Names to Know: Union Bears vs C.C Eagles RVA State Championship

It was a scrappy, physical battle from the opening tip as both teams searched for their footing early. Union came out with a clear agenda — establishing themselves and attacking the rim with purpose, looking to make a statement in the early going. Neither team was settling for the easy look outside; this was a downhill, get-to-the-rim kind of contest, and the competition level was evident on every possession. Fast, physical, and fiercely contested — that was the tone both teams set.   As the second quarter progressed, Clarke began to find their rhythm. The outside shots started falling, their sets started clicking, and the poise they needed to take control began to show itself. From that point forward, this became a different kind of game.   Here are our top 5 standouts from the contest:        Paige is the definition of a dedicated leader — bringing her length, shot-making ability, and attention to detail on every single possession. She was a force in the second half, coming on strong and making her presence felt in every facet of the game. She excelled playing off the ball, creating space and getting her teammates involved, while also pushing the pace on fast breaks and converting and-one finishes that swung the momentum back in her team's favor. On the defensive end, she used her length to disrupt, contest, and get stops that proved just as valuable as anything she did offensively.     Savannah ran the point guard position with confidence and purpose in the first half — using her quickness to create advantages, making big shots when her team needed them, and never letting the pace of the game get the better of her. She matched the tempo from start to finish and held her own defensively, staying disciplined and sound on that end of the floor. A steady and reliable performance from a player who clearly understands how to run a team.     Whit was downhill and determined from the opening tip — playing smart, physical, and with a clear purpose every time she touched the floor. She came out with a statement-making mentality on both ends, and she delivered. Handling the opposing team's pressure with poise and finding ways to push through it, she never let the defense dictate her game. And when the outside shot wasn't falling, she never wavered — staying locked into the game plan, trusting her coaches, and leaning on her teammates.      She came off the bench and made an immediate impact — no warm up needed. A strong, physical presence from the moment she checked in, she did damage on the glass in a way that her size makes even more impressive. She embraced her role as the second option with confidence, stepping up and delivering when her number was called. Exactly the kind of bench energy that championship teams cannot win without.     She brought it on both ends of the floor from start to finish — physical, relentless, and determined every single minute she was out there. Her rebounding was a difference maker, and her ability to run rim to rim in the open floor turned hustle into easy opportunities that kept her team rolling. This senior came into the championship with something to prove, and she left no doubt about her will to win.

It was a scrappy, physical battle from the opening tip as both teams searched for their footing early. Union came out with a clear agenda — establishing themselves and attacking the rim with purpose, looking to make a statement in the early going. Neither team was settling for the easy look outside; this was a downhill, get-to-the-rim kind of contest, and the competition level was evident on every possession. Fast, physical, and fiercely contested — that was the tone both teams set.