North Union’s Addison Wedding (left) drives toward the basket against Granville. The Lady Cats fell in the Division II district title game.
(Photo submitted)
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North Union girls basketball coach Bre Jackson pretty much summed up how the Lady Cats played during their Central District final against top-seeded Granville.
“We did some good things in moments and we had some not as good things in other moments,” Jackson said.
Unfortunately, the not-so-good moments outnumbered the good as North Union, which was the sixth seed, battled hard but suffered a 55-49 loss to the Blue Aces.
One of the not-so-good moments came at the beginning of the game.
Getting a trio of three-point goals from Harper Annarino, Granville jumped out to a 9-2 lead.
As it did several times, NU battled back, scoring six straight points in the final 1:14 to get within two at 14-12.
Addison Wedding had four of the six points.
The Lady Cats (17-7) started the second quarter with an inside basket by Brenna Martino and a Wedding layup to take a 16-14 edge.
Granville, though, went on a 14-point run that included six free throws from Annarino and a three-point goal by Aliyah Moore,
That stretch gave the Aces a 28-16 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Lady Cats answered back to close the gap to 30-25.
Kailyn Colegrove started the spurt with an Audrey Benedict-assisted layup.
Colegrove fed Gabby Lindsey for another layup, Benedict netted a pair of free throws and Wedding dialed up a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Annarino dropped in her fourth trey of the game and Granville led 33-25 at the half.
Trailing 40-32 with three-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter, the Lady Cats once again caught fire.
Kennedy Harrah hit a three from the right wing and Colegrove scored from close range to make it 41-37.
After a Granville free throw, Lindsey scored on a layup and Harrah got loose inside for another basket as North Union tied the game at 41.
The Blue Aces added another two-pointer and led 43-41 with one quarter left to play.
The Lady Cats started the final eight minutes strong, getting back-to-back scoring drives from Harrah and Benedict,
Those buckets gave NU a two-point cushion at 45-43.
North Union bumped the lead to three twice during the frame.
Harrah scored from inside (47-44) and Colegrove matched it for a 49-46 lead with 3:21 remaining.
Another not-so-good moment followed as the Lady Cats went scoreless the rest of the way.
Granville tallied just one field goal during the time, but swished seven free throws to seal the victory.
“We had to be aggressive, but we did not take care of the basketball,” Jackson said. “But we did not give up.”
Free throws were a key factor for the Blue Aces, who went to the line 28 times and made 16.
North Union were efficient with its charity tosses, but it only made six of its eight tries.
Granville has now won four straight district titles.
Allison Wedding led North Union with 11 points and five rebounds.
Lindsey and Harrah each had nine points and three assists.
Despite the loss, Benedict and Zoe Wedding, both seniors, were not disappointed at how the team played.
“We felt we had a chance, but we would need to play our best game for a shot at the title” Wedding said. “I am proud of how our team played, overcoming some adversity and we had the faith we would be OK.”
“We played hard and were working to get the win,” Benedict said. “We left it all out there on the floor.”
Jackson was also pleased with how the team battled back.
“It was a really good game,” she said. “We weren’t scared of Granville as we have been facing challenges all year. We got down but we fought back.”
Jackson also did not back away from the season the Lady Cats were able to put together, which included a third straight Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division title.
“I told the girls after the game there was nothing to hang our heads about,” she said. “Each one of the players has grown during the season. It is always a good year when you get to the district final and we were ready for the moment.”
North Union
Benedict 3-2-8, Z. Wedding 0-0-0, Martino 3-0-6, Colegrove 3-0-6, A. Wedding 4-2-11, Lindsey 3-2-9, Harrah 4-0-9. Three-point goals: A. Wedding, Lindsey, Harrah.
Granville
Varraso 1-1-3, Warehime 5-2-13, Cottrell 1-1-3, Moore 2-2-8, Mortimer 0-2-2, Ammarino 7-8-26. Three-point goals: Ammarino 4, Moore 2, Warehime.