For the Union women basketball workforce, a season of success has now entered a brand new part.
After profitable their first 4A Higher St. Helens League title since 2019, the Titans at the moment are in playoff mode. That began Friday with a 66-18 win over an overmatched Puyallup workforce within the first spherical of the District 3-4 event.
“We’re taking it as season two,” Union junior Brooklynn Haywood stated. “We’re coming out with a different mentality. We have to win all of our games. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re making a statement every game.”
Haywood scored 33 factors, near her per-game common in a season that noticed her named 4A GSHL Participant of the 12 months this week.
Now Haywood and the Titans are one win from reaching the Class 4A state event for the primary time since 2020, when Union positioned fifth. The highest-seeded Titans (19-2) will host No. 9 Kennedy Catholic (16-5) on Monday in a winner-to-state quarterfinal.
Reaching the state playoffs has been a significant aim for Union, which had two probabilities to qualify in final 12 months’s bi-district event however misplaced each by a mixed 5 factors.
“Obviously there’s history where they haven’t made it there in a long time,” Haywood stated. “It would be a big thing for us. We have a lot of confidence that we can get there.”
Janessa Chatman received Union off to a quick begin by making three 3-pointers within the first 5 minutes. The senior, who completed with 11 factors, stated playoff mode started on this week’s practices.
“Coach (Gary Mills) was emphasizing practice like a playoff team,” Chatman stated. “Keeping our focus, communication and energy.”
No. 16 seed Puyallup (8-13) trailed 25-12 after the primary quarter, was outscored 20-0 within the second.
In the meantime, Haywood discovered her taking pictures stroke. She scored 15 consecutive factors for Titans and had 26 factors at halftime.
Earlier than Friday, Union had scored no fewer than 68 factors in every of its final 10 video games. The one blemishes on its document are a one-point loss to a 19-2 Davis workforce and a two-point loss to reigning 4A state champ Camas, which the Titans have since beat twice.
Haywood stated the workforce, which incorporates 4 new starters, has discovered its rhythm.
“I think we’ve made a big jump since the beginning of the season,” Haywood stated. “We’re learning how to play with each other, like being a little smoother on our transition and our defense. The big wins and the tough games definitely helped with that.”
UNION 66, PUYALLUP 18
PUYALLUP — Mia Stallcoi 0, Laney Weaver 1, Lola Woodburn 15, Adriana Adams 0, Avery Reisinger 0, Hannah Hite 0, Andrea Nix 2, Alexa Balzarini 0. Totals 4 (1) 9-13 18.
UNION — Carli Christensen 2, Myla Larry 8, Jadea Jones 0, Janessa Chatman 11, Leah Samuel 6, Taylor McCullough 0, Addy Eisfeldt 2, Brooklynn Haywood 33, Jalise Chatman 4. Totals 26 (5) 9-9 66.
Puyallup 12 0 1 5—18
Union 25 20 15 6—66
