We had the looks, we had the stops, we had the steals, the ball just didn't go in.”

Viqueen coach Cody Pierce

UNIONVILLE — The Community Viqueens battled back from an 8-point halftime deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead, but the York Institute Dragonettes retook the lead and held off the Viqueens down the stretch as the Dragonettes finished with a 32-31 win in a Class AA sectional matchup Saturday night.
The loss ended the season for the Viqueens.
Community (25-8) took a brief 3-2 lead in the opening quarter on a trey by Addison Brothers, but the Dragonettes used a sweltering defense and double-team pressure to go along with some high percentage points from around the basket on offense to gain the early advantage. 
After leading 6-5, York Institute scored the final seven points and took a 13-5 lead to the second quarter.
Zoey Dixon and Breanna Whitaker each had three points for Community in the quarter, but the Dragonettes kept the pressure on the Viqueens. 
York Institute took its biggest lead at 21-11 before the Viqueens narrowed the Dragonette advantage to 21-13 at the intermission.
"That's a really good ball team and we knew they were coming in," Coach Cody Pierce of the Viqueens said. 
"They put some pressure on us in the first half and it took us a little while to settle in."
The Viqueens would use the inside play of M.J. Simmons to take the lead in the third quarter.
After Whitaker led off the quarter with a trey, Simmons connected on a basket with 5:39 remaining as Community used an 9-0 run to take its first lead since the opening quarter at 22-21. 
Simmons finished with eight points as the score was deadlocked at 24-24 heading to the final quarter.
Points were at a premium as the teams battled to gain the upper hand in the final eight minutes.
After a Community steal on the defensive end, Simmons connected on a layup to give the Viqueens a 28-26 lead with 4:35 to play. 
It would be the final points for Community until the waning seconds.
York Institute followed with the next four points to take a 30-28 lead with 3:44 remaining and took time off the clock with the lead. 
After the Dragonettes missed on the front end of a one-and-one with 1:15 left, the Viqueens had two possessions to take the lead, but could not cash in on their shots. 
The Dragonettes responded with a layup after the final miss to take a 32-28 lead with 31 seconds left.  
The Viqueens still had hope as Haley Mitchell connected on a trey with three seconds remaining to pull Community within one at 32-31. 
The Viqueens stole the resulting inbounds pass at half court, but a desperation heave missed the mark as the Dragonettes advanced to the TSSAA Class AA state tournament.
"In the second half we settled in, we didn't let that press get to us and we got back in the game, but we just couldn't ever hit that big shot to get a two or three-point lead," Pierce said. 
"We had the looks, we had the stops, we had the steals, the ball just didn't go in," Pierce added.
Reese Beaty and Gabby Beaty each had 13 points to lead the Dragonettes.
Simmons led the Viqueens with 13 points.
York Institute was 5-of-7 at the free throw line while the Viqueens had an uncharacteristic tough night from the stripe and finished 3-of-8.
The contest was the final game for Whitaker, the lone senior on the Viqueen squad.
"Breanna will be missed," Pierce said. "She's been with us for four years and done everything we've asked."
"She's a true Viqueen."          
        
York Institute  13  8  3  8 — 32
Community       5  8 11 7 — 31
 
York Institute: Reese Beaty 13, Gabby Beaty 13, Emy Crabtree 2, Ellie Leffew 2, Sage Smith, Josie Linder 2, Laci Patton.
Community: M. J. Simmons 13, Breanna Whitaker 6, Haley Mitchell 5, Addison Brothers 4, Zoey Dixon 3.
3-Point goals: York Institute (1): R. Beaty; Community (4): Whitaker, Mitchell, Brothers, Dixon.
Halftime score: York Institute 21, Community 13.