First-year head coach Mason Storey heaped considerable praise on his Union City High School girls’ basketball team at a banquet that officially ended the 2023-24 season Wednesday night.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said the Lady Tornadoes posted a (16-16) record in the campaign, playing their best ball of the season down the stretch when they advanced to the Region 7A Tournament semifinals.
Union City faced a rugged schedule in Storey’s inaugural campaign, with 10 of the team’s losses coming against opponents who qualified for the state tournament.
A late-season surge, however, included a five-game winning streak, three postseason triumphs, and the program’s most victories since the 2019-20 season.
Storey particularly noted the leadership of his four seniors and also handed out several individual accolades during Wednesday’s banquet.
Among those award winners were:
Most Improved: Jayla Turner
Tornado Award: Ada Rogers
Co-Best Offensive Player: Sh’Nyla Moss and Debrionna Jones
Best Defensive Player: Aujani Moss
Most Dedicated: Debrionna Jones
Most Valuable Player: Marlee Theobald
Seniors Theobald, Rogers, Aujani Moss, and Bailey Wagoner received framed jerseys as mementos of their Lady Tornado careers.
Union City will return four starters and a handful of other players who saw considerable playing time to next year’s squad.
(photos: Mike Hutchens – School Communications Director)