Basketball Recap: Mckenzy Green's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Hillside over Union Pines

After flying high against South Granville last Friday, Hillside came back down to earth. The contest between the Hillside Hornets and the Union Pines Vikings didn't end well, with the Hillside Hornets falling 62-44. While losing is never fun, the Hornets can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 403rd, while the Vikings are ranked 44th).

Hillside's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Mckenzy Green, who posted 16 points and five rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Morgan Trotman, who put up nine points and seven rebounds.

Hornets

Offensive Rebounds

12/28/24 vs Union Pines	20
12/05/24 @ Cardinal Gibbons	18
12/14/24 vs Southern School of Energy and Sustainability	15
12/26/24 vs Deep Creek	5

Even though they lost, Hillside smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive boards. That's the most offensive rebounds they've managed all season.

Ashanti Fox was her usual excellent self, dropping a double-double on 29 points and ten rebounds for Union Pines. Fox's evening made it 11 games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Taryn Pekala, who had seven points and three steals.

Hillside's loss was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 2-7. As for Union Pines, the victory keeps them at an undefeated 11-0.

Hillside didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 54-27 defeat against Southern School of Energy and Sustainability on the 30th. As for Union Pines, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next matchup, a 54-46 win against Northwood on the 30th.