcap, sinking all 13 of their free throw attempts as part of a 21-10 flurry that overcame a 29-26 deficit.
Ben McMillan was especially impressive, hitting 9-of-9 from the foul line in the final eight minutes as he outscored the Pioneers himself (13-10) on his way to a game-high 20 points.
For the game, Union City hit 14-of-16 from the free throw line.
Taylon Tribble had six of his eight points in the final stanza to aid the Tornado rally.
UC trailed at each of the first three quarter breaks – 9-8 after one, 20-19 at halftime and 29-26 heading into the stretch run.
AJ Blackman and Carter Walton finished with seven points.
Both Union City teams are scheduled to play in post-Christmas tournaments, the girls at Dyersburg, Dec. 29-30; and the boys in the 56th annual Martin Lions Club Christmas Tournament, Dec. 28-30.