That was then and this is now.

The Union girls basketball team has seen its season come to an end in the second round of the PIAA playoffs the last two seasons.

Damsels coach Josh Meeker hopes the experience his players gained from those postseason letdowns will serve them well as the team once again attempts to clear that hurdle.

Union (26-2) will face Conemaugh Valley (22-6) in a Class A showdown at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Indiana (Pa.) University's Memorial Field House.

Two years ago, Union's season ended with a loss to Serra Catholic while the Damsels bowed out of last year's state tournament with a loss to Bishop Carroll.

"I'm looking to Andrea (Mortimer) and Beth (Koch) to be the leaders," said Meeker. "This is the third year in a row that they have been in this position and they know it's time for this team to move on to the next level."

Union is coming off a dominating 74-53 first-round win over Duquesne in which Mortimer, a junior, scored her 1,000th career point.

Koch added 17 points in the victory, putting her season average at 13.5 points per game.

"Beth's a complete basketball player," said Meeker. "I think her height (5-feet-9) causes a lot of matchup problems for teams because they expect her to play like a forward. While she can drive to the hoop, she can also hit the outside shot."

Just like they faced against Duquesne, the Damsels are preparing for a team that receives most of its scoring from front-court players.

Conemaugh Valley is led by 5-11 junior center Samantha Pollino's 21 points per game, while sophomore forward Kayla Brandle is averaging 13.

"One thing we don't have much of is size," said Meeker. "Unfortunately, the two teams we have run in to have some players with height. But it all comes down to proving your worth in the playoffs."

"Our inside game is our strength, but our guards have picked up their play in the second half of the season, especially in the playoffs," said Blue Jays coach Teri Cruse.

The Blue Jays feature four players who started on last year's 19-8 team, including Pollino, who has started since her freshman season.

Sophomore guard Emily Coy is the team's lone first-year starter.

Conemaugh Valley, from Johnstown, competes in District 6's Western Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (WestPac).

The Blue Jays finished third in their district playoffs before knocking off District 5 champion Southern Fulton in the first round of the state playoffs 60-41 last Saturday.

"We expected to be here," said Cruse. "We had our goals set high before the season began."

In their four playoff games, the Damsels have averaged 20.5 points in the first quarter. Much of that offense is a product of Union's vaunted press defense.

"Most of the teams we've played open the game pressing us," Cruse said. "I think we've handled it well."

The winner will face the Clairton-Kennedy Catholic survivor Saturday in the PIAA quarterfinals.