By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City was on the wrong end of late-game drama twice against Jackson Christian School.
Hannah McCurry’s half-court shot at the buzzer stunned the Lady Tornadoes in a gut-wrenching 64-63 loss to JCS in Tuesday’s girls’ game.
The UC boys then experienced similar disappointment as Co Vargason’s 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play proved to be the game-winner in the Eagles’ 58-54 victory in the nightcap.
The loss was the first in four games for the Twister girls, while the Union City boys are now 2-2. Both JCS teams remained unbeaten at 4-0.
The Lady Tornadoes rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit with an inspired second half that saw them lead by as many as four with less than three minutes to go.
And UC looked to be in good shape to pull off the victory in the instant classic when Sh’Nyla Moss broke a 61-all deadlock by sinking her school record 36th and 37th consecutive free throws with 3.2 seconds showing.
JCS foiled those hopes, however, when McCurry’s midcourt heave hung on the rim for an instant before falling through the hoop to stun the charged-up Purple and Gold crowd.
In Game 2, Union City was up by six (45-39) after three quarters and by five with 3:30 to play. After JCS rallied to even the score, Tayshun Gentry drove for a deuce to put the Twisters ahead with 67 seconds left.
Vargason buried a triple from the right corner, though, to put the Eagles in front, then made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 3.5 seconds following a Tornado turnover and a Jackson Christian offensive rebound.
Both Union City teams will play immediately after Thanksgiving, the girls vs. Henry County on Saturday at noon in the Gibson County Point Guard Thanksgiving Classic. The Tornado boys will play in the MUS Thanksgiving Classic in Memphis on both Friday and Saturday at 3:30 vs. Lausanne and the host school, respectively.
JCS 64, UC 63 (G)
Down by as much as 35-20 in the first half and 37-24 at the intermission, the Lady Tornadoes exited the halftime break with renewed energy and intensity.
Using full-court defensive pressure and matching the physicality of JCS, Union City fed off the efforts of Moss, who had 15 of her game-high 34 points in the third period to surge in front.
Alli McMillan’s driving deuce with less than a half-minute left in the quarter put the Twister up 48-45 heading into the stretch run.
The two clubs traded big shots in the final eight minutes, UC getting a pair of big treys from Uriah Davis to first take, then build a slim lead. McCurry made the first of her big shots before teammate Anniston Van Wyk scored from in close to even the count at 61 and set the stage for the thrilling finish.
Davis ended her night with 14 points to follow Moss in the Tornado scorebook.
JCS 58, UC 54 (B)
The Tornadoes cut their turnover total from recent games considerably, but unfortunately made a couple of untimely mistakes at the most inopportune times in the final minutes.
JCS took full advantage of those mistakes to score the game’s final six points after the two teams were deadlocked at 52.
Hollister Johnson’s turnaround jumper just before the third-quarter horn gave Union City a 45-39 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
The Twisters were still in front with 3:30 to play after the last of Will Kail’s five 3-pointers and a bucket by J.B. Thompson that made it 52-47.
JCS evened the count at 52 before Gentry gave UC its last lead with 1:07 to play.
Kail led a trio of double-figure scorers for the Tornadoes with 17 points. Kobe Maddox ended up with 13 markers, while Thompson finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
Union City did not attempt a free throw in the fourth quarter and shot just four during the course of the entire game.