| Too many misfires doom Twister boys | | Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 6:42 am
| By MIKE HUTCHENS
Messenger Sports Editor
When Shane Sisco repeated the old coaching cliche, “We couldn’t throw one in the ocean,” after Friday’s loss to Humboldt in the District 14A semifinals, he was only partially joking.
The Union City head coach saw his team shoot just 15 percent in the first half and at one time late in the third period was at a 7-percent clip in what was ultimately a 54-40 loss to the Vikings at Trenton Peabody High School.
The cold-shooting Twisters ended up shooting a paltry 23 percent (13-of-56) for the game, and only that good due to a fourth quarter that saw them make half of their 14 attempts. UC was particularly anemic from 3-point range, hitting but 3-of-28 for 10.7 percent.
The setback sent the Twisters to Saturday’s consolation game, where they were stunned 50-49 by Greenfield as the Yellowjackets hit a free throw with no time on the clock to win.
Now 19-10 on the season, Union City will play on the road in the first round of the Region 7A Tournament Friday night against the winner of tonight’s District 13A title game between Dresden and Clarksburg.
Greenfield will play at the loser of that game.
Tonight’s district championship pitting Humboldt against seventh-ranked Lake County will tip off at 7 at Peabody.
H’boldt 54, UC 40 (Fri.)
Union City’s woeful offensive exhibition spoiled what was otherwise a solid game in all other areas as the Tornadoes had just 12 turnovers and turned in a stellar effort on the defensive end.
“If we make anything at all, we’re right there with a chance to win,” added Sisco, whose team lost for the third time to Humboldt this season.
“We took care of basketball and, defensively, we were very good at taking away the ball screen they’d hurt us with in the other games. And we limited their offensive rebounds for the most part, too.
“There was nothing wrong with our effort.”
There was plenty amiss with Union City’s shooting, however, as the locals’ lone field goal of the first 11:45 came when Tre Lewis drove to the hoop after the Vikings had scored the game’s first nine points.
The Twisters didn’t make another shot from the field until the 4:15 mark of the second frame when Khiry Lewis stuck home a rebound, and by then H’boldt had a double-figure lead.
Union City made two other shots before the end of the half, but went into the intermission having shot 4-of-26 in all — 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.
“We had open looks, and I don’t know that we really forced many, if any, shots at all,” Sisco continued. “We just couldn’t make anything.”
The Golden Tornadoes — who had no player make more than three field goals — trailed 27-13 at the break and by as many as 19 before heading into the fourth quarter down 40-22.
They showed their only brief signs of life in the opening 68 seconds of the stretch run when freshmen Marcus DeBerry finally got a 3-pointer to go down and fellow ninth-grader Malik Stockdale followed suit to close the gap to 40-28.
Humboldt (18-10) then went on a 13-4 run, though, as UC fell into another shooting funk when it made just two field goals in four minutes.
The Vikings punctuated their game-securing spurt with a dunk by Desonta Bradford that opened the game’s biggest margin at 53-32 with 1:52 to go.
Peyton Mosley topped Union City with 15 points, the bulk of those coming on 9-of-13 free throw shooting.
G’field 50, UC 49 (Sat.)
Graham Perkins hit the second of two free throws with no time remaining to give the Yellowjackets a thrilling win that took every bit of 32 minutes to secure.
Fouled by Peyton Mosley on a rebound when UC’s Marcus DeBerry missed a 3-pointer with time running out in a tie game, Perkins missed the first free throw but hit the second. The referee crew ruled the foul occurred as the game ended, meaning no time was put back on the clock to give UC a chance at a final shot.
The sudden end completed a wild slugfest where the two teams battled on even terms the first half before Greenfield took control in the third quarter only to see the Golden Tornadoes furiously fight back in the fourth.
The teams were knotted at 8-all after one period, and Greenfield led 18-16 at the half. The Yellowjackets then outscored UC 20-9 in the third for a 38-25 advantage.
DeBerry hit back-to-back threes to open the fourth period, and UC finally tied the game at 49-all on another DeBerry trey with 19 seconds to play.
Heath Crouse led all scorers with 28 points, including 11 in the third period, for Greenfield, while DeBerry hit five 3-pointers for 15 points to pace UC. Published in The Messenger 2.20.12 | | | | |
