By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
The Union City boys found themselves on the ‘good’ list twice while completing their pre-Christmas schedule on Saturday.
After performing community service by delivering treat bags to local nursing home residents earlier in the day, the Tornadoes rallied from an 11-point third quarter deficit to beat Jackson County (Ky.) 64-60 at the UCHS gymnasium.
The win evened UC’s record at 6-6 heading into the holiday break.
The Union City girls, meanwhile, returned home from three games in the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic on Saturday, following a 79-41 loss to Liberty Creek.
Easily the best thing to happen to the Lady Tornadoes in the event held at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School was a 49-43 triumph over highly-touted Class 6A Northridge (Ala.) on Friday.
UC, which will enter the break with a 6-7 mark, lost its tourney opener 67-55 to Lipscomb Academy.
Both Twister squads will resume play on Dec. 27, the girls playing reigning Class A state champion Greenfield in the Huntingdon Point Guard Classic at 3 p.m. Union City’s boys will face Memphis East at 10:30 a.m. in the HUB Classic at Liberty High School in Jackson.
BOYS
UC 64, Jackson Co. 60
The Tornadoes paid a visit to The Waters – a local skilled rehabilitation and nursing center – earlier Saturday, visiting with appreciative residents and handing out bags filled with snacks.
They were joined by Jackson County players and head coach Parker Stewart, a former standout for the Golden Tornadoes, who helped the program to a state runner-up finish.
The two teams were then treated to an afternoon meal by assistant coach Ronald Ward and Jerry Ward of Jerry Ward Autoplex – both also past stars in the UCHS program.
The Tornadoes then came back to beat JC after they trailed 35-25 at the intermission.
A more-aggressive offensive approach keyed the rally, with sophomore J.B. Thompson scoring 17 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Hollister Johnson hit for 23 markers – 19 of those over the first three periods.
UC cut its deficit to 48-43 at the third-quarter horn, then outscored Jackson County (5-3) 21-12 over the final eight minutes – led by Thompson, who sank a pair of 3-pointers in his stretch-run outburst.
Lady Twisters knock off heralded foe
Though they were beaten handily in their finale by Liberty Creek, the Tornado girls recorded a signature win against a Northridge squad that came into tournament play unbeaten and ranked fifth in the state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Sh’Nyla Moss scored 21 points and made 11-of-12 free throws for UC, which held the Lady Jags to 14-of-68 shooting. The Lady Tornadoes outscored Northridge 16-11 in the fourth quarter to build on a one-point lead when the Jags hit just 5-of-22 field goal attempts.
Uriah Davis sank a trio of 3-pointers, and Addy Launer pulled down seven rebounds for Union City, which hit all but two of its 18 free throw attempts.
In its opening loss to Lipscomb Academy – a top 5 state entry in Division 2 AA – Moss erupted for 31 points in another splendid effort. Davis sank three triples to finish with 11 markers, while Blair McKinnis was just a point shy of double figures with nine.
The contest was tied at 18 at the first-period horn, before LA claimed a 30-23 halftime lead. It was 49-41 after three periods.
Saturday’s finale against LC was a disaster as Union City fell behind big early (29-12) and was on the short end of a 48-23 halftime count.
Moss, who made 26-of-29 foul shots during the three games, hit 13-of-14 from the stripe on her way to a 24-point performance. Riyah Gordon was the only other UC player to hit more than one field goal, finishing with six points.