Yahoo Sport 
Union students offer support to girls basketball team
Mar. 1—It's all about The U in the Union Area School District.
While the girls varsity basketball team prepares to take on St. Joseph, sixth-grade English Language Arts students in Christina Vitale's classroom were busy Thursday making and hanging signs in the hallway to cheer on the Lady Scots.
Union (18-5), the defending district and state champions, rolls into Saturday's 11 a.m. final at the University of Pittsburgh's Petersen Events Center after outscoring its opponents by a combined 115-29 in playoff games against West Greene and Riverview.
"They wanted to surprise the players. They're very excited," Vitale said.
There will be a district-wide "Blue and White Out" on Friday, while messages of support for the team have been played on morning announcements this week. Vitale, who ran the district Spirit Squad for eight years, said her students enjoy talking about all sports teams in the district with her.
Two students have older siblings who play on the team. Gabby Gunn's sister Miera and Sara Joseph's sister Maggie are both on coach Rob Nogay's squad.
In the past, the students have made posters and interacted with the varsity players in school walkthroughs.
"They enjoy seeing the little ones, their support," Vitale said.
Vitale said students district-wide are more invested in athletics in terms of attendance at games and the numbers signing up for teams because of recent on-field success.
"Because of the success we've had in the last couple of years, it inspires the younger generation to pursue athletics," Vitale said. "There's a lot of excitement."
Vitale believes the success of girls varsity basketball can continue — this year's seventh-grade team won its championship. She also feels the Union girls are calm and ready for the championship game despite the pressure of trying to repeat as champions.
"They seem really relaxed. They don't seem nervous," Vitale said.
Full pregame coverage appears in this week's "Tipoff Show" video podcast with sports editor Ron Poniewasz Jr. and LGKG's Larry Kelly, which is available at ncnewsonline.com and on The News' YouTube page, www.youtube.com/@newcastlenewspa.
Game coverage will appear online Saturday on The News' website and social media platforms, as well as in Monday's newspaper.
