BACK TO CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY: York Outlasts Loretto In Class 2A Semifinal

State Tournament coverage presented by Risher Roofing

Story by Noah McKay

MURFREESBORO – The York Dragonettes advanced to their third state championship game in five seasons in a 43-41 win over Loretto in the 2026 Class 2A semifinals.

The Dragonettes overcame a four-point fourth quarter deficit as they outlasted the Lady Mustangs on Friday morning at the Murphy Center.

“Just grateful and thankful to the Lord,” said York head coach Michael Green. “It wasn’t anything like what we wanted, but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter this time of year. I’m mainly just so happy for these girls.”

After a brief deficit Emma Pile, who was celebrating her 19th birthday, opened the scoring for York with a three to spark an 8-0 run. She added another jumper late in the frame to give the Dragonettes a 12-10 lead after one. 

The two perennial 2A powerhouses traded buckets in the second quarter, with the Dragonettes taking a 20-18 lead into halftime. 

Pile drained a three with 5:07 to go in the third to give York a 30-23 lead. The Lady Mustangs answered with a 11-3 run capped by a buzzer-beating layup to take a 34-33 lead into the fourth quarter.

The LHS lead grew to 41-37 midway through the fourth quarter on a layup. Emma Cooper and Raylee Werner answered with an and-one by Cooper and a jumper by Werner to regain a 42-41 lead. Werner added a free throw with 41 seconds to go and a last-second attempt for Loretto missed as the Dragonettes advanced to the state championship game for the second straight year.

“There was no question what we have to do, we have to win the game,” said Green on the team’s approach facing the late deficit. “You can’t let in your mind ‘this game’s over’. They know this is it for them.”

Pile led the Dragonettes with 19 points including four three-pointers. Cooper added 11 points and seven rebounds Werner tallied seven points and four assists. Cali Franklin scored four and Josie Ashburn added two. 

The Dragonettes (30-6) advanced to their fourth state championship game in program history. They will take on the winner of Huntingdon and Gatlinburg-Pittman. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. at the Murphy Center. UCR will have website and social media coverage of the game. 

“They’ve had so much pressure on themselves all season,” said Green. “Fifth year in a row being (in the state tournament), back-to-back times in the championship is great and fantastic, but we don’t have a gold ball yet. That’d be a great way for these seniors to go out.”