By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Understandably, hurt was the rawest of emotion to come from the Union City girls’ heartbreaking 36-33 season-ending loss to Greenfield Monday night in the Region 7A semifinals.
In time, those feelings will be replaced with pride and promise.
“I love this team, and I hurt for them – especially our seniors,” first-year head coach Mason Storey said after G’field’s Brenley Little scored the deciding bucket with less than 10 seconds to play. “We had four great seniors (Marlee Theobald, Aujani Moss, Ada Rogers, and Bailey Wagoner) who made tremendous strides all season. They became better teammates and better basketball players, and they accepted their roles, which showed their character.
“Without them, getting this far would not have been possible.
“On the flip side, we have a lot of talent and experience coming back next season, and they gained valuable experience this year. We had three freshmen (Sh’Nyla Moss, Blair McKinnis, Uriah Davis) play a lot of minutes tonight and a couple of juniors (Debrionna Jones and Kennedi Robinson) who were critical in what we were able to do this season. I expect what we accomplished this year to spill over to next season.”
Jones had given the Lady Twisters a 33-32 lead with 37 seconds left after Ada Rogers came up with a loose-ball turnover before Greenfield’s Little hit the deciding 15-footer under heavy pressure with 9.7 seconds to play. UC took a timeout and attempted to advance the ball upcourt but was forced into a turnover. Rayanna Fisher was fouled on the play for the Yellowjackets and hit both free throws with 1.3 ticks showing to account for the final score.
The Tornado girls did get up a wild attempt at a tying bucket but to no avail.
“We had some stall-outs and didn’t have a lot of good offensive possessions in the third and fourth quarters,” Storey continued. “Marlee (Theobald) stepped up big for us in the first half and was able to tote the load when we were stagnant.
“Not having Deb (Jones) in the game to get into a groove really hurt us over the first two quarters as we were hoping to take advantage of her abilities inside like we did the last couple of times we played them.”
Union City’s tough-as-nails defense again did its part Monday in the fourth meeting of the year vs. the Lady ‘Jackets, turning in what Storey described as a “phenomenal effort.” The Lady Tornadoes never found their groove offensively, though, managing just 12 points in the second half after leading 21-20 at the intermission.
UC did without the services of Jones for all but 2 ½ minutes of the opening half due to foul issues but got 13 points – including 7-of-7 from the free throw line – from Theobald.
There were six lead changes in the second quarter and four more in the third period when the teams combined for just eight points.
Ahead 25-24 entering the final eight minutes, UC fell behind by three midway through the stanza after a 3-point play by Fisher, who had eight of her game-high 17 points down the stretch. The Lady Twisters got within a point twice – once after a Theobald bucket, the second time following a Jones stickback with 1:44 left before the frantic final half-minute.
Neither team led by more than four points in the contest.
Theobald led Union City – which ended its season at 16-16 – with 15 points. Jones had all six of her markers in the fourth segment, while Sh’Nyla Moss was held to five – all in the first half.
In looking to the future, Storey has specific goals for the 2024-25 team and beyond.
“We have to grow in our offense while keeping the same defensive intensity and grittiness,” the coach concluded. “We must get better at putting the ball in the hole. Our ballhandling needs to improve, too, and we have to learn how to beat people off the dribble at every spot.