M.J. Brown-Union City State Champs

Senior leads team to state title.

There will be some serious construction taking place at the Brown household this next week.

Senior M.J. Brown lead a ferocious comeback finishing with 29 points, capturing his second Class A Mr. Basketball award, being chosen MVP all while leading the Golden Tornadoes past Manassas for the Farm Bureau Basketball Championships Gold Ball representing Class A state champs for 2008.

Things did not look promising for the boys from the U.C. early. Manassas ran up a 17 point halftime lead behind junior Reginald Buckner and senior Derrick Richards.

Then the crowd got a chance to see what Union City basketball was all about. Chipping away at the lead the Tornadoes cut the deficit to 10 after three behind some timely shooting from senior Nik Brooks, who would finish with 11 big points.

Union City made the final stanza their own, scoring 34 points and grabbing the lead for good behind more scoring and defensive heroic from Brown and classmates Tony Wilkins and Andre Coby.

Wilkins, who scored 19, and Coby, who added 11 points but grabbed 15 boards, were both named to the All-Tournament squad for their contributions.

Richards led Manassas with 22 while Sean Kerney added 16. The 6-8 Buckner has his third double/double of the tourney finishing with 15 points and 15 caroms.

All-Tournament Team: (Class A)

M.J. Brown-Union City (MVP)

Reginald Buckner-Manassas

Josh Padgett-University

Tyler Jean-Moore County

Tony Wilkins-Union City

Sean Kerney-Manassas

Shane Worthey-Moore County

William Burton-University

Derrick Richards-Manassas

Andre Coby-Union City

Mr. Basketball

For the second consecutive season M.J. Brown from Union City captured the presitigous award. Brown was named over Demario Williams (Culleoka), a three time finalist and Reginald Buckner (Manassas), the only underclassman nominated this season.