CLARION — This was the heavyweight match-up District 9 basketball fans had been waiting for.

Unfortunately for Coudersport, it spent the entire day up against the ropes.

Union posted a 27-15 edge after one quarter and never saw that lead cut to single digits as the Damsels beat the Falcons, 75-58 in the District 9 Class A girls championship Saturday at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium.

Union (26-1) was the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, while Coudersport (24-2) earned a No. 2 seed.

The Falcons lost their first game of the season before reeling off 24 straight wins to get to the title game.

And just for good measure, the Falcons' semifinal win came against Elk County Catholic, a team ranked No. 6 in the whole state entering postseason play.

Yet the Damsels were able to easily manhandle their opponent.

It is the second straight District 9 title for Union, the first time the Damsels have won in back-to-back seasons in 20 years.

"I thought it was fitting that it was (Union and Coudersport) here in the finals," said Damsels' coach Josh Meeker. "My first two years as coach, we lost to Coudersport in the playoffs. Both programs have a lot of tradition."

Union, now winnerof 18 straight games, wasted no time showing people why it was the No. 1 seed.

After just 65 seconds of play, the Damsels had taken a 9-2 lead.

"We talked about getting off to a fast start," said Meeker. "And with us being a No. 1 seed, getting out to an early lead probably put a little fear into (Coudersport)."

"It wasn't the start we were looking for," said Falcons' coach Brian Green. "But I don't think it bothered us. We have been down before right off the bat and have been able to come back."

Little did Green and his team know that Union would shoot a blistering 72 percent (13-of-18) from the field in the first quarter.

That effort was led by senior Bethany Koch, who connected on her first eight shots.

Koch scored 16 points in the first quarter alone and ended the day with a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds.

"We knew we could win today," said Koch. "But I didn't think we'd start off as good as we did. I was a little surprised by that."

Senior forward Andrea Mortimer added 23 points and eight rebounds in the win.

The Damsels' offense cooled off in the second quarter, but their defense stayed hot.

The Falcons made just 29 percent (4-of-14) of their shots in the second period while committing seven turnovers against Union's press defense.

By halftime, the Falcons had expended a game's-worth of energy, only to trail 41-27 on the scoreboard.

Any hope of a Coudersport comeback melted away with Union's offense, which caught fire once again with 20 points in the third quarter.

Coudersport, which committed 24 turnovers in the game, had four players score in double digits, led by Kelly McVay's 11 points.

Both teams will now look to the PIAA playoffs, which begin Saturday.

Union will face Monaca at 1 p.m. at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium.

COUDERSPORT 58

Brooke Campbell 0 1-2 1, Danielle Furman 4 0-0 10, Chelsey Tuttle 1 1-2 3, Kelly McVay 4 2-5 11, Jordan Bright 0 3-4 3, Hope Morris 2 3-4 8, Jessica Wilson 4 2-6 10, Kristy Kamper 4 2-3 10, Eileen Greenly 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 14-26 58.

UNION 75

Tiffany Corle 2 2-2 7, Andrea Mortimer 9 5-6 23, Janele Divins 2 0-0 5, Mackenzie Shirey 0 1-2 1, Bethany Koch 15 1-3 31, Nikki Davis 3 2-2 8, Molly Scott 0 0-0 0. Totals: 31 11-15 75.

3-point goals:

Furman 2, McVay, Morris; Corle, Divins.

Saturday:

Union vs. Monaca, PIAA first-round playoff, 1 p.m. @ Clarion University