It was an up-and-down week for both Union basketball teams this week as they finished out the regular season.
The Union girls opened the week with a 56-53 loss to Philadelphia but closed out the week with a 41-34 win over regular-season division champion Newton on Friday night.
The Yellowjackets opened the week with a solid 57-42 win over Philadelphia but fell 53-46 to Newton on Friday.
The Union girls finished as the No. 2 seed in the division and will play Lake on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Scott Central. The winner will advance to the girls championship game on Friday while the loser will fall to the consolation game on Friday.
The Union boys also finished as the No. 2 seed in the division and will No. 3 seed Philadelphia on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the boys championship game on Friday while the loser will fall to the consolation game on Friday.
Union girls 41, Newton 34
The Lady Yellowjackets used a big third period and held on to take a seven-point win over the Lady Tigers on Friday.
Newton led 10-6 after the first period and 18-14 at the half. But Union outscored Newton 17-6 in the third to lead 31-24 going to the fourth, where each team scored 10 points apiece.
Kamyia Russell led Union with 22 points while Kerria Russell had 10 points. Ja’Leah Hickmon led Newton with 17 points while Zia Shields had 12 points.
Newton boys 53, Union 46
The Tigers built a slim first-half lead and held on in the fourth to take a tough seven-point win over the Yellowjackets on Friday to take the top spot in this week’s division tournament.
Newton led 15-13 at the end of the first period and 26-22 at the half. Union outscored Newton 10-9 in the third to cut the lead to 35-32 going to the fourth. But Newton outscored Union 18-14 to take the win.
Jabez Blaylock led Newton with 17 points while Jalen Barton had nine points.
Jamarcus Jones led Union with 15 points while Kenyon Clay had 10 points.
Phila. girls 56, Union 53
The Lady Yellowjackets put on a furious fourth-period comeback but fell short in a three-point loss to the Lady Yellowjackets.
Philly led 18-13 at the end of the first period and then outscored Union 16-6 in the second to lad 34-19 at the half. Union got going in the second half and outscored Philly 12-8 in the third and 22-14 in the fourth for the final margin.
Kamyia Russell led Union with 25 points while Madison Buckley had 10 points and Georgia Cooper added nine points.
Union boys 57, Phila. 42
The Yellowjackets dominated the middle two periods to take a 15-point win over the Tornadoes on Tuesday.
Philly led 9-5 at the end of the first period but Union then outscored the Tornadoes 19-9 in the second to lead 24-18 at the half. The Yellowjackets put the game away in the third as they outscored the Tornadoes 23-8 in the third to lead 47-26 going to the fourth. Philly took the fourth 16-10 for the final margin.
Bryce Young led Union with 13 points while E.J. Campbell and Kenyon Clay each had 12 points apiece. Dylan Harrison and E.J. Campbell each had eight points.
