TACOMA — No Union girls basketball team has done what this year’s team did Saturday, and that had Mackenzie Lewis and her teammate proud walking off the floor at the Tacoma dome.
“That was my dream — bringing home a trophy for our program,” Lewis said. “To do it my senior year is a dream come true.”
Despite a 47-45 loss to Glacier Peak, Union earned its first state trophy: fifth place. That’s something Lewis, who joins Lexi Raymore as the Titans’ four-year varsity players, not only cherishes for this year’s Titans, but others, too.
“And for the past women’s basketball players at Union,” she said, “we did it for them, too.
We’re bringing home a trophy and we’re very proud.”
Two years ago, Lewis, Raymore and Mason Oberg, a first-year Union player at the time, were part of the Titans’ run to reach the Tacoma Dome as sophomores. That was Union’s first appearance at the Dome.
The Titans didn’t earn a trophy that season, and Saturday, those three helped this year’s Titans have plenty of firsts this week.
The Titans reached the Tacoma Dome by topping second-seed Todd Beamer in last week’s regionals to earn a quarterfinal berth. Then, when they topped Moses Lake to reach the state semifinals, that was their first state win at the Tacoma Dome.
Saturday against Glacier Peak, Oberg led the Titans with 15 points. Abbey Kaip added nine, Lewis had eight and Lolo Weatherspoon and Sarah Litchford had six apiece.
Union trailed for most of the game until a 12-2 scoring run, capped by a Weatherspoon bucket, the game at 42-42 with 1 minute, 54 seconds to play. Abbey Kaip had two of her three 3s as part of that run.
Union trailed 47-45 with 18.5 seconds left, and a drive to the lane by Weatherspoon was blocked for a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds.
Coach Gary Mills, in his second season, said the experience taking the Union girls to the Tacoma Dome is something special. He did so when he was head coach of the Evergreen boys, as well as part of the Union boys coaching staff before taking over as the girls head coach in 2018.
“This was unique for me,” he said. “It’s something about coaching girls and getting here with them is a little different. These guys will always have a special place in my heart.”
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GLACIER PEAK 47, UNION 45
GLACIER PEAK (23-5) — Aaliyah Collins 12, Shaylin Sande 0, Malia Smith 5, Madison Rubino 9, Maya Erling 16, Grace Godines 0, Kailyn Allison 0, Elyse Wadal 5. Totals 23 (4) 5-11 47.
UNION (21-7) — Mason Oberg 15, Lolo Weatherspoon 6, Abbey Kaip 9, Mackenzie Lewis 8, Sarah LItchford 6, Lexi Ramore 0, Olivia Euverman 0, Kaneyl Carpenter 1, Caitlyn Leake 0, Ariel Ammentorp 0. Totals 21 (5) 8-15 45.
Gla. Peak 13 14 11 9 – 47
Union 14 8 7 16 – 45
