Williamstown's Arissa Burt battles James Monroe's Mya Dunlap for the jump ball during the Mavericks' 50-26 Class AA state championship victory Saturday afternoon inside the Charleston Coliseum. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

CHARLESTON — Williamstown’s journey through the Class AA state tournament as the No. 2 seed culminated with a tough 50-26 loss here Saturday afternoon to No. 1 James Monroe inside the Charleston Coliseum.

Head coach Danny Bunch’s Yellowjackets, who finished 21-4, were unable to get anything going offensively as the Mavericks claimed their third state title and first since 2002.

Lydia Dunlap, who had 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, opened the scoring 1:29 in with a deuce. Just 16 seconds later following a ‘Jacket turnover, sister Mya Dunlap drained a 3 for the start of her game-high 21-point effort as the Mavericks never trailed.

“Obviously it’s heartbreaking. The girls, I thought we played hard,” said coach Bunch. “It was just one of those days where I think the biggest thing was we just couldn’t put the ball in the hole. Couldn’t get the lid off the basket, really, on either end. First half, second half, especially the first half I thought we got some looks. Second half also. I thought the energy was there for the most part defensively and I thought we played hard. That’s just what we do. It just wasn’t our day. James Monroe was obviously the better team today.

“We couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn and unfortunately I tell these girls a lot sometimes that’s just basketball. Some days you love basketball. Some days you hate it. Obviously today is one of those days you hate it as a player. You can’t take away what these girls have done this season. We made our goal, got to Charleston and made it to the state title game. It’s unfortunate we lost to a better team today. Nothing to be ashamed of. Very proud of these girls. Going to miss my two seniors who are leaving us this year. They’ve been great leaders.”

Williamstown's Quinn Bunch comes away with one of her game-high four steals during the Yellowjackets' 50-26 Class AA state championship setback to James Monroe on Saturday afternoon inside the Charleston Coliseum. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Quinn Bunch, who led WHS with six points, got the ‘Jackets on the board to make it 5-2. Gracie Montgomery, who tallied five markers alongside teammate Anna Cosner, hit from downtown with 3:47 left in the first to make it 9-5, but JMHS scored the final nine points for an 18-5 lead after one as Kendall Long’s buzzer-beating lay-in capped the spurt.

“They hit some shots,” added coach Bunch. “It was hard to dig ourselves out of that hole.”

Arissa Burt, who played in her final game along with Cosner, finished with a team-high eight rebounds to go along with four markers. Her foul shot opened the second quarter scoring, but WHS still trailed by a dozen with 4:19 left in the half following a Makaela Bandy lay-in at 22-10. Bunch had a final hoop before intermission, but the ‘Jackets were still behind 25-12.

“I thought the game was going to be a way closer matchup,” admitted JM head coach Shari Helvey. “We executed and made shots today. The defensive effort, I can’t say enough about it.”

Williamstown, which shot 23.8% (5 of 21) in the first half, finished at sub 20% (9 of 46).

Williamstown's Anna Cosner makes an inbound pass during the Yellowjackets' 50-26 Class AA state championship game setback to James Monroe on Saturday afternoon inside the Charleston Coliseum. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Mya Dunlap started the third with a trifecta and it was 30-12 following a basket by Lydia Dunlap. Burt answered with a 3 to make it 30-15, but the ‘Jackets never got any closer than 14 the rest of the way and that came at 33-19 with 3:15 to go thanks to a Maggie Frye, who had five boards, lay-in.

“It was a super great experience. Great team,” Burt said. “We all bonded very well.

“We’re definitely like family here and I’ll definitely miss it. It was a fun four years.”

The Yellowjackets faced a 41-22 deficit entering the fourth and was held to their lowest offensive output of the campaign.

Mya Dunlap was named MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by Lydia Dunlap, Long, Burt, Bunch, Montgomery, Wyoming East’s Kyndal Lusk and Wheeling Central’s Mackenzie Ernest.

Williamstown's Maggie Frye dribbles down the court following a defensive rebound during Saturday morning's 50-26 Class AA state championship setback to James Monroe inside the Charleston Coliseum. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“We had a great season,” stressed coach Bunch. “They don’t want to hear any of that right now. Hopefully in a couple of days when they look back on it they’ll have some memories to take on down the road when they get older to share with their kids and families. They had a fantastic season. I’m very proud of them.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Williamstown's Quinn Bunch, left, and teammate Gracie Montgomery double team James Monroe's Trinity Hill during the Mavericks' 5026 Class AA state championship victory Saturday afternoon inside the Charleston Coliseum. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)