FOURTH TIMES A CHARM: York Downs Westview To Advance To Class 2A Semifinals

State Tournament coverage presented by Risher Roofing

MURFREESBORO – The York Dragonettes advanced to the Class 2A state semifinals in a 44-36 win over defending champion Westview on Wednesday in Murfreesboro.

The Dragonettes finally got revenge, defeating a Chargerettes team that has eliminated them from the state tournament three times in the last four years.

“Finally good to beat Westview,” said York head coach Michael Green. “They’ve been a thorn in our side for the last four years. Just real proud of the way our seniors, after a little bit of an iffy first quarter, they realized who York was.”

Westview raced out to an early lead, nailing three triples in the first quarter to take a 13-8 lead after one. 

The Dragonettes answered on the defensive end, holding WHS to one point in the quarter while Raylee Werner rattled off five straight and Emma Cooper made two free throws to give York a 18-14 halftime lead.

“The game plan going in was we didn’t want them getting any open looks from three and it seemed like every time they caught the ball at the three point line they were open,” said Green on the change from the first to second quarters. “A lot of that was a little shell shock, but we realized that may not work right now so we switched it up. Our offense never has traveled well down here, but defense always has.”

Both teams traded buckets throughout the second, with Werner making a jumper with 46 seconds remaining to give York a 26-22 lead after three.

The Dragonettes earned their first double-digit lead as they opened the final quarter on a 8-0 run behind free throws by Emma Pile, a Cooper jumper, a Cali Franklin steal-and-score then another Pile layup. The Chargerettes could not cut it closer than eight against York’s stingy defense as the Dragonettes secured the 44-36 victory.

“We put about three and a half quarters of good defense together,” said Green. “Against a team that we had never beaten down here.”

Werner and Pile each tallied 13 points for York, with Werner adding five assists and three rebounds while Pile notched five assists and two rebounds. Cooper scored 11 with four rebounds. Franklin tallied seven points and two assists.

“This is our last year to get it,” said Cooper.

The Dragonettes will face Loretto (23-10) in the Class 2A semifinals on Friday at the Murphy Center. The Lady Mustangs rolled past McMinn Central 72-46 on Wednesday. Friday’s tipoff is set for 9:30 a.m.

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