By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City bought itself at least three more postseason games by holding off Huntingdon 50-46 in a District 12-AA play-in game Tuesday night.
The Tornadoes have freshman Ben Kail to thank for that.
Kail knocked down seven 3-pointers on his way to a career-best 23 points to lead UC into Friday’s tourney semifinals against host Westview. UC also secured a spot in next week’s regionals in the process.
Kail made at least one trey in every quarter, but his three biggest triples came in the final 5:01 after the host Mustangs had cut an 11-point Twister lead to 40-38. He added another at the 3:52 mark, then another with 2:49 to go that pushed the advantage back to a comfortable 49-40 margin.
“Ben is one of those kids who puts up extra shots every day – whether it’s early in the morning, before practice, or after practice,” Tornado head coach Shane Sisco said after his team improved to 10-16 with its third win over Huntingdon in as many meetings this season. “He’s struggled some at times this year, but I’ve just told him to keep on plugging.
“And his shooting is the primary reason we won tonight and will keep on playing.”
Union City made 11 3-pointers in all to offset free throw line woes (3-of-9), and just a half-dozen made 2-point shots.
D.J. Robinson’s bucket late in the opening period that was followed by a trifecta gave the Twisters the lead for good. That advantage fluctuated between two and 11 points the remainder of the game.
UC was up 16-12 at the first quarter horn and by as much as 22-14 after Malaki Brooks’ bomb three minutes before the half.
A 10-2 flurry in the latter stages of the third period that included back-to-back 3-pointers by Kail and another by Robinson accounted for the biggest lead of the night (39-28) at the 49-second mark.
The Tornadoes’ 10-point lead heading into the stretch run dwindled to 40-38 with six minutes left as Huntingdon became the aggressor.
Kail, though, made Union City’s next three buckets – all from beyond the arc – to keep his team in front.
“We did some things, liking turning the ball over, that we haven’t been doing the last three games,” Sisco added. “We didn’t put a single kid on the floor who had played meaningful postseason minutes before tonight, though, and I think we let the stage get a little too big for us.
“Hopefully, starting with Friday and knowing that’ll we’ll keep playing no matter the outcome, we’ll relax and just go play.”
Robinson also scored in double figures for UC, finishing with 12 points.
Ty Kelly had 12 points for Huntingdon, which ended its season with a 9-18 mark.