By Andrew Watson
Wed, March 11, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Updated Wed, March 11, 2026 at 9:16 AM
BIG STONE GAP, Va (WCYB) — Union girls basketball clinched its spot in the VHSL Class 2 state championship last week with a win over Ridgeview.
Now the Bears are preparing to do battle one more time to bring a state championship back to Southwest Virginia.
"We deserve this," senior guard Kaylee Rutherford said. "We have worked really, really hard for all of this. I'm super proud of this team."
Union survived arguably the toughest conference in VHSL Class 2, the Mountain 7, to advance to the state championship game.
The conference has won 10 of the last 12 Class 2 state championships and has appeared in every title game since 2012.
"You know you don't really enjoy it while you're going through it," Head Coach Wes Slagle said. "It's a heavyweight fight every night."
The team has shown that the depth of the Mountain 7 has prepared them for this moment.
Union will take on Clarke County on Friday at 12:30 p.m. from VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.
Source: WCYB
Article Link: https://wcyb.com/sports/high-school-sports/union-girls-basketball-prepares-for-state-championship-battle