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The Wolves defeated Southern Cayuga 41-34 to capture the program's third consecutive Cayuga County Holiday Basketball Tournament championship. 

Union Springs' Lilly Casler, who was named tournament MVP, made critical shots down the stretch. After Southern Cayuga tied the game at 31 in the fourth quarter, Casler hit a three to retake the lead. With Southern Cayuga fouling at the end of the game, she made four free throws to seal the win. 

Union Springs bounced back after a slow start. Southern Cayuga jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first quarter, with Southern Cayuga's Charli Bennett accounting for eight of her team's points.

From there, Union Springs' defense tightened up. 

"Defense wins championships," Union Springs coach Andy Kalet said. "Like tonight, we didn't shoot the ball real well. We knew we were going to have to play good defense. That's always been a staple for our program, but we've been harping on it especially this year. They've really come to understand that. We've been holding teams down real well." 

The Wolves finished the opening quarter on a 6-0 run highlighted by Jennifer Daum's three. Daum scored the first bucket of the second quarter, but Bennett answered with four points to give Southern Cayuga the lead. 

Casler provided a much-needed spark with a three, which started a 7-0 run to help Union Springs take a four-point lead, 20-16, into halftime. 

Union Springs extended its lead in the third quarter with buckets by Ainsley Francis-Biter and Allie Parker, but Southern Cayuga rallied with threes by Bennett and Circe Perez. Daum scored at the end of the quarter to put Union Springs ahead by two, 28-26, entering the final period. 

The teams exchanged makes early in the quarter. Southern Cayuga's Emily Prince added a layup and a free throw to tie it at 31. That's when Casler answered with a three. Southern Cayuga was held without a field goal the rest of the way. 

Daum led Union Springs with 14 points and Casler added 10. Bennett scored a game-high 24 points for Southern Cayuga. 

It is the sixth time Union Springs has won the holiday tournament since the girls competition began in 1999. 

If Union Springs has its way, it won't be the last title they defend this year. The Wolves are the reigning Section IV champions and hope to make another postseason run this year. 

"Coming into this year, I don't think a lot of people thought we were going to be doing what we're doing right now," Kalet said. "I couldn't be more proud of them. They're really coming together and they're picking up where the other team left off."