BELLEVUE — Union didn’t come away with a gap spherical win within the Class 4A ladies basketball state event on Friday.
However the Titans earned one thing beneficial for after they subsequent take the courtroom within the Spherical of 12 – A sense that they belong.
Making its first state look since 2020, Union took Woodinville all the way down to the ultimate possession earlier than dropping 70-66 on Friday at Bellevue Faculty.
Nevermind that the No. 5 seed Titans trailed 67-56 with 3:58 to play. Union (20-4) clawed inside 69-66 and had the ball in opposition to a No. 4 Woodinville group that has positioned no worse than fourth within the final 4 state tournaments, successful the title in 2022.
A play was drawn up for Brooklynn Haywood, who led all scorers with 38 factors. However the sharp-shooting junior stepped out of bounds as she tried to dribble out of the nook with 3.2 seconds to play.
Haywood made seven 3-pointers and eclipsed 2,000 profession factors halfway by way of the primary quarter. She mentioned Friday’s loss did nothing to harm her group’s confidence heading right into a loser-out recreation Wednesday within the Tacoma Dome in opposition to No. 12 Emerald Ridge or No. 13 Glacier Peak.
“I feel like we definitely stepped up as a team,” Haywood mentioned. “We’ve never been in this position before. It’s our first time playing like that against one of the best teams in the state in Woodinville. Being able to hang in there and play with them was good.”
Haywood, who averaged practically 33 factors per recreation within the common season, began sizzling. She had 26 factors and 5 3-pointers within the first half because the Titans took a 38-34 lead into the break.
However Woodinville (23-3) is a group that may match anyone in a 3-point contest. The Falcons made 5 of their 15 3-pointers within the third quarter whereas outscoring Union 19-12.
“We knew they could shoot it really well,” Union coach Gary Mills mentioned. “We worked on trying to run them off the line a little bit. They moved the ball so well, it was difficult for us to find the right defense.”
Woodinville additionally contained Haywood higher within the second half, holding her to seven factors within the third quarter and 5 within the fourth.
Mills mentioned opposing groups can solely put together for Haywood a lot with out defending her in individual.
“If you watch Brooklynn on film, it just doesn’t do it justice,” Mills mentioned. “Your team doesn’t buy it until they’ve seen it and they’re defending it. Then they go, oh geez. Then the antennas come up a bit in the second half. But that’s still on us. We have things in for her when she’s being the number one focus.”
Union scored eight consecutive factors over 1:58 to get again within the recreation. Again-to-back 3-pointers by Jalise Chatman and Haywood minimize Woodinville’s result in 67-64 with 2:00 to play.
The Titans acquired two key defensive stops within the remaining minute, together with a shot clock violation with 13.3 seconds to play.
Although Union couldn’t get a possible game-tying shot on its remaining possession, the Titans left Bellevue feeling they’ll problem any group within the state.
“One of the main criticisms of this tournament is that a team can lose in the first round and still win the state championship,” Mills mentioned. “We just talked about let’s have them criticize that again. That’s the second- or third-best team in the state, in my mind. We’re definitely not happy right now, but we belong.”
WOODINVILLE 70, UNION 66
UNION (20-4) — Carli Christensen 0, Myla Larry 9, Janessa Chatman 7, Leah Samuel 2, Taylor McCullough 0, Addy Eisfeldt 0, Brooklyn Haywood 38, Jalise Chatman 10. Totals – 24 (10) 8-10 66.
WOODINVILLE (23-3) — Tanvi Agarwal 0, Sienna Bieler 12, Hailey Quiggle 25, Jaemie Stephens Eggers 0, Kamryn Wille 2, Jazlyn Wilderson 18, Sam Harris 13. Totals 21 (15) 13-18 70.
Union 18 20 12 16 — 66
Woodinville 22 12 19 17 — 70