By ANTHONY STEVENS
for the Daily Telegraph
BRISTOL, Va. — A rough stretch in the first quarter proved difficult for the Richlands girls to overcome on Saturday, as Union defeated the Blue Tornado 57-48 in the consolation game of the Virginia High Tip-Off Classic.
Erica Burton hit a trey from the right corner to give Richlands (1-2) a 3-0 lead. The Blues then went over four minutes without scoring again. The Bears went on a 15-0 run powered by a 3 by Sydney McKinney and two from long range from Ali Morgan.
“Our main problem was we came out flat,” Richlands coach Dennis Palmer said. “They got a 12 point lead the first five or six minutes of the game. It was a battle the rest of the way to get back. We’re a young team, when we get down that much it’s hard for us to battle back.”
The Blues cut the lead to single digits, trailing 28-20 at halftime, but they only scored one field goal in the third quarter and had a total of four points. Richlands was behind 41-24 going to the final frame.
Erica Burton hit two of her five 3s in the fourth quarter to help the Blues fight back. Hayleigh Whited scored with a set shot on the baseline to pull Richlands within seven points with 1:20 left to play.
“We kept battling, kept battling, kept battling,” said Palmer. “We just didn’t have enough in the end to overcome it.”
McKinney basically kept the Blues from coming back. McKinney finished with 23 points and nine rebounds. She was a perfect 12-of-12 from the foul line, including several crucial ones late.
“We didn’t want to foul McKinney in the fourth quarter but we ended up fouling her anyway,” Palmer said. “She is a very good player and will hit those free throws.
“We’re not at that point where we can dig ourselves a hole and come back to beat teams like Union. They have a good team.”
Burton led Richlands with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc. Olivia Harmon added 10 points. Kristen Bishop finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds for Union (2-2). Morgan contributed 13 points.

At The Bearcat Den
UNION
Dysart 0 2-6 2, Morgan 5 0-0 13, McKinney 5 12-12 23, Sturgill 2 1-3 5, Bishop 3 5-6 12, Webb 1 0-0 2, Horner 0 0-0 0, Chester 0 0-0 0, Bartee 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 20-27 57.
RICHLANDS (1-2)
Hearly 3 2-5 8, Rinehardt 3 0-0 8, Burton 5 0-0 15, Harmon 3 4-7 10, Overton 0 1-2 1, Whited 3 0-3 6, Hess 0 0-0 0.
Union.......................17 11 13 16 — 57
Richlands................11 9 4 24 — 48
3-point goals – Union 5 (Morgan 3, McKinney 1, Bishop 1), Richlands 7 (Rinehardt 2, Burton 5). Total fouls – Union 15, Richlands 19. Fouled out – Rinehardt, Morgan, Burton. Technicals – none.