Union girls basketball team beats Bethel 53-50 to open season

Union girls basketball coach Kelly Blankenship couldn’t imagine a better way to tip off the season.

“I mean, we got to play a tough, athletic team that challenged us, pushed us into overtime and took us right down to the wire,” Blankenship said. “You can’t ask for more than that in an opener.”

Oh, and the Titans got the win.

Michelle Chin and Malia Aguigui scored 10 points each, and the two combined to score all seven of the Titans’ points in overtime as Union beat Bethel of Spanaway 53-50 on Saturday night.

“That was a clutch shot late there by Michelle to seal it, and Mailia did a nice job getting her the ball in open space,” Blankenship said. “Courtney Cranston got some big rebounds for us, and so did Emily Takayoshi. It was really just a complete game from everyone.”

Cranston had nine points and seven rebounds, and Takayoshi added six points in a balanced attack for the Titans.

“I can’t really think of any one player who we are going to need to lead us,” Blankenship said. “We’ve just got a good group of athletic players all over the floor. We have nine kids coming back from last year’s team, so they really know each other well, and work well together.”

After Bethel opened the game with a basket, the Titans took the lead 5-2 on a Cranston 3-pointer. Union stretched the lead to as many as nine early in the second quarter, and the Titans led 44-37 midway through the fourth quarter.

But then the shots stopped falling for the Titans, allowing the Braves to creep within 46-45 on Ghionna Porreca’s 3-pointer in the final minute.

Tianna Brown’s free throw with 8.5 seconds left tied the game 46-46. After Brown’s second free throw was off the mark, Union rebounded the ball, but was unable to get off a shot before the buzzer.

In the overtime, two free throws from Aguigui and a rebound basket by Chin put Union up 50-46. But Bethel kept the pressure on, and two free throws by Marquissa Bowie cut the lead to 51-50 with less than a minute left in overtime.

Then Chin’s jumper sealed the win for Union.

The Titans return to the court Monday when they play at Hockinson.

UNION 53, BETHEL 50

BETHEL — Marquissa Bowie 7, Tianna Brown 13, Ghionna Porreca 15, Emma Johnson 6, Jamia Moore 7, Ayriannah Elgin 2, Kaitlyn Reiman 0. Totals 17 (3) 13-21 50.

UNION — Laura Beard 1, Mailia Aguigui 10, Michelle Chin 10, Emily Takayoshi 6, Samantha Lewis 0, Kili Anderson 7, Abby Forsyth 4, Sarah Trostle 4, McKenzie English 2, Courtney Cranston 9. Totals 15 (6) 17-23 53.

Bethel 9               10           10           17           4–50

Union    16           7              13           10           7–53

JV — Bethel 38-37.