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York Suburban coach Jess Weaver finally knows what it's like to win a District 3 title with a healthy team.
She didn't have to worry about torn ACLs, broken arms or missing toe nails when her Trojans defeated Middletown 42-27 in a repeat of last year's Class 5A final at Hempfield H.S. on Friday, Feb. 27.
Junior Jordyn Williams, who joined Julia Gerber in scoring 14 points, said having a healthy team gave the Raiders too many weapons to cover. Weaver said it was a total team effort with balanced scoring and "one of the best team defensive efforts I've seen from our kids in my career. To hold them to 10 points in the second half was incredible."
It took both teams a quarter to settle into the game. Championships will do that to you. There were missed chip shots, intercepted passes and balls stolen off the dribble. York Suburban took a 7-6 lead into the second quarter, when the teams found their offense and the Trojans increased the lead to four, 21-17, at the half.
Ja'Liyah Stover hit 1-of-2 free throws to make a one-possession game, but everything changed on York Suburban's next possession.
Following Weaver's halftime directions, the Trojans settled into more of a half-court offense. They worked the ball around, using quick passes to avoid Middletown's quick hands and anticipation. Until Amaya Pope found Gerber standing unprotected under the basket and sent the ball to her on a rope for an easy basket and a two-possession lead.
Freshman Brynn Barley picked up a loose ball and went coast-to-coast for a scoop bucket and Williams followed with a 3-pointer in rapid succession and the game was good as over with 2:40 to go in the third quarter.
Middletown never gave up, but their faces registered plenty of doubt.
Weaver said the game's pace favored the Raiders in the first half, but her players changed that in the second half.
"I thought we did a great job of having more patience on the offensive end in the second half," she said. "And we just played tremendous lockdown defense."
Weaver singled out senior Natalie Homisak for tightening the defense in the second half, particularly on the boards. Homisak agreed she made some adjustments at halftime.
"In the first half I feel like I boxed out, but they just outworked me," Homisak said. "The second half was definitely more physical for me. I tried to get as many rebounds as I could so they couldn't get second and third attempts because that's what they do best."
It made a difference as the Raiders, unbeaten going into the final, only scored one bucket on an offensive rebound.
Williams said even though the scores were nearly identical, this year's win seemed easier because they weren't a whole team last year.
"Last year we were trying to prove we were the same team without senior guard Lydia [Powers]," she said. "This year we had a lot of weapons to use. It was harder for them to defend us because if you take one of us away, we have amazing guards and amazing post players."
If the last four years of playing in district finals without key players, or those who were slowed by injury, taught the Trojans anything, it was the next player up mentality. That showed on Friday night.
When the Raiders prevented drives through the paint, Williams, Gerber and Barley scored from beyond the arc. When Middletown tried to take that away, the paint opened up for a variety of drives. And when the Raiders fouled at the end of the game in hopes of cutting into the lead, the Trojans went 6-for-6 from the line.
The win caps a District 3 run of three golds and one silver for seniors Homisak, Allie Klinedinst and Addy Shiflet.
Homisak said it's hard to say if one title is more special than the others, although she admits that first one would be tough to beat.
"They all mean so much," she said. "That first one was pretty special, but it's just such an honor to win."
The Trojans aren't finished. They will open the PIAA tournament by hosting Fox Chapel, the District 7 eighth seed on Saturday, March 7.
Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA and the USAToday Network. Connect with her by email [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter @ShelStallsmith.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York Suburban hands Middletown first loss in District 3 final