Williamsport has not captured a district championship since 1995 well before any of its current players were born.
Millionaire coach Terrill Seward-Buxton believes he has a group that can end that drought. But he knows it cannot happen unless those players truly believe it. As the season progress, hammering home that belief will be as critical as the fundamentals, defense and scoring. Without it, it remains just a dream.
“We’re further along than we’ve ever (during his four-year tenure), but it’s still coming down to the little things,” Seward-Buxton said following last Monday’s 43-29 win against Warrior Run. “The first few games I put on the board, ‘Expect to win.’ I still don’t think they expect to win.”
That’s a big hurdle Williamsport must clear. It is one so many before it have overcome, ending title droughts and/or changing their respective program’s culture.
And it’s not like Williamsport has not come close. The Millionaires lost consecutive district finals in 2019 and 2020, coming within a shot or two of capturing that 2019 championship. The 2011 and 2012 teams also reached district finals and the 2003-2006 group may be the most decorated in program history to not win a championship.
Williamsport (3-4) has won three of its last four games, perennial power Linden Hall snapping its three-game winning streak Saturday. The Millionaires came within a basket of beating undefeated Crestwood, lost by six at perennial District 2 power Hazleton and defeated always dangerous Holy Redeemer.
If Williamsport combines what it has shown in flashes with some swagger, the sky could be the limit.
“We have a lot of things here,” Seward-Buxton said. “It’s just a matter of everyone getting on the same page and doing their job which is coming.”
That showed during the winning streak. Williamsport has two versatile and productive senior leaders in Kailee Helmrich and Sarina Beiter. They are the team’s two leading scorers, have started and/or significantly contributed all four years and set the tone.
Following an 0-3 start, Helmrich and Beiter ignited the comeback win against Redeemer, combining for 34 points. Helmrich is among the area’s leading scorers and went for a season-high 22 in a 57-29 win Wednesday at Bellefonte while Beiter sparks what a times is a swarming defense.
“Me and Kailee have been working together very well. It’s nice knowing we can set everything up for everyone else around us,” Beiter said. “During practice we’ve been doing so much together as a whole team. We’ve been trying to focus on that.”
The Millionaires have some intriguing pieces. Right now it’s a matter of making them all fit. Junior forward Ally Chilson started last year and sophomores Payton Baney and Ella Wilson each played a lot when several young players were pressed into early action last winter. That is paying benefits now as most of this core has valuable experience.
The young players are still learning, still progressing and that provides both encouragement and excitement. Other players like Taniyah Martin have tremendous upside. Each season is like a puzzle and if Williamsport can put this one together it could make the ultimate breakthrough.
“I think it’s coming,” Seward-Buxton said. “The younger players are coming and watching them and seeing them do well and I think that will motivate them and help us in the future, too.”
BREAKING THROUGH: St. John Neumann experienced some tough times before last season, winning just two games in two years. The tide started turning a year ago when Neumann reached the District 4 Class A playoffs and now the waves are really picking up with it winning four of its last five games. Neumann (4-4) starts just one senior but showed its promise Saturday, defeating Montgomery, 45-24.
It was the third time Neumann has held an opponent to fewer than 30 points, three players scored in double figures and everyone made an impact. This is a team still growing, but it is looking dangerous and building momentum with each performance.
“I think the team we’ve built is the best team we’ve had in a while,” sophomore Gigi Parlante said after scoring 12 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and making five steals against Montgomery. “We all hang out as friends outside of school and that helps. We want to be hanging a banner from the rafters like the boys. That’s our goal.”
Parlante said the team would love bedazzling that banner if they could earn it. Time will tell if that happens, but this is a team certainly producing some dazzling performances. Neumann’s only loss during this five-game stretch came after missing a week of practice and playing just two days after coming back. Neumann has good height inside with Parlante, Sheiana Tutler and Lizzie Weller all producing double-doubles this season. Shanniyah Tutler and Michelle Pierce combined for seven steals Saturday and Lily Reid scored 11 points while making three steals.
Just as important, Neumann is playing confident. The Knights are changing the culture and showing that the boys aren’t the only ones who play well at Neumann.
“They’re starting to see it. This team has been playing together for a couple of years for the most part and it’s starting to pay off,” Neumann coach Helena Floyd said. “They know each other both on and off the court. One of the mottos of the school is that they are family and it’s kind of like a family thing on the court every time we get out there. That is kind of hard to beat if you’re another team because they know each other so well. It’s awesome to watch and see them grow and really be a threat in District 4.”
VERSATILE THREAT: Warrior Run forward Emily McKee has been one of the district’s premier post players since reaching high school four years ago. Being the only returning starter from last year’s District 4 Class AAA semifinalist, McKee knew every opponent Warrior Run faced this season would be game planning to slow her, often throwing double teams her way. So McKee did what she does best.
She worked.
McKee added an effective outside shot to her repertoire and it has made an already dangerous player even better. McKee drained five 3-pointers in three games last week and was as potent outside as she was inside, especially Saturday against Hughesville. McKee scored 19 points and set the tone with three early 3-pointers as Warrior Run defeated Hughesville, 42-35.
“This summer I definitely worked on my jumper because I knew I had to add that to my game if I wanted to get better,” McKee said. “People know how I play in the post, so I get doubled a lot more so I have to know how to come out and be versatile.”
PUTBACKS: Jersey Shore is growing up fast, playing hard and produced its best victory Saturday night, defeating Selinsgrove, 46-38 and handing the Seals their first HAC-I loss in five games. The Bulldogs (4-4) start mostly underclassmen and already have exceeded last year’s win total. Devon Walker’s tremendous defense paved the way to victory against Selinsgrove while freshman Peyton Dincher and sophomore Jocelyn McCracken each scored a game-high 16 points … North Penn-Liberty is heating up, winning three straight games. The Mounties won close contests against league rivals Williamson and Cowanesque Valley last week with Jaclyn Nelson averaging 15 points. NP-Liberty had good balance in the 49-42 win over CV with Nelson scoring 12 points, Elizabeth Ritchie 10, Sidney Landis 11 and Nikki Kascadden eight. Ella Churchill had 13 for CV and Paisley Nudd added 12 … North Penn-Mansfield has won two of its last three games and Shaniya Sparrow went for 19 points and 13 rebounds in a 37-31 win against Wyalusing. Payton Chapel had six rebounds and four assists in the victory, while Ella Farrer added six assists and three steals … Kendall Kitchen scored a career-high 18 points in Canton’s 59-14 win against Sayre and Williamson’s Gracie Stephens also matched that career-high in her team’s win at Sayre Friday.
Chris Masse may be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse
