It’s been quite a while since the Williams Valley girls’ basketball program has reached the PIAA Class A state tournament.
Brian Unger was on the bench coaching the Vikings in 1999 when his club fell to Schuylkill League rival Nativity in a state semifinal.
While that team reached rarefied air, there was one achievement not on that club’s list of accomplishments — one that had never been accomplished previously in the program’s history.
Williams Valley can finally check reaching a district final off the to-do list.
With a 52-28 win over Salem Christian on Wednesday night at Martz Hall, Williams Valley clinched a state playoff berth as well as a trip to the District 11 Class A championship game for the first time.
The Vikings (16-7) will meet Schuylkill League foe Shenandoah Valley, a 38-33
winner over Mahanoy Area, at 1 p.m. Saturday at Martz Hall.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” junior guard Kate Whelski said. “We have a great school to back us up and cheer for us. Our coaches believed in us to make it this far. We have the confidence to keep pushing it and make it. We set our goal to make the district championship.”
Junior Rayanne Hawk and senior Hannah Nestor helped ignite the Vikings early, combining for 14 points during a 20-0 run to start the contest. Salem Christian turned the ball over 15 times in the opening frame, coughing it up 11 straight times before getting off a shot attempt.
“That was our plan. We try and stretch the floor and use the whole floor in every game,” Unger said.
Another major part of Williams Valley’s success was on the glass as Haley Nestor and Jenna Daniel helped clean up on the boards. Haley Nestor finished the night with nine points, 15 rebounds and four blocks, while Daniel contributed 10 rebounds.
“We inserted Jenna in the lineup midway through the season,” Unger said. “We had lost to Mahanoy and we changed some things around. We thought we were not doing a very good job on the boards. She lacked a bit of confidence and we kept telling her, ‘You don’t have to score. You just have to keep the ball alive on the offensive glass. Rebound and outlet on the defensive glass.’ She stepped up big.
“Haley does a great job on the boards for us.”
Those boards helped Williams Valley score 15 second-chance points and created numerous transition opportunities. Williams Valley also scored 25 points off turnovers.
“We try to get them to rebound and push it to our guards right away,” Whelski said. “We try to push it up the floor to catch them off guard. We don’t want them to get any putbacks or second chances.
“He tells us to work with our press to keep the momentum up and try to get turnovers and steals, create layups and make good passes to get the easy shots.”
Salem Christian (20-3) clawed back into the contest in the second and third quarters, limiting the Vikings to 5-of-30 from the field and matching the second seed bucket for bucket.
However, Whelski tallied 11 of her game-high 17 points in the middle quarters to help the Vikings sustain at least an 18-point advantage throughout.
“We did some good things, but I think at times we sat back on our heels,” Unger said. “Saturday night, we’re going to have to play a full 32 minutes. We’re not going to be able to take a half off or a quarter off.
“All around we have six kids that can be a spark. (Whelski) is that kind of person. When she has the hot hand, we want to continue to go to her. Nestor, Hawk, Haley Nestor ... they all have the ability to score. It’s just a matter of putting it in the basket for them sometimes.”
Hannah Nestor finished with eight points and seven steals, while Hawk contributed eight points and four steals.
Now, it’s on to the first district final for Williams Valley.
“They’re a great group. They’re a fun bunch,” Unger said. “It’s the first time we’ve been in the district championship at all in the school.”
Added Whelski: “It’s an excitement for us. Especially as a junior to make it to states, it’s an amazing feeling. Hopefully we can push forward and progress.”
Game Summary
District 11 Class A Semifinal
At Martz Hall
SALEM CHRISTIAN (28) — Ownbey 1 0-0 2, K. Aston 4 0-1 8, A. Barnes 1 3-6 5, Glueck 1 0-2 2, Krage 3 2-4 9, VanNorden 0 0-1 0, M. Barnes 0 0-0 0, R. Aston 1 0-0 2, Adams 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 5-14 28.
WILLIAMS VALLEY (52) — Pinchorski 1 0-0 3, Hawk 3 1-2 8, Schorr 0 0-0 0, Han. Nestor 2 3-4 8, Daniel 1 0-0 2, Schadle 1 1-2 3, Raho 0 0-0 0, Kreiser 0 2-2 2, Hal. Nestor 3 3-5 9, Whelski 7 2-3 17, Updegrove 0 0-0 0, Ancheff 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 12-18 52.
Salem (20-3) 6 8 8 6 — 28 WV (16-7) 24 8 8 12 — 52
3-point FGs: Krage, Pinchorski, Hawk, Han. Nestor, Whelski