The Union Spartans boys basketball team finally got this season’s monkey off their back, rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat Hobbton 55-50 on Monday afternoon in the eighth Annual Martin Luther King Jam for their first win of the season.

The Spartans trailed the Wildcats 12-11 at the end of the first quarter with Javien Vann keeping the Spartans close with seven points. Cody Stewart hit four for the ‘Cats, who would ultimately find the range in the second quarter as Walter Thompson scored two three-pointers. Derrick Smith contributed four points for the Spartans to help keep them in the game. Hobbton took a 28-23 lead to the half.

The game remained close in the second half with Hobbton outscoring Union 15-13 to keep the Wildcats on top 41-38 at the end of the third quarter.

The Spartans finally turned the corner in the fourth quarter as they took the lead with three minutes remaining in the game on free throws by Nadir Goodwin. Later in the quarter, Union’s Cole Bass hauled down a missed Spartan free throw and put it in the hole to put the Spartans up by four points. They would add one last free throw with less than six seconds left to hold on to take a 55-50 win, clinching the team’s first win of the season.

Following the game, Coach Keagan Warren said he was proud of his guys.

“We got punched in the mouth early but then we punched them back,” Warren said. “I just can’t express how proud I am of their effort. We get banged and bruised up during conference play and to come out with the composure and the intensity we played with it was great. We guarded their guards well. Trey Underwood and Nadir Goodwin did a good job with that. Cole Bass had a great rebound and put back which helped up get over the thump. Overall, I’m proud of their efforts. We’re going to enjoy this win today and then get back to conference.”

Offensively, Goodwin led the Spartans with 10 points. Trey Underwood contributed nine points, while Vann and Bass added eight points each.

For Hobbton, Thompson led the Wildcats with 15 points. Omar Farrior and Cody Stewart each contributed 10 points.

The Wildcats’ record drops to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in the Carolina Conference. They will travel to Rosewood on Friday night. The Spartans record moves to 1-12 overall (0-6 in the Four County Conference). They will host West Bladen on Friday night.

Union’s Javien Vann goes up for a shot over Hobbton’s Cody Stewart.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Vann-and-Stewart.jpgUnion’s Javien Vann goes up for a shot over Hobbton’s Cody Stewart.
Spartans rally past Hobbton in fourth quarter

By Melony Henderson

Sports Writer

Reach Daron Barefoot at [email protected]