By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
The Union City girls’ basketball team had more than one reason to celebrate homecoming.
The Lady Tornadoes – playing with noticeably more intensity and enthusiasm – bounced back from a disappointing effort against South Fulton earlier in the week with a gritty 53-48 upset of Dresden Friday night.
UC handed the Lady Lions (14-6) just their second District 14A loss in six games by making 11-of-14 fourth-quarter throws to rally after trailing by 11 points in the first period.
Marlee Theobald sank four critical charities, and Sh’Nyla Moss added a pair of key foul shots down the stretch before Ada Rogers sealed the Twister victory with two freebies with 6.3 seconds to play.
Several Lady Tornadoes then made up the homecoming court as senior Aujani Moss was crowned Homecoming Queen in ceremonies at halftime of the boys’ game. Theobald and Rogers were selected as Senior Princesses and Debrionna Jones was named Junior Princess.
The remainder of the court consisted of Freshman Princess Chloe Hubbard and Sophomore Princess Gracie Worrell.
Despite a lackluster showing, the third-ranked Union City boys made it a clean sweep in the nightcap, topping Dresden 53-34.
Malaki Brooks (26) and Ben Kail (11) combined for 37 markers for the Twisters, who had just five players score while improving to 18-5 overall and 6-0 in league play.
UC had handily beaten the Lions in an earlier meeting by 34 points.
The Tornado teams will have a quick turnaround, playing at Gleason this afternoon at 1:30 in a pair of 14A make-up games.
UC 53, Dresden 48 (G)
After the visitors came out sizzling with five of their eight 3-pointers in the first period to take a 23-12 lead, Union City steadied its ship and methodically clawed its way back into contention.
Theobald made three free throws and a bucket just before the halftime horn to draw the Lady Tornadoes within 32-27.
UC put the clamps on the Lady Lions in the second half, limiting them to just two field goals over the game’s final 16 minutes. Theobald was especially impressive on the defensive end and led a rotating unit that challenged every Dresden pass and attempt at the bucket, with the Twister girls claiming many 50-50 balls.
Moss converted an old-fashioned 3-point play and added a deuce to even the count at 32 before a Rogers triple forged a 37-all deadlock late in the third period.
Down 43-42 entering the final frame, Union City took its first lead since the opening minute on the second of two foul shots by Uriah Davis (45-44) with 4:43 to play.
The combination of the Lady Tornadoes’ stingy defense and clutch free throw shooting the rest of the way sealed the victory for UC, which improved to 9-13 and 2-4, respectively.
Moss finished with a team-high 15 points, Theobald added 11, and Jones came in with eight.
UC 53, Dresden 34 (B)
The Tornadoes won their sixth straight despite a largely uninspired effort against a Dresden team they’d beaten 72-38 a little more than two weeks ago.
Ahead just 24-17 at halftime, Union City did show flashes of its previous dominance with a third-quarter spurt during which Brooks accounted for eight straight in an 11-point period.
It was 39-23 after three, and the Twisters were never threatened while building their lead even more in the final eight minutes.
Brooks and Kail teamed for all nine of UC’s 3-pointers – the former accounting for six.