When it comes to the state basketball playoffs, variety can be a good thing— and can help you go a long way.

Union girls basketball coach Josh Meeker certainly hopes so.

The Damsels trailed in the second quarter of their first-round matchup against Monaca last Saturday before rolling to the 62-34 victory.

"A head college coach said a true test of a good team is to play any style of basketball and still be able to win," said Meeker.

"Can you still bounce back and win the game?. If you're not able to use pressure, you can change things up offensively. We were able to do that and I was happy to see that.

"You don't know what you'll see through the playoffs,"Meeker added.

Now, the Damsels (27-1) will face Penns Manor, which defeated Conemaugh Township 57-55 in its first-round contest Saturday.

This second-round PIAAClass AA game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Butler High School.

"They look more like a half-court offense, not a fast-break team," said Meeker. "They'll push it at times. They have a girl 6-foot-1 (junior forward Jackie Glunz) so they'll try and use their size. They run a lot of motion and use picks.

"Defensively, they'll mix it up. The two types I've seen is a couple different zones and some man-to-man. They've worked a little bit of pressure, but not much," Meeker added.

This is according to just two tapes Meeker has seen, one from the Conemaugh Township game, the other from a Redbank Valley coach when the Comets (22-6) played in a holiday tournament earlier this season.

Like Union, Penns Manor, located outside of Indiana, boasts three double-figure scorers— senior Nicole Houser averages 11.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game; junior Ashley Mattis 11.4 points per game and guard Erica Holby leads the team with 13.6 points per game.

Glunz is the team's top rebounder with 10.3 per contest.

To coach Ken Holby, Erica's father, the Comets have gotten stronger as the season has unfolded.

"We've grown tighter and tighter," said Holby. "It's not about individuals. We look for each other to play team defense. After playing 20-something games and a lot last year, the team is young but has experience."

The Damsels have been led by a balanced scoring attack as well as a deep bench, led by Bethany Koch (17.7 ppg.), Andrea Mortimer (16.2) and Tiffany Corle (10.2)

But, what has impressed Holby the most about the Damsels?

"For the most part, their speed. They have pressability. It's probably their best asset," said Holby. "It's something you have to defend.

"They like to get out and run. They work the ball well and get some nice looks," Holby added.

Notes: Holby is in his seventh year as head coach. He has guided the Comets to the state tournament in three of them ... Union has won 19 consecutive games ... The Comets were the No. 3 seed coming out of District 6, winning in the consolation final 52-34 over Bishop Carroll ... The winner of this game will face the Serra-Farrell winner on Saturday.