Remember When —Hoops journey for past Lady Reb Jordan leads to UTM

Remember when takes a look back at the local stories from the files of The Messenger that took place 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 years ago.
30 Years Ago
April 19 — Former Obion County Central basketball standout Diane Jordan was to continue her career at UT Martin after a highly-sucessful junior college stint at Motlow State College in Tullahoma. A two-time district most valuable player with the Central girls and also twice a Messenger-Obion County Tournament MVP, Jordan averaged 17 points as a freshman and 19 her sophomore season with the Lady Bucks. UT-Chattanooga and North Alabama were also interested in Jordan’s services.
April 21 — Scoring five runs in both the first and second innings, Obion County Central thrashed Kenton 15-1 in prep baseball. The Rebels improved to 9-4 on the strength of a 10-strikeout performance by Steve Adcock. Sammy Snead went 3-for-4 and both Phil Warren and Bo Bradshaw drove in a pair of runs for OC. Tim Workman added a double to the winning cause and helped sent the Warriors to 3-8.
20 Years Ago
April 21 — Union City won its fourth straight with a 14-8 pounding of Gibson County in District 13AA baseball. Todd Bussard knocked in three runs via a 3-for-4 day at the plate for the Tornadoes, while David Barnes smacked a two-run homer. Shaw Speed and Chad Harris each contributed two hits to the winning cause, while Rodney Bonds, Marlon Eskew and Donnie Robinson had two RBIs apiece.
April 21 — Its illustrious tennis history added another chapter when the Union City girls’ team not only completed a perfect regular season (8-0), but also recorded shutouts in each of those matches. In wrapping up that feat with an 11-0 whitewash of Milan, Carolyn Dunn, Melanie Kemp, Krissy Searcy, Tara Heath and Kristen Fox all won in both singles and doubles play against the Lady Bulldogs.
10 Years Ago
April 21 — Obion Central’s 5-1 baseball victory over Humboldt came at a high cost as Rebel outfielders Brian Kissell and Scott Bruce were both seriously injured when they collided chasing a fly ball. Kissell suffered a broken jaw and was set to have season-ending surgery and his jaw wired shut in the aftermath of the violent run-in. Bruce received 22 stitches in his mouth and face, but was expected to return to action the following week. He’d earlier had two hits in OC’s victory.
April 23 — Union City avenged a loss from the day before and clinched the District 13AA North Division championship with a 20-3 romp over Westview. The Tornadoes exploded for 14 runs in the fourth inning and got four RBIs apiece from winning pitcher Ben Reese and Matt Harrelson in the runaway triumph. Reese had four hits, and Harrelson a two-run homer in the onslaught. Freshman Hunter Lindsey contributed four hits and teammate Seth Prather three safeties to the winning cause.
5 Years Ago
April 21 — Wyatt Carr prepped for the upcoming Union City Rotary Relays by being named the Most Outstanding Field Event Performer in the Best of West track meet in Jackson. The standout Union City High School field event standout won both the shot put and discus. The Tornadoes’ Luke Sanderson was second in the shot and third in the discus toss. UC’s girls’ team collectively placed third in the event, led by Sharee Forrest’s first-play showing in the shot put.
April 23 — Both Obion Central’s and Union City’s softball teams were streaking. OC won for the fifth time in six games, getting a two-hit shutout from Emily Taylor and three hits from Olivia Grady to beat South Fulton 2-0. UC, meanwhile, set a school record for most wins in a season with its 18th in a 9-2 triumph over Dresden. Corey Anne Youree had three hits and four runs batted in for the Lady Tornadoes, while Angela Chesteen scored three times.
1 Year Ago
April 23 — South Fulton won seven games in a little more than 24 hours to bring home the championship of the fourth annual Maddie Memorial Softball Tournament in Martin. The Devilettes improved to 26-4 with their impressive run, beating Dyersburg twice — including in the title game. Pitcher Haley McKinney was named tourney MVP, while fellow SF players Marina Barclay, Kacie Dougherty and Macy Maxwell were picked for the all-tournament team.
April 24 — Obion Central’s Macy Wright and Brandi Goodman and Amber Fair of Union City were named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-state basketball teams. Wright and Goodman formed a dynamic outside-inside duo that carried the Lady Rebels to a Class 2A state runnerup finish. A senior who averaged 15 points, four steals and four assists per game, Wright had recently signed to continue her playing career at Three Rivers (Mo.) Community College. Goodman, a 6-2 junior post, averaged 18 points and 15 rebounds per-game. Fair was the main weapon for Union City to enjoy its best modern-day season in program history. She averaged 20.8 points and 9.3 rebounds as the Lady Tornadoes won 22 games and advanced to the Class 1A semifinals for the first time ever.

Published in The Messenger 4.18.13