| Both Union City teams finished strong, and that was enough for the Golden Tornadoes to remain atop the district standings.
The UC girls outscored Halls 34-14 in the second half to break open a close game, while the Twister boys were good at the free throw line late in building a comfortable lead for a sweep of Halls at the Tigers’ gym on Tuesday night.
The Lady Tornadoes, ranked No. 1 in the state for the second straight week, won 65-44 to improve to 18-3 overall and 10-0 in District 14A. UC’s eighth-ranked boys, meanwhile, hit 9-of-12 charity tosses in the final minutes of a 73-65 win, upping their records to 14-6 and 9-1.
Just a little farther down Highway 51, the Obion Central teams split with Ripley in District 13AA action. In what turned out to be a couple of blowouts, the Lady Rebels won 62-23, while the OC boys lost 77-38.
All four teams will be involved in district games again Friday night as Union City hosts county rival South Fulton, while Central entertains South Gibson.
The teams will be right back in action Saturday as Union City steps out of district and classification play with a trip to Liberty, while the Rebel teams will be at home again in 13AA action against Ripley.
Union City split with Liberty when the teams met at the Twisters’ gym earlier this season, the UC girls claiming a win.
UC 65, Halls 44 (G)
Junior forward TauiNeiscia Skinner had a career night with a game-high 19 points, scoring 17 in the second half to ignite a Lady Tornado uprising that blew away Halls’ upset bid.
Getting major player time due to Tamara Nettles’ kneeinjury, Skinner had two points in the first half as Union City struggled to take a 31-30 halftime lead.
But, she then popped for 10 in the third quarter and had seven in a game-breaking 14-0 run in the final period to put away the Lady Tigers.
Jackie Hudson finished with 16 points, and Tory Reedy added 14 for Union City.
Hudson had 10 of UC’s 12 points in the first quarter as the Lady Twisters actually trailed 11-10. Then, Hudson, Raven Fair and Kealie Reaves all knocked down a 3-pointer, while Reedy hit four times at the free throw line in the second half as UC edged Halls 21-19 for a 31-30 halftime advantage.
UC 73, Halls 65 (B)
The Tornado boys outscored Halls in each of the final three periods after trailing 15-13 at the end of the first frame.
The score was tied once, and the lead changed hands five times in the second frame with UC ahead 34-31 at intermission. Union City then used an 11-2 run to go ahead for good after Halls had opened the third period with four quick points to go back in front.
The UC lead reached nine points at 67-58 down the stretch as the Tornadoes’ final nine points came at the line.
The Twisters were 28-of-42 at the line for the game, including 18-of-26 in the fourth quarter.
Malik Stockdale led four Union City players in double figures with 23, while Donte Simpson had 14, Javonte Moffatt pitched in 11 and Jamie Hyde added 10.
UC was missing LaMonte Dickerson due to an injury sustained in Monday’s practice.
Union City committed just eight turnovers while forcing the Tigers into 18 floor mistakes.
OC 62, Ripley 23 (G)
The Lady Rebels pitched a shutout in the second quarter to punctuate a dominant performance on Tuesday.
Central led 16-7 after one period and then ballooned the difference to 41-7 by intermission with a run of 25 straight points in the second frame.
OC’s lead was 55-18 by the end of the third quarter.
Dianna Flippen scored 15 points to lead 11 Lady Rebs in the scoring column.
Brandi Goodman added nine points, and both Rachel Jones and Darcey Jones pitched in seven points apiece.
Central is now 18-6 overall and 9-2 in District 13AA.
The Lady Rebels have now won three straight games following a three-game losing streak.
OC will be looking for the season sweep over South Gibson on Friday night. On Dec. 11, Central rolled past the Lady Hornets 72-53 at Medina.
Ripley 77, OC 38 (B)
A banged-up and ill Rebel team never could get on track in the league loss.
Bryan Morris did not play in the game, while Tyler Mosley and Brett Scillion were not at full strength due to recent injuries and sickness.
Shaw Logan led Central with 15 points.
The Rebels fall to 10-10 overall and 4-7 in the district, having now lost four of their last five games.
Central won at South Gibson on Dec. 11, taking an 81-67 decision. Published in The Messenger 1.23.13 |
