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United upsets Ursuline
For the second time in four seasons, the Eagles sent the Irish home
By Jim Flick
MINERAL RIDGE
In a heated contest that remained close until the finish, the United High girls basketball team upset top-seeded Ursuline, 50-46, on Saturday at Mineral Ridge High.
The Eagles (21-3) won the Division III title and advance to a regional semifinal game against Smithville on Wednesday at Cuyahoga Falls High.
It was the second time in four seasons that United ended Ursuline’s season in the district final.
“This is the best game we’ve played the entire season,” said United coach Sam Mathias who said his players “responded all night long. It’s a credit to these girls’ workouts they put in in practice and in the offseason.
“We’ve been gunning to get a shot at Ursuline since June,” Mathias said. “We knew they’d be here. [The victory] feels great — I love it.”
United, seeded second in the tournament, led 9-6 after the first quarter. Ursuline (15-8) fought back to lead 21-19 at halftime and 29-28 after three quarters.
Both teams exploded for a high-scoring final quarter, with Ursuline jumping ahead by five points, 38-33.
But the Golden Eagles responded by outscoring the Irish 17-8 in the final minutes. United won the fourth quarter, 22-17
“United has a good program,” Ursuline coach Courtney Davidson said. “It just wasn’t our day offensively. We didn’t crash the boards like we wanted to.”
A key to the Golden Eagles’ victory was containing the Irish offense, and Mathias said “the heart that these girls put into it” gave United the edge.
Among others, Mathias commended the play of senior Taylor Smith, who led the team with nine rebounds while scoring nine points and playing strong defense.
“I challenged her Thursday and told her her biggest challenge was ahead of her,” Mathias said.
Sophomore Mackenzie Gatchel was United’s leading scorer with 20 points, and reluctantly admitted she felt pressure.
“We knew we had to stay calm and not play their game, but play our game,” Gatchel said.
Junior Cassidy Yoder, who scored 10 points, called the game “really nerve-wracking.”
Yoder’s point included a field goal and two free throws in the final minute.
United senior Emily Zehentbauer said the Eagles saw a new side to the Irish.
“It looked like they were scared of us,” Zehentbauer said. “It was a good feeling to know that Ursuline was scared of us.”
Ursuline outrebounded United, 34-23, with senior Courtney Powell grabbing a game-high 13 missed shots.
Sydney Beasley led the Irish with 18 points.
“We had little bit of a lead, we just didn’t keep it,” Davidson said. “We had turnovers and let them get back in the game.”