After three games on the road, Union Academy is heading back home. They will take on the Piedmont Panthers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Union Academy knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with flashy point totals in its past five matches -- so hopefully Piedmont likes a good challenge.
Union Academy has made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won three matches by 41 points or more this season. They simply couldn't be stopped on Tuesday as they easily beat Central Academy 74-7 on the road. Given Union Academy's advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 105th, while Central Academy is ranked 469th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Union Academy relied on the efforts of Jaiden Thompson, who scored 20 points along with 7 steals, and Ranon Suttle, who scored 17 points along with 7 steals. The matchup was Suttle's third in a row with at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Marianna Shine, who scored 13 points along with 8 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Piedmont came up short against East Mecklenburg on Tuesday and fell 64-52.
Emily Polk put forth a good effort for the losing side as she dropped a double-double on 22 points and 20 rebounds. She is on a roll when it comes to rebounds, as she's now pulled down eight or more in the last three games she's played. Ada Allen was another key contributor, scoring 11 points along with 5 assists and 5 steals.
Union Academy's win bumped their season record to 4-1 while Central Academy's loss dropped theirs to 0-6.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Union Academy have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 35.2 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Piedmont struggles in that department as they've been even better at 43 per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out. Come back here after the game to get analysis of the match and other basketball content.
Union Academy came up short against Piedmont when the teams last played back in November of 2017, falling 88-81. Will Union Academy have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
