| UC looks better beating Halls | | Posted: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 6:45 am
| By KEVIN WEAKS
Messenger Sports
Second’s not so bad.
Friday night, the second-place Union City basketball teams were pretty darn good.
UC bounced back from a pair of ugly losses at Lake County on Tuesday with two somewhat more attractive showings on Senior night, whipping Halls twice with a 61-37 win in the girls’ game and then a 71-33 blowout in the boys’ finale.
The Golden Tornado boys clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming District 14A Tournament with its win, while the Lady Twisters had already locked up the second spot prior to the game but now have a chance to take some momentum into the postseason.
Union City has a pair of odd-night dates as the boys host Calloway County tonight and both teams play regional rival Dresden at home on Thursday.
UC 61, Halls 37 (G)
Amber Fair did what she does almost every game, and Anna Moore did what she will need to do come tournament time.
Fair led all players with 23 points, scoring 18 in the first half, while Moore knocked down a big 3-pointer to begin the second quarter and ignite 12-0 run that all but put the game away.
“Anna being able to hit open shots is going to be big for us, especially when we get into tournament play,” UC head coach Eddie Suiter said. “It’s no mystery how teams are guarding us. We put Anna and Kealie (Reeves) out there basically for defense. If teams are sagging off them, we’re in trouble because we’re basically playing five-on-three then.”
Fair scored UC’s first seven points, and Tory Reedy flashed open down the lane for a basket at 1:27 of the opening period as the Lady Twisters (14-9, 11-3 14A) scored six straight to go from a slim 5-4 lead to an 11-4 advantage.
Moore and Fair opened the second period with threes, UC forced a pair of turnovers and then Fair blocked a shot on one end, grabbed the loose ball and went the other way for a layup.
Raven Fair turned a steal into a 3-point play at 5:10, putting Union City ahead 25-6. Reedy closed the half with a 25-footer at the buzzer for a 32-14 halftime advantage.
Moore hit another triple and took a steal for a layup to complete her eight-point effort for the game and help the Lady Tornadoes to a 42-16 lead at 3:31 of the third period. Amber Fair scored twice inside as UC finished the quarter up 48-21.
“I really thought the best effort we showed was two or so minutes in the third quarter because we picked up defensively,” Suiter said.
Ineashia Claybrooks led the Lady Tigers (5-16, 2-11) with 15 points, eight in the fourth quarter, while Gaylon Broglin finished with 14 points.
UC 71, Halls 33 (B)
Nick Crumble made the most of senior night, and freshman Marcus DeBerry continued to prove the future is bright as they combined aggressive play inside with a nice shooting touch outside to get a surprisingly easy win.
Halls (9-12, 4-9) has been tough on teams all year despite its record and owns a win over perennial power Humboldt this season.
But, the Tigers found themselves falling behind literally from the opening tip as UC’s Tre Lewis drive for a shot in the lane and popped a 3-pointer in pushing UC to an early 8-2 lead.
UC (16-8, 11-3) held a 17-6 lead after one quarter and held a 33-19 advantage at the half, the offense coming mainly from Lewis and Peyton Mosley.
While Mosley opened the third quarter with two baskets inside and closed the period with a 3-point play and DeBerry hit his second triple of the game, Crumble scored some big points as UC twice pushed its lead to 20 points.
“I was proud for Nick,” UC head coach Shane Sisco said. “He was one of the ones we had on the floor who was playing with some enthusiasm. He talked and communicated and was a positive influence.”
Union City eventually led 51-25 at the break.
Chris Boucher hit a trey from the left corner, and then DeBerry navigated the 3-point circle with four triples as the Twisters expanded the lead to as much as 70-31 late.
DeBerry finished with 20 points, Mosley had 17 and Lewis added 10 for UC.
Published in The Messenger 2.6.12 | | | | |
