BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Gavin Jenkins scored 12 fourth-quarter points as the Union County High School boys basketball team whittled a 21-point deficit down to six, but the Tigers couldn’t get past District 6-Rural opponent Fort White in a 53-46 loss on Jan. 18 that snapped a five-game winning streak.
It was a matchup of top-20 teams, with the Tigers and the Indians entering the game as the 13th and 16th teams, respectively, in the Florida High School Athletic Association/MaxPreps Rural Class power rankings.
The Tigers (8-3) trailed by five when Jacques McKenzy sank a three-point shot before halftime. Fort White (5-9) outscored Union 18-8 in the third quarter to take a 41-26 lead.
Union trailed 47-26 in the fourth quarter before going on a 12-0 run. Jenkins and Adrian Manns each scored off rebound putbacks following turnovers. Another Fort White turnover led to a three-point basket by A.J. Chandler. Jenkins also had a two-point basket during the run, which also included two free throws by Jeppson Dang and one free throw by Manns.
Jayden Jackson made a three-point shot for the Indians before the Tigers scored five straight points — all by Jenkins. Jenkins had a basket and a free throw to cut Fort White’s lead to nine. The Indians turned the ball over with 2:20 to play, which led to Jenkins scoring off an offensive rebound to make it a 50-43 game.
Fort White’s Tafari Moe had a basket with 1:35 left to put the Indians up 52-43. Jenkins then went to the foul line, making 1 of 2 free-throw attempts. He rebounded the missed second attempt and put it back up for a basket, leaving the Tigers trailing 52-46.
Those were the last points for the Tigers, who got 20 total points from Jenkins.
Union entered the game off a 66-32 win over visiting Keystone Heights on Jan. 14. McKenzy and Dang had 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Tyrese Chandler had 13.
The Tigers also got nine points from A.J. Chandler, seven from Bubba McGhee, four from Jenkins and two from Manns.
McKenzy and Tyrese Chandler led Union with six and five rebounds, respectively, while A.J. Chandler recorded eight assists and two steals.
Dang and McGhee each had three assists, while Jenkins and Erick Lasseter each had two steals.
The Tigers will travel to play Dixie County on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Union hosts Interlachen on Friday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.
On Monday, Jan. 27, the Tigers host Middleburg at 7:30 p.m. Union then travels to play Baker County on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
