By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
South Fulton proved to be the perfect bounce-back opponent for Union City.
The Tornado teams “got well” at the expense of SF Tuesday, rebounding from recent losses with a pair of mercy-rule blowout victories over the outmanned Red Devils.
UC’s two wins mirrored each other – the Lady Twisters putting 13 players in the scoring column on the way to a 64-21 triumph, before the Union City boys had a dozen different point-makers in a 68-32 rout.
The Lady Tornadoes are now 4-2, the Twister boys 3-4, heading into Friday’s games against host University School of Jackson in the Dynamix Hoopfest. The girls’ contest will begin at 5:45 p.m., the boys set to tip off at 8:30.
UC 64, SF 21 (G)
Union City, which had dropped consecutive games against Jackson Christian School and Henry County, respectively, had no trouble righting the ship against 0-3 SF.
The Twister girls dominated from the opening tip, using spurts of 18-4 in the first quarter and 19-2 in the second frame to open a commanding 41-9 halftime lead.
Sh’Nyla Moss, who, like most UC starters, didn’t play after the intermission, had all of her game-high 17 points over the first two periods. Uriah Davis likewise accounted for all 11 of her markers during the Tornadoes’ overwhelming beginning.
Head coach Mason Storey turned to his bench in the second half as all 16 players who dressed for the contest got significant playing time. Union City reserves outscored South Fulton 23-12 over the final two frames.
Ainsley Sadler gave the Purple and Gold a third player in double figures, hitting for 13 points.
UC 68, SF 32 (B)
Similar to Game 1, the Tornado boys overwhelmed South Fulton (0-3) from the get-go with waves of defensive pressure, superior size, and quality depth in snapping a three-game losing skid.
Union City scored the game’s first seven points and got three buckets from Hollister Johnson and a pair of 3-pointers from Will Kail to zoom to an insurmountable 23-2 advantage late in the opening stanza.
It was 45-16 at halftime, with head coach Bill Kail then turning to reserves in a second half that was a mere formality.
Clayton Montgomery connected twice from beyond the arc to shine for UC’s bench brigade in the third quarter, while freshman Zaven Thompson finished off his solid 10-point effort with a steady final two periods in the post.
Brayden Marshall followed Thompson with nine markers, while Johnson and J.B. Thompson added eight apiece for the winners. Union City made seven 3-pointers in the contest and limited the Redmen to just 16 points in each half.