PHILADELPHIA — Before the 2014-15 girls’ basketball season started, Jenna Daniel wasn’t sure she wanted to play for Williams Valley.
She ultimately decided to come out again, and the Vikings are sure glad she did.
Daniel continued her recent run of form in Saturday’s PIAA Class A first-round game against Philadelphia West Catholic, recording a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Vikings to a 67-43 rout of the Burrs at St. Joseph Prep’s Kelly Fieldhouse.
The win pits the Vikings (17-8) against Schuylkill
League Division II foe Lourdes in Wednesday’s second round.
Rayanne Hawk used an 11-point third quarter to pull Williams Valley out of reach Saturday. Hawk finished with a game-high 21 points, four assists and four steals.
Kate Whelski kicked the game off with three 3-pointers in the first quarter on her way to 17 points for the District 11 runner-up Vikings.
But the day belonged to Daniel, whose progression as a dominant player in the post this season was put on display Saturday in the spotlight of the state playoffs.
“I never thought it would happen, I’m so excited,” Daniel said. “I just want to go out and play hard every game because I don’t want to let (head coach Brian Unger) down for giving me that spot.”
The junior forward scored eight points in a 20-9 second quarter for Williams Valley, which put together runs of six and 10 points in the frame before a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by West Catholic’s Jocelyn McPhatter cut the Vikings’ lead to 33-22 at halftime.
“I think it just comes down to doing the little things right,” Unger said of Daniel. “... She’s worked real hard and I think you can see each game how much her confidence is growing.”
Daniel’s recent successes also give Williams Valley another dimension, with senior forward Haley Nestor, who pulled down eight boards Saturday, already established in the paint.
“We can kind of bring Haley outside or leave her inside with Jenna and they have to defend the post a little more,” Unger said.
That’s precisely what happened Saturday.
District 12 champ West Catholic (5-14) exerted more energy covering the low post in the third quarter after Daniel’s second-quarter performance. That enabled Hawk to either penetrate and score, or dish to Whelski and Hannah Nestor around the perimeter.
Hawk and Whelski controlled an 11-2 Williams Valley run midway through the third quarter that upped the Vikings’ lead to 50-28 and erased any hopes the Burrs had of a comeback.
But the contest was learning toward Williams Valley much earlier, as the Vikings used a tenacious press from the onset and forced four West Catholic turnovers in the first two minutes.
For the game, the Burrs turned the ball over 33 times.
“We pressure 1-2-2 every single game,” Whelski said. “Coach just wants us to pressure teams and force them to make mistakes, get loose balls and make easy shots.”
Hawk, Whelski, Hannah Nestor and Caitlyn Pinchorski hounded the West Catholic guards throughout the first half, combining for six steals during the first two quarters.
The rest of the Vikings’ defensive campaign was dedicated to closing off Burrs leading scorer Akyra Murray, who scored seven points in the first quarter to keep the game level at 13 after eight minutes.
When Hannah Nestor drew a charge on Murray three minutes before halftime, it gave Murray her third foul and limited her aggression the rest of the way. She collected 10 points in the third quarter after Williams Valley’s lead grew to 20 points. Murray eventually fouled out in the fourth after recording a team-high 19 points.
Kimberly Worrell took charge when Murray was off the floor, scoring 15 points. But only two other players made the scoresheet for West Catholic, compared to eight for Williams Valley.
“Any time you can win a state playoff game, it’s good for your program, good for the kids,” Unger said. “I’m very happy for the seniors that they were able to experience this.”
But there’s still more to come. The Vikings’ second-round game will have a very normal feel to it, played against a familiar opponent at, in all likelihood, a familiar venue.
Lourdes finished as the third-place side in District 4 and knocked off District 3 champion Lebanon Catholic 45-29 in Saturday’s first round at Lebanon High School.
Williams Valley and Lourdes split during the regular season. The Red Raiders won 53-33 on Dec. 23 and the Vikings won 48-43 on Jan. 29.
“We’re very familiar with them,” Unger said. “They beat us, we beat them. I’m sure it will be a dogfight.”
Game Summary
PIAA Class AA First Round
At St. Joseph’s Prep High School, Philadelphia
WILLIAMS VALLEY (67) — Hawk 9 2-3 21, Han. Nestor 2 1-1 5, Daniel 6 0-1 12, Hal. Nestor 1 3-4 5, Whelski 7 0-2 17, Schadle 2 0-0 4, Pinchorski 1 0-0 2, Schorr 0 1-4 1, Ancheff 0 0-0 0, Updegrove 0 0-0 0, Raho 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 7-15 67.
PHILADELPHIA WEST CATHOLIC (43) — Kennedy 0 0-0 0, McPhatter 2 2-6 6, Worrell 4 7-13 15, Gilliam 1 0-1 3, Murray 8 3-7 19, Colbert-Brinkley 0 0-0 0, Watson 0 0-0 0, Barracks 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 12-27 43.
WV (17-8) 13 20 21 13 — 67 PWC (5-14) 13 9 12 9 — 43
3-point FGs: Hawk, Whelski 3, Gilliam