Poised for revenge after being bounced from the region semifinals by Greenfield last season, the Union City girls instead suffered more heartbreak with a gut-wrenching 41-37 loss to the Lady Jackets at the same level Monday at West Carroll High School.
School Communications Director Mike Hutchens said the defeat spoiled an otherwise stellar campaign for the Union City girls, who racked up 23 victories and won a district tournament championship for the first time in 11 years this season.
It also marked the final game in a Purple and Gold uniform, however, for seniors Debrionna Jones, Kennedi Robinson, and Jayla Turner.
(23-10) Union City squared off against (25-6) Greenfield for the eighth time in the last two seasons on Monday, and had won two of the previous three meetings this year.
And the Twister girls had circled a regional semifinal rematch on their calendar, hoping to erase the bitter taste of last season’s hard-to-swallow close defeat.
Instead, Union City suffered a second dose of haunting disappointment due largely to a subpar offensive showing in a contest that resembled hand-to-hand combat at times with its physicality that had fans on both sides howling with every call and no-call.
The Lady Tornadoes made just one field goal in the first 11 minutes of the contest, while falling behind by double figures 13-to-3. They gamely clawed their way back though, forging three fourth-quarter ties thanks to their tenacious defense and an increased commitment to attacking the basket.
Deadlocked at 31-31 with less than six minutes to play, after Uriah Davis scored off an inbounds play, Union City had four straight possessions without a point. During the stretch Greenfield hit 3-of-4 free throws and got a transition deuce from eighth-grade sensation Ella Porter.
The Twisters, meanwhile, sank just one field goal the rest of the way – a Blair McKinnis basket – that cut the difference to 36-35. Union City made it a one-possession game again twice in the final two minutes, but could not convert on multiple chances on the offensive end to get over the hump.
“We struggled to get in the flow offensively and get good looks in the first half,” an understandably dejected Lady Tornado head coach Mason Storey said afterward. “Credit Greenfield for that; they wadded things up inside and made it hard on us.
“We did start to attack the basket more in the second half and got into a little bit better flow. We turned the pressure up and were able to get some runouts. Ultimately, it just wasn’t enough tonight. And it hurts. I especially hurt for our kids, who gave us a tremendous effort – just like they have all season. This one is going to sting for a while. Last year, it stung. This one is worse.”
Down 20-14 after a first half in which they made just five field goals, the Twisters fiercely battled back after the break.
District 14A Most Valuable Player Sh’Nyla Moss was held scoreless over the first two periods but tallied a dozen second-half points as part of the rally. Moss tallied on back-to-back slashes to the rim to forge ties at 27 and 29 early in the fourth quarter before Davis drew the Tornadoes even for a final time with 5:52 to go.
McKinnis had 11 points and was an absolute warrior on both ends and set up Moss’s first bucket with a steal, while Jones more than held her own inside with good board work and physical play during several tense exchanges in the post.
Greenfield’s Rayanna Fisher made 5-of-6 free throws in the fourth quarter, though, including one that gave her team the lead for good (32-31) with 5:39 to go.
Coach Storey had special words for this year’s team after taking a brief minute to reflect on the season.
“This group of seniors, Debrionna, Kennedi, and Jayla, left their mark on Union City girls’ basketball,” he said. “They left the program way better than they found it. Winning 20-plus games and winning a district championship for the first time in 11 seasons will be great memories after we get over the emotions of this.
“This is such a great group of kids. They had tremendous chemistry, they were great teammates to one another, and I love them. They battled to the very end, no matter the circumstances, and I absolutely hate the way the season ended for them. It’s certainly not what we envisioned.
“We do have a lot of potential moving forward. Our jayvee kids had a good year, and we’re bringing back a good core with Sh’Nyla, Blair, Uriah, Ainsley (Sadler), and Alli (McMillan). I know they’re going to put in the work in the offseason and help us ultimately get to the next level.”
Union City will move up to Class 2A next season, joining perennial state contenders Westview and Gibson County in a district that will also include Trenton and Ripley.
(photos: Mike Hutchens – School Communications Director)
