What began one week ago as a desperation chance to make the 3A girls tournament for Union High, has suddenly come one step closer to a fulfilled, state-title dream.

The Union Cougars pulled off their third-consecutive upset in seven days with a 47-46 last-second win over fourth-ranked Dixie, Friday afternoon. Jenni Nielson stunned the Flyers by hitting a jump shot from the top of the key with two seconds left, sending the Cougars into the 3A title game tonight at 6 p.m. against top-ranked Pine View."Coach said to me if I got the ball to take it," Nielson said afterwards. "Right when I let go I could feel it was going in. It just felt awesome."

The clutch shot gave Union another upset after knocking out preseason favorite North Sanpete last Friday. Then there was Thursday's 63-52 win over No. 2 Richfield.

"Getting here was one of the hardest parts," Union coach Mike Ross said of his players' playoff quest. "They've been turning it around since having a bad season start."

Dixie discovered just how ripe the Cougars' offense had grown as Union wasted no time jumping into a 10-2 lead in the first quarter. The Flyers then rebounded with 17 second-quarter points, with 11 coming from the free-throw line.

Brittany Booth, who led the Flyers with 16 points despite suffering a sprained ankle, lifted Dixie into a 23-17 lead at halftime by baffling the smaller Cougar defense.

"We weren't challenging them by working the press right," Moss said. "Against their size we just weren't playing smart."

The Cougars came alive quickly in the second half as forward Rebecca Riser hit nine of her 16 points in the third quarter after scoring only two first-half points.

"We're used to going up against taller people," Riser said. "After halftime we knew we had to go up strong."

Going into the final period with a 32-32 tie, Union began to take advantage of the hurting Flyers after Booth and center Brook Blake picked up their fourth fouls.

"When we got into foul trouble, it took us out of our offense and we turned the ball over way too many times," said Dixie coach Burt Myers said. "That's what hurt us."

Dixie still led by two until Union's Kristina Osborne hit the front end of a one-and-one with :10 on the clock. Riser rebounded the missed second shot as Union turned in the game's final play.

In other tournament action:

Pine View 43, Delta 26

Cori Benson hit 25 points, including three 3-pointers, to vault the Panthers into their third-straight 3A title game. Heidi Louder led the Rabbits' scoring with 11 points. Delta will meet Dixie to decide third and fourth place.

Consolation bracket

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Uintah 46, Cedar City 29

Melissa Busch led the Utes with 20 points as Uintah moved into a rematch with Wasatch to decide fifth and sixth places. Janelle Romney scored 12 points to lead Cedar.

Wasatch 54, Richfield 43

Christy Shepherd scored 18 of her 21 points in the second half as the Wasps buried Richfield. Lynn Daniels finished with 15 to score the Wildcat team-high.

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