Yellow Jackets pick up 1st win
Two different streaks came to an end on Wednesday for the Union basketball teams.
The Lady Yellowjackets suffered their first loss with a 34-33 setback to homesteading Lamar in the finals of the school’s Christmas Tournament.
Union advanced to the finals with a 44-26 win over West Lauderdale and a 43-39 win over Northeast Lauderdale.
The Union boys picked up their first win of the season as they beat Sylva Bay 45-25. They opened up the tournament with a 56-21 loss to West Lauderdale and a 46-27 loss to Newton County Academy.
Union was to return to action on Tuesday as they host Sebastopol in their only action of the week.
Union will return from the Christmas break and begin Division 5-3A play as they host Forest on Tuesday, Jan. 4, and Enterprise on Friday, Jan. 7.
Lamar 34
Lady Yellowjackets 33
The Lady Raiders overcame an early deficit and pulled away in the second half to take a 1-point win over the Lady Yellowjackets.
Union started fast as they outscored Lamar 19-10 in the first while the Lady Raiders took the second period 6-5 and trailed 24-16 at the half. In a slow-paced third period, Lamar outscored Union 6-4 in the third and trailed 26-22. The Lady Raiders closed by outscoring the Lady Yellowjackets 12-5 to take the win.
Georgia Cooper led Union with 12 points while Kamiya Russell had eight points and Keirra Russell added 6 points.
Yellowjackets 45
Sylva Bay 25
The Yellowjackets used a strong first half and grabbed their first win with a 20-point victory.
Union jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first period and outscored Sylva Bay 15-4 in the second for a 25-6 halftime lead. Union then outscored Sylva Bay 14-10 in the third while the Saints took the fourth 9-6.
Kamarian Rushing led Union with 18 points while Keon Hutchins had 12 points.
Lady Yellowjackets 44
West Lauderdale 26
The Lady Yellowjackets started fast in each half and took an 18-point win over the Lady Knights.
Union jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first period and led 19-11 at the half. The Lady Yellowjackets continued to extend their lead in the second half, outscoring the Lady Knights 17-10 in the third and 8-5 in the fourth.
Georgia Cooper had a big game and led Union with 15 points while Keirra Russell had eight points, and Madison Buckley chipped in six points.
West Lauderdale 56
Yellowjackets 21
The Knights started fast and took a 35-point win over the Yellowjackets.
West jumped out to a 16-4 lead and led 23-14 at the half. West then pulled away and outscored Union 25-3 in the third to lead 46-17 going to the fourth. West finished by outscoring Union 8-5 for the final margin.
Kamani Townsend led Union with 7 points, while Kamarian Rushing and Keon Hutchins each had 5 points apiece.
Lady Yellowjackets 43
Northeast Lauderdale 39
The Lady Yellowjackets built an early lead and held on to take a hard-fought 4-point win.
Union jumped out to an 18-11 lead in the first period and outscored Northeast 11-9 in the second for a 29-20 halftime lead. Northeast cut into that lead in the second half and outscored Union 14-12 in the third quarter and 5-2 in the fourth.
Kamiya Russell led Union with 16 points while Georgia Cooper added nine points. Kataya Bishop had 8 points, while Madison Buckley had 6 points.
Newton County Academy 46
Yellowjackets 27
The Generals outscored the Yellowjackets in every period and took a 19-point win on Monday.
NCA led 11-5 at the end of the first and 18-7 at the half. The Generals outscored the Yellowjackets 10-3 in the third and 18-17 in the fourth.
Keon Hutchins led Union with 10 points while Kamarian Rushing had 5 points.