Both the Viking boys and girls came away from Spring Lake victorious Friday night as Union Pines earned a sweep against the Overhills Jaguars to start the 3A Cape Fear Valley Conference hoops’ season.

In the nightcap, the U.P. boys erased a 37-23 halftime deficit to claim a 69-63 win. The Vikings scored 20 points in the third period to trim the homestanding Jaguars lead to 47-43 as play moved into the final frame. In the decisive fourth period, Union Pines outscored Overhills 26-16 to complete a dramatic comeback.

Junior Lashun Brower led Union Pines with 18 points. Parris Manning scored 16 for the Vikings and sophomore Braxton Ross had 15 points. Union Pines improve to 2-5 overall and 1-0 in league play with the victory.

The Vike girls’ game against the Lady Jags was another classic clash in what has turned into quite the compelling CFVC rivalry between Union Pines and Overhills in the past three years.

Union Pines trailed 19-15 at the half and seemed tight its conference opener in Spring Lake as several close and easy looks would not drop into the basket.

A nine-point performance in the third frame by sophomore Tyler Ross helped the Lady Vikes stay in the game as they trailed 31-29 through three quarters of action. Union Pines stepped up its defense and went 10-12 from the charity stripe to outscore Overhills 14-7 in the fourth period and come away with the critical 43-38 conference win.

With the victory Union Pines remained undefeated, improving to 7-0 on the season.

Ross led the Vikes with 12 points, and also finished with 11 rebounds, 4 steals and two blocks. Junior captain Crystal Hicks had 14 rebounds, nine points, five steals and five assists for Union Pines, while senior captain Tyesha McLean tallied nine points, five assist, four steals, and four boards.

Both Vike teams return to CFVC action Monday on the road at Gray’s Creek, with the girls’ game starting at 6 p.m.