North Union’s Kennedy Harrah (left) drives toward the basket against Heath. The Lady Cats won the Division II district semifinal contest that was played at Sparta Highland High School.
(Photo submitted)
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For a second straight year, North Union is one step away from reaching the top rung of the Division II Central District tournament.
The Lady Cats earned the return trip on Wednesday with a 54-41 victory over Heath at Highland High School.
It got a little rugged at times because of turnovers, but when the offense was clicking head coach Bre Jackson was able to see what her team could do.
“We stuck to our principles,” Jackson said. “We did not play our best in the first half. In the second half we were able to execute and be disciplined.”
“We kept playing together and at 100% every play,” said sophomore Kailyn Colegrove, who came off the bench to score six points. “We were able to get the open looks and get the best option.”
North Union will try for its first district title since 2015.
The Lady Cats, the sixth seed, will have to face the top seed in Granville, which has won a district title the last three years.
Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday at Central Crossing High School.
“It won’t be the first time we’ve been challenged this year,” Jackson said of the task of beating the Aces.
The coach beefed up the 2023-24 schedule, playing several of the top teams in the Central District with an eye on playing those type of teams in the post-season.
“It was the direction we wanted to go,” she said. “We know it will be a tough task against Granville, but we are ready.”
After an early 4-2 deficit, the Lady Cats (17-7) went on an 11-point run.
Brenna Martino started the spurt with an inside basket, Kennedy Harrah followed with jumper from the right elbow, Gabby Lindsey netted a three-point goal and Colegrove scored on a back cut.
Harrah completed the run with a rebound of her own miss and North Union led 13-4 with two minutes left in the opening quarter.
Heath (13-11), the ninth seed, bounced back as a three-point goal from Caroline Robertson closed the gap to 13-9 by the end of the first eight minutes.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 13-13 on a drive to the basket by Robertson.
However, a three-point goal by Harrah and two baskets from Colegrove helped the Lady Cats to a 24-21 halftime edge.
North Union earned some cushion in the third quarter.
Leading 29-24, the Lady Cats scored 12 straight points, including seven markers by Harrah.
Audrey Benedict and Martino also each had field goals.
Heath notched the last four points of the quarter and the first four in the fourth period to cut NU’s lead to 41-32.
A three-point goal by Zoe Wedding returned North Union to a double-digit spread.
Heath never got any closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Harrah totaled a season-high 22 points in leading the Lady Cats. Martino finished with eight.
Harrah snared seven rebounds, while Addison Wedding dished out four assists.
North Union
Benedict 2-2-6, Z. Wedding 2-0-6, Martino 4-0-8, Colegrove 3-0-6, A. Wedding 1-0-2, Lindsey 1-1-4, Harrah 7-6-22. Three-point goals: Harrah 2, Z. Wedding 2, Lindsey.
Heath
Pethtel 2-0-5, Robertson 6-1-16, Del Cecato 4-4-12, Davs 1-0-2, Cotrell 2-2-6. Three-point goals Robertson 3, Pethtel.