| Tornado boys’ loss goes unnoticed by poll voters |
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Posted: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:00 pm
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By MIKE HUTCHENS
Messenger Sports Editor
Depending on who one asks, Union City’s 15-point loss at Liberty Saturday night wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The Golden Tornado boys — eighth in last week’s Class 1A state rankings — moved up to No. 6 in the newest Associated Press listings that came out Monday afternoon.
The most likely explanation for the jump is that UC’s weekend result likely wasn’t known by many of the 17 statewide voters before those writers/broadcasters cast their ballots over the weekend. The Messenger dropped the Twisters two spots to 10th in this week’s poll.
In that aforementioned 63-48 loss to the Crusaders, Twister head coach Shane Sisco was outspoken of his team’s lack of effort and subpar overall performance. Union City had won six of seven games before Saturday — its lone loss a one-point setback vs. Liberty.
Nonetheless, Union City (14-7) edged Watertown (18-3), which lost to Eagleville before winning two straight, and also jumped Middle Tennessee Christian School (14-6), which was beaten twice last week and dropped out of the Top 10. Watertown dropped from fifth to seventh.
The Tornadoes perhaps gained the benefit of the doubt from some voters due to the strength of their schedule. Six of UC’s seven losses have come vs. teams from a larger classification or from out of state. Only Greenfield has a win over the Purple and Gold among Single-A entries.
Union City garnered 69 total points in this week’s balloting. The Tornadoes trail new No. 1 Booker T. Washington (15-3), which earned the top spot by four points despite No. 2 Wartburg gaining three more (9-6) first-place votes.
The Union City girls continued their solid hold on the top spot in Class 1A, garnering 10 of 16 first-place votes and 142 points for a comfortable 25-point edge on No. 2 Summertown.
The Lady Tornadoes (19-3) — who earned the first No. 1 ranking in program history two weeks ago — have been particularly dominant during an eight-game winning streak since Christmas.
UC has averaged beating its opposition by more than 21 points-per-game during that stretch that included a lopsided 38-point victory (64-26) blowout of Liberty as one of its two wins last week.
Only one of Union City’s victories in that run has come by less than 12 points — that a one-point overtime triumph against Bradford.
Seven of the Twister girls’ victories this season have come vs. opponents from a higher classification.
The team’s only losses have come vs. Division II No. 1 Ensworth (19-1 and winners of 10 straight), by four points; Triple-A Munford (19-4), by one point; and a 28-26 setback to Memphis-Area Home Education Association in an early-season Hall of Champions game.
MHEA, based out of Cordova, is regularly considered one of the top programs of its kind in the nation, according to Memphis Commercial Appeal prep writer John Varlas.
A complete listing of the latest AP prep rankings can be found on page 9.
Sports editor Mike Hutchens can be contacted by email at mhutch@ucmessenger.com. Published in The Messenger 1.29.13 |
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