By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City’s girls did not go down without a fight against mighty Greenfield.
The Lady Tornadoes – blown out twice by G’field during the regular season — led the unbeaten ‘Jackets most of the first half and in the early stages of the third quarter, battling to the very end before eventually falling 69-53 in the District 13A Tournament championship game Saturday night.
UC (20-11) will still host a first-round regional tourney game next Thursday against the winner of Monday’s Trenton-Madison Academic 14A consolation game.
Outclassed by 38 and 39 points, respectively, in a pair of earlier meetings, the Lady Twisters gave Greenfield its third-closest game in what has been a run of 29 mostly-lopsided wins this season.
Union City was both gutsy and gritty … intense, competitive and unafraid, too.
“I told the kids before the game that I wanted them to be satisfied with their effort when they left the court,” Lady Tornado head coach Chuck Reedy said. “And I think we were all pleased with everything but the final score.
“It’s something we can build on if we’re fortunate enough to play them again … or maybe even two more times.”
UC’s Jada Williams was arguably the best player on the court in the first half – a lofty status considering the presence of Lady ‘Jackets’ Miss Basketball finalists Chloe Moore-McNeil and Tess Darby.
Williams was unstoppable in the early going with the Twisters’ first nine points on three 2-pointers and a trey. Amari Bonds’ bucket at 3:25 of the first quarter gave Union City a 13-9 advantage and consecutive 3-pointers by Kyndall Davis and Sophie Theobald had the Purple and Gold up 19-16 after the first eight minutes.
Another Theobald triple matched the Lady Tornadoes’ largest lead at 22-18 before two minutes had elapsed in the second stanza before the G’field ripped off nine straight markers to go in front for the first time since the initial stages of the contest.
Williams stopped that momentum with a 3-ball and a free throw and Theobald dropped in a pair of charities to put UC back in front. A Bonds bucket accounted for a fourth lead change in the quarter before Moore-McNeil’s spin move and hoop just before the intermission horn gave the Lady ‘Jackets a slim 31-30 edge at the half.
Bonds’ 3-pointer 25 seconds into the second half gave Union City its last lead at 33-31 before Greenfield gradually took control. The ‘Jackets doubled up the Twisters 14-7 in the final five minutes of the canto with Moore-McNeil doing most of the damage.
Moore-McNeil had 13 of her game-high 23 points in the third period.
Edie Darby’s trey in the opening seconds of the stretch run gave Greenfield its first double-figure lead, though UC remained well within striking distance until the final minute.
Bonds connected from deep to narrow the gap to nine with just over five minutes to go and the last of the Lady Twisters’ nine 3-pointers – Williams’ third – had her team within 10 two minutes later. Two Davis foul shots at the two-minute mark represented Union City’s last points and made it 63-53.
“Our girls were willing to compete all night on both ends of the court,” Reedy continued. “Jada was the best player on the floor for either team in the first half and we had some others – Amari, Kyndall and Sophie – step up and help her, both scoring and with our ball handling against their press. We never let them flurry by causing us several turnovers in a row with their pressure.
“I’m not into moral victories and I know our kids aren’t either, but I do believe this will make our kids buy into what we’re selling as far as being able to compete with the very-best teams we’ll face.”
Williams finished with 21 points, Bonds added 11 and Davis chipped in with 10 for UC, which made nine 3-pointers.
Tess Darby ended up with 17 points for Greenfield, netting 11 of those in the second quarter. Reese Biggs (14) and Edie Darby (13) gave the victors four players in double figures.
Williams, Bonds and Shyon Stephens were chosen for the All-District team, based on their seasonal play. Davis joined Williams and Bonds as All-Tournament selections, and Davis was named to the All-Academic team.
DISTRICT 13A TOURNAMENT
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
GREENFIELD — 69
Chloe Moore-McNeil 23, Tess Darby 17, Reese Biggs 14, Edie Darby 13, Hazelwood 2.
UNION CITY — 53
Jada Williams 21, Amari Bonds 11, Kyndall Davis 10, Theobald 8, McCadney 2, Stephens 1.
Greenfield 16 15 23 15 — 69
Union City 19 11 15 8 — 53
Records: Greenfield 29-0; Union City 20-11.
Next Games: Both teams advance on to the Region 7A Tournament and will host quarterfinal games on Thursday.
