LA PORTE CITY – After a long winter break, the Union Knights boys basketball team was back in action on Jan. 4 to start the new year. The Waterloo Columbus Sailors came to town, and brought a senior heavy team with plenty of experience.

The game started with both teams trading shots in the first few minutes, and the Knights held just a 5-4 lead. That’s when the Knights turned up the heat. By the end of the first quarter they commanded a 24-8 lead over the visiting Sailors. The Knights run was fueled by sophomore Caden Sorensen, who was hot from deep and scored 15-points himself in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the rest of the Knights followed suit with fast breaks and hot shooting as well. The Knights, and Sorensen specifically, nailed a 3-pointer as the first half expired and the home team took a 50-20 lead into halftime.

The Knights kept the pressure on the Sailors in the second half, where they extended their lead to 38-points before closing out the game with a 73-45 win. The Knights shot a red hot 50% from 3-point range and 62% overall for field goals.

Union was again at home the following evening, falling to Denver 56-48.

Entering the week of Jan. 8, Union (8-3) led the NICL-East conference (4-0).

Weather-permitting, the Knights were scheduled to face Dike-New Hartford (5-5) on the road Tuesday followed by another road game against Wapsie Valley (1-8) on Friday, Jan. 12.