The Union City girls basketball team won the Class 1A Randolph Southern Sectional with a 69-47 win over Tri. (Photo supplied).
LYNN, Ind. – For the first time since since 2003, the Union City girls basketball team can add some sectional hardware to the school’s trophy case.
“The girls played through adversity tonight,’ Union City Head Coach Sarah Hines said after the Indians claimed the Class 1A sectional title with a 49-47 win over Tri at Randolph Southern.
“We were focused and ready,” Hines added. “Tri was going to fight until the end.”
“We told the girls that there were going to be runs and lead changes and it would take an entire game,” Hines said.
It did nearly take the entire contest on Saturday night as a rebound basket by Union City’s Courtney Wise with five seconds remaining was the difference.
“We responded to their runs and our girls stepped up big and answered the hot shooting of Tri with some of our own,” Hines said. “It was a great atmosphere and a wonderful experience for them.”
The Indians led 18-12 after one period and later held a 31-21 advantage by halftime.
The Titans (17-7) rallied to close the gap to 38-36 after the third quarter to set the stage for the final stanza and Wise’s game-winner.
Kelsey Zimmers led the Indians with 14 points, while Justiss Cantu added 11 points with four assists and four steals. Madeline Adams tossed in 10 points and also had four assists.
Baylee Hartman finished with six points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Wise had five points and nine rebounds.
The Titans had three players in double figures with Kylie Dishman leading the way with 15 points. All of Dishman’s points came on 3-pointers.
Mackenzie Peggs added 12 points for Tri, while Payton Moore had 10 points.
Union City (20-5) advances to the Tipton Regional next Saturday as the Indians face Liberty Christian (16-10) in the opening contest.
“We told the girls not to settle here,’ Hines said. “We will hit the gym next week and start preparing for regionals.”
Box Score
UNION CITY (20-5) – Justiss Cantu 5 0-0 11, Kora Kerns 1 0-0 3, Courtney Wise 2 1-2 5, Madeline Adams 4 1-2 10, Baylee Hartman 3 0-0 6, Elle Kerns 0 0-0 0, Kelsey Zimmers 5 0-0 14. Team – 20 2-4 49
TRI (17-7) – Kylie Dishman 5 0-0 15, Mackenzie Peggs 5 0-0 12, Cayla Johnson 2 2-2 6, Payton Moore 5 0-0 10, Addy Edwards 0 0-0 0, Karlee Winkhart 0 1-2 1, Kensington Appleby 0 1-2 1, Mara Biehl 1 0-1 2. Team – 18 4-7 47.
Union City 18 31 38 49
Tri 12 21 36 47
3-pointers – Union City 7 (Zimmers 4, Cantu 1, K. Kerns 1, Adams 1), Tri 7 (Dishman 5, Peggs 2). Rebounds – Union City 27 (Hartman 11, Wise 9), Tri 22. Turnovers – Union City 14, Tri 12. Fouls – Union City 9, Tri 9.
Class 1A Tipton Regional Pairings
Union City (20-5) vs. Liberty Christian (16-10), 10 a.m.
North Vermillion (19-8) vs. Tri-Central (15-11), noon.
Championship, 8 p.m.
Sectional Championships by TEC Teams
Winchester (14): 1977, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013.
Union City (6): 1985, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2016.
Hagerstown (5): 1993, 1994, 1995, 2009, 2015.
Northeastern (5): 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011.
Tri (5): 1998, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014.
Lincoln (4): 1983, 2004, 2005, 2016.
Centerville (1): 2012.
Union County (1): 2006.