The Union Pines boys’ and girls’ basketball teams competed in back-to-back fifth-place contests Thursday during the final day of the Chatlee Shootout in Sanford.

The Lady Vikings cruised to a 54-37 victory against Overhills in the opening game of the evening consolation session.

Union Pines took control early on, using high-pressure defense and efficient scoring to forge ahead 18-4 after one period of play. By halftime, senior captain Tyesha McLean had 14 points for Union Pines as the Vikes clung to 30-21 advantage.

In the third quarter, McLean and senior Tashi Whitney each scored six points to help the Vikings carry a commanding 44-26 lead into the fourth frame.

McLean finished the night with a game-high 20 points. Whitney scored eight of her 10 total points in the second half and tallied six boards, four assists and three steals in the contest.

Vike sophomore Tyler Ross totaled nine points, eight rebounds and two steals, while junior captain Crystal Hicks had eight points, six assists and six rebounds. Senior center Christina Morcom turned in yet another solid showing as well, finishing with five blocks, five boards, two steals and four points.

Union Pines improved to 11-2 with the victory and returns to league action Tuesday against Southern Lee at 6 p.m. in Sanford.

The Lady Vikes went 2-1 at the holiday tournament to finish fifth overall. After falling 48-40 in the opening round to Chatham Central, the Vikings snapped a two-game losing skid with a 47-27 victory over Lee County Wednesday.

McLean and Ross each finished with 11 points to lead Union Pines in scoring. Ross also had 11 rebounds and three steals.

Morcom totaled eight points, six rebounds and three blocks Wednesday, while Hicks had five points, nine rebounds, six steals and five assists. Whitney collected eight steals in the second-round contest, along with six points, four rebounds and three assists.

Vike Boys Fall Short to Bucks

In Thursday’s consolation nightcap against 4A Hoke County, Vike junior captain Parris Manning turned in a dynamic 28-point performance.

Despite Manning’s heroics, Union Pines fell 74-64 to the Bucks to place sixth overall.

Hoke got out to a fast start, quickly building a double-digit lead. The score was 21-11 through one period of play.

The Bucks then extended their lead to 16 points with 5:33 left in the second quarter. Union Pines received a late spark from sophomore Braxton Ross to trim Hoke’s lead to 36-27 with just less than two minutes remaining in the half. But the Bucks closed the quarter with a 9-3 run to take a 45-29 advantage into intermission.

Ultimately, the Vikings fought back to get within four points when Ross buried a jumper at the elbow to make the score 63-59 at the 4:10 mark of the fourth period.

That was as close as U.P. would get. Hoke hung on for the win to improve its record to 4-6 on the season.

Buck forward Tarique Thompson scored 12 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter for Hoke. The 6-4 sophomore finished with 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks on the night.

Seniors Kentrel Black and Tim Haggie also had big games for the Bucks. Black delivered an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double along with four steals, three assists and two blocks, while Haggie had 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Joining Manning in double figures for Union Pines were Ross (18) and sophomore guard Matthew Maness (11). Manning had seven rebounds, four assists and four steals to go along with his 28 points. Ross finished with nine boards, five assists and two steals, while Maness had five rebounds and four assists.

Manning also led the way for the Vikings in their 59-53 Wednesday victory over East Wake during day two of the tournament. The Vike swingman connected three times from downtown on his way to scoring 15 points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 22 points.

Union Pines went 1-2 at the tournament and is now 4-9 on the season. The Vikes next take the court in Cape Fear Valley Conference action Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against Southern Lee in Sanford.

Contact F.W. Manning II at frankwm2@gmail.com.