CLARION — Down but not out at halftime, Union’s girls basketball team was still upbeat about its chances of knocking off rival Redbank Valley in Thursday’s KSAC semifinal at Clarion University’s Tippin Gymnasium.

But the slippery slope became a free fall in the third quarter.

Led by a combined 18 points in the period from Alivia Huffman and Mylee Harmon, the Bulldogs scored 23 points in the third en route to a 65-35 win over the Damsels.

Union coach Ally Kepple knew well of Redbank’s ability to pull away. Her Damsels had dropped a 52-37 decision to the Bulldogs Feb. 7.

“We were down by 13 (29-16) at halftime, but that’s why they play two halves,” Kepple said. “But Redbank has a lot of weapons. You take away their inside game, they’ve got the outside shooters, too.

“It seems to be a different player leading them every night.”

The third period barrage gave the Bulldogs (19-4) a commanding 52-25 lead.

“The bigger court here plays to our advantage,” said Redbank coach Chris Edmonds. “It gives us more space.

“Union played hard, but we doubled up on (Dominika) Logue every time she got the ball inside.”

Logue, Union’s star senior swing player, scored 12 points to lead the Damsels (13-7), who held the Bulldogs to 10 points in the opening quarter.

But Redbank began its assault on the basket in earnest in the second period as Harmon, a freshman guard, tallied 10 points in the quarter. She finished the night with a game-high 24 points.

Huffman scored 15 and Madison Foringer added 10 in Redbank’s balanced attack.

The Bulldogs lost to North Clarion, 53-36, in the 2020 KSAC championship game. They will get a shot at revenge when the two teams meet for the crown here Saturday.

“It’s been one of our goals all season, to play in the KSAC final,” said Edmonds.

Union will now await the release of the District 9 Class A playoff bracket.

REDBANK VALLEY 65

Caylen Rearick 1 0-0 3, Ryleigh Smathers 2 0-0 6, Claire Clouse 1 0-0 2, Taylor Ripple 1 0-0 3, Madison Foringer 5 0-0 10, Alivia Huffman 6 3-4 15, Mylee Harmon 10 3-3 24, Brooklyn Edmonds 1 0-1 2. Totals: 27 6-8 65.

UNION 35

Kennedy Vogle 0 2-2 2, Keira Croyle 3 3-4 9, Hailey Kriebel 2 0-4 4, Dominika Logue 3 5-6 12, Abby Gruver 2 0-0 4, Allie Conner 1 2-2 4. Totals: 11 12-18 35.

Redbank Valley 10 19 23 13 - 65

Union 8 8 9 10 - 35

3-point goals: Redbank Valley 5 (Smathers 2, Rearick, Ripple, Harmon); Union 1 (Logue).