Photo by Leroy Boyer

ORWIGSBURG — Ireland Kasper’s journey as a member of the Williams Valley girls’ basketball team had a fairy tale ending Friday night.

The junior guard has been a reserve most of her career with the Vikings. A three-point specialist, she stepped into the starting lineup midway through this season and has provided a much-needed outside scoring touch with her rainbow-like 3-pointers.

Friday, Kasper’s outside shooting was the difference in Williams Valley’s 34-30 victory over Marian in the District 11 Class AA championship game at Blue Mountain High School.

Kasper hit four 3-pointers, including the go-ahead bucket with 2:12 remaining, and scored a game-high 16 points as the Vikings won the program’s first-ever District 11 girls’ basketball championship.

“We knew what she’s capable of,” Williams Valley coach Shane Zellers said. “Down the stretch, we were able to play basketball. They took us out of what we wanted to do. We were able to get the ball in the middle of the floor, they helped, we kicked … she hit some big shots.

“She’s been huge for us all year. Just that 3-point factor, she’s great.”

The Vikings (22-3) and Fillies (21-4) were meeting for the third time this season after splitting their two Schuylkill League Division II matchups. This one resembled those two … a hard-fought, defensive struggle that came down to the final minutes.

After a 7-7 first quarter, Marian forged a 15-13 halftime lead as Addy Fritz hit a trio of 3-pointers and tallied nine of her team-high 14 points.

With her team trailing 21-18 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter, Kasper got hot. She buried a 3-pointer from the left wing off an offensive rebound and kick-out by Sage Smeltz that tied the game. After a layup by Ella Kobularik, Kasper hit a free throw that put the Vikes up 24-21 entering the fourth.

Kasper then hit another triple from the left wing to open the fourth quarter. A pair of free throws by Mallory Miller capped Williams Valley’s 11-0 run that gave the Vikings a 29-21 lead with 4:38 remaining.

Marian didn’t go quietly. The Fillies answered with a 9-0 spurt that featured two buckets by Olivia Serfass, another 3-pointer by Fritz and a layup by Deanna Pugh.

With 2:27 left, Marian led 30-29.

Kasper put the Vikings ahead for good moments later with a long 3-pointer from NBA range on the left wing. Kasper said she writes right-handed and hits a softball right-handed, but shoots a basketball left-handed. Her smooth shot from distance hit nothing but net and gave Williams Valley a 32-30 lead with 2:12 left.

“I knew it was going to go in … that was my mindset,” Kasper said of her go-ahead bucket. “Five on five, that’s where I shoot it at practice.

“If I’m playing pig, that’s my shot.”

Marian had several chances to tie the game or retake the lead but wasn’t able to capitalize. Fritz missed a 3-pointer with 2 minutes left, then the Fillies committed a turnover with 1:30 left.

Kasper then delivered the dagger to Marian’s hopes, driving into the lane and dishing a perfect bounce pass to Sage Smeltz for a layup with 1:07 left that put the Vikes up 34-30.

Marian didn’t score the rest of the way, missing three shots down the stretch.

“It’s huge. It’s the first one ever … like in the history of ever … since the school opened in 1965 that the girls’ basketball has ever won a district championship,” said Sage Smeltz, who finished with eight points and six rebounds. “That is absolutely monumental. We did it. We were the people to do it. It’s just awesome.”

The key to Williams Valley’s success was its zone defense, which consistently put pressure on the Marian shooters and then cleaned the glass when they missed.

“We knew coming into it that we needed to go out on their shooters and we needed to box out,” Sage Smeltz said. “That’s how we were going to win and that’s how we won.”

Marian shot 12-for-47 from the field, including 4-for-27 from 3-point range. The Fillies missed several shots from inside the paint in the second half that proved fatal.

Addy Fritz led Marian with 14 points while Pugh had 10. The Fillies will advance to the PIAA Class AA Tournament and travel to District 12 runner-up MaST Community Charter in Friday’s opening round.

“I’m very proud of our effort defensively,” Marian coach Damian Fritz said. “That’s the hardest we played man to man all season. It’s a shame that the other part of the game on the offensive end …

“We didn’t shoot the ball well in the paint. Coming into the game I felt we needed to win the block, both offensively and defensively. I thought we got our shots in the paint, they just didn’t fall tonight.”

For the Vikings, Friday night was history. It was the second district gold medal of the school year for both Sage Smeltz and Kasper, as Sage Smeltz was the kicker on the football team and Kasper was the water girl.

Williams Valley moves on in the PIAA playoffs and will host District 4 runner-up Northeast Bradford in Friday’s opening round.

“Basketball, first time ever,” Kasper said, holding her gold medal. “It’s awesome. It’s great. We’re a great team. I wouldn’t want to win it with anybody else.”

Added Zellers: “This group has worked hard. I’ve been with this group since seventh and eighth grade. We never really talked about this, we never really talked about this as a goal. It was always there.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this group. Wow, District 11 champs. First time in school history.”

Game Summary

District 11 Girls’ Basketball

Class AA Championship

At Blue Mountain High School

WILLIAMS VALLEY (34) — Kobularik 2 0-0 4, Miller 1 3-4 6, Q. Smeltz 0 0-0 0, S. Smeltz 4 0-0 8, Kasper 5 2-4 16. Totals 12 5-8 34.

MARIAN (30) — O. Serfass 2 0-2 4, Fritz 5 0-0 14, Pugh 4 2-3 10, Hasara 0 0-0 0, Marek 0 0-0 0, Thomas 1 0-2 2, Carone 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 2-7 30.

WV (22-3)               7 … 6 … 11 … 10 — 34

Mar (21-4)              7 … 8 … 6 … 9 — 30

3-point FGs: Miller, Kasper 4, Fritz 4

Officials: Gerchak, Karinch, McDonough