By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s girls’ basketball team looks to be peaking at just the right time.
Two nights after knocking off seventh-ranked Gibson County, the Lady Tornadoes stunned No. 3 Westview 56-55 in overtime Saturday in their regular-season finale.
Kiyah Gordon, the lone senior on the UC roster and a player whose persevered through multiple knee injuries, had a career highlight when she banked home a 16-footer with nine seconds remaining to lift the Purple and Gold to the scintillating victory.
The Twister girls rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit behind an electrifying 17 points from Sh’nyla Moss to force the extra session. Union City then got difference-making contributions from Gordon, Blair McKinnis, and Alli McMillan in OT after Moss exited the game with an ankle injury to snap Martin’s 10-game winning streak and hand the Chargers (19-4, 7-1) their first district loss of the year.
The thrilling verdict – their fifth straight triumph – also gave the Twister girls the No. 2 seed in the upcoming 14-2A postseason tournament. Union City (14-12) will face third-seeded Gibson County (20-8) in the second of two semifinals on Thursday at Westview, with a regional tourney spot already secured.
UC’s boys will enter the postseason as the No. 4 seed and will host GC in a district elimination game on Tuesday night after closing the regular season with a 58-42 loss to league champion Westview on Saturday.
Martin used a pair of telling stretches – one in each half – to build a comfortable lead and then held off repeated challenges from the Twisters in winning for the eighth time in its last nine outings.
The Tornadoes (10-15), having beaten Gibson County twice during the year, would advance to the district semis and earn a regional spot with a third victory over the Pioneers on Tuesday.
Both the girls’ and boys’ semifinals and finals will be hosted by Westview.
UC 56, Westview 55, OT (G)
Limited to just two field goals and four total points over the first three quarters, Moss ignited Union City’s comeback from a 36-23 deficit entering the stretch run with a trio of triples and two ‘and-one’ traditional 3-point plays in the final eight minutes of regulation.
Gordon, who was recognized later in Sr. Night ceremonies, made the deciding field goal and a foul shot, McMillan drained a critical trey in overtime, and McKinnis sank a pair of important charities.
UC trailed by five with 35 seconds left in regulation, but forged a deadlock with 12 seconds to go when McKinnis converted a drive to the basket. The Lady Tornadoes fell behind 54-48 in overtime before gamely roaring back without Moss, who left via injury with around two minutes to go.
Two McKinnis charities, a trifecta by McMillan, and 1-of-2 foul shots by Gordon set the stage for the nail-biting finish, which was made possible by four missed Westview free throws.
Moss finished with 21 points, McKinnis totaled 13, and Gordon was just a point shy of double figures for the winners. Addy Launer contributed with seven markers.
Westview 58, UC 42 (B)
The Twisters recovered from another slow start with a 10-2 flurry to draw even at 12 in the first period via Brayden Marshall’s layup, but never led in Saturday’s nightcap.
Union City endured a scoring drought of over six minutes after deadlocking the game to fall behind 21-12, then saw Westview erupt for 10 straight points immediately after the intermission to stretch a six-point difference to 37-21.
The Tornadoes showed some grit with a 12-2 flurry of their own, capped by a Hollister Johnson layup, that narrowed the gap to 39-33 with just under two minutes to play in the third stanza. Martin flurried again, however, with eight in a row to pull to a 47-33 advantage heading into the final frame.
J.B. Thompson, who drew praise from head coach Bill Kail for his defensive effort while guarding Westview standout Arden Smith (4 points), tied Johnson for game-high scoring honors for UC with 10 points. Marshall added nine.