CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When Williamstown defeated Wheeling Central in the lone regular season meeting between the two teams, the Yellowjackets allowed only 36 points.
So when Friday’s Class AA semifinal went to halftime with the Maroon Knights clinging to a 36-26 lead at the Charleston Coliseum, it was obvious what needed to change for Williamstown.
“I was most upset with what we were giving up. Teams average 36 points per game against us, and I knew we could be better,” Yellowjackets’ coach Danny Bunch said.
Fortunately for Bunch, his team made significant defensive strides, while the Maroon Knights struggled to muster offense over the final two quarters as Williamstown rallied for a 53-42 victory.
With the win, the No. 2 Yellowjackets (21-3) will face the winner of James Monroe-Wyoming East in the Class AA title game.
Four of Central’s six second-half points came over the first 2:23 of the second half, including an Erin Maxwell jump shot that left the No. 3 Maroon Knights (20-6) with a 40-29 lead.
Williamstown ran off 13 unanswered points to end that quarter starting with Anna Cosner’s jumper that made it a single-digit margin.
Cosner’s three-pointer with 1:52 left in the third quarter brought WHS to within three, and teammate Gracie Montgomery connected from long range 57 seconds later to tie it at 40.
Quinn Bunch made two free throws to give the Yellowjackets a two-point lead entering the fourth.
“It’s one of the craziest teams I’ve ever coached,” Bunch said. “When we get stops on defense or a charge or steal, these kids get so fired up. They got more fired up over a defensive play and that’s really what they fed off of. They take so much pride in stopping other teams.”
Central finished the third 2 for 9 with five turnovers and things hardly got better down the stretch.
“We got shots that we wanted and they just didn’t fall. That’s basketball,” Central coach Roberta Olejasz said. “It’s a game of runs. Williamstown’s defense is stifling.”
Although Maroon Knights’ guard Seneca Heller scored the first basket of the fourth to tie the game at 42, the Yellowjackets got a go-ahead basket from Maggie Frye in response to go in front for good.
Arissa Burt scored the next three, points including a left-handed layup off a drive that left Central trailing by five with 3:21 left.
Cosner scored 1 minute later to help seal the victory.
Central was 3 for 22 with 10 turnovers over the final two quarters after shooting 52 percent in the opening half (13 for 25).
“Williamstown did a good job slowing us down in the second half,” Olejasz said. “We executed our game plan pretty well, but couldn’t hit shots in the second half.”
Maroon Knights’ guard Addie Payton was critical to the team’s early success. She scored 10 points on 3-for-3 shooting in the opening period to help stake her team to a 19-13 lead.
“We came out locked in,” Olejasz said.
Payton made two more shots (both threes) in the second quarter and went to halftime having scored 16 points without missing a shot.
However, Payton was held scoreless on two field-goal attempts over the final two frames.
Montgomery and Frye paced Williamstown with 12 points apiece, while Cosner and Burt scored nine each.
“We all wanted that one,” Frye said.
Burt had eight rebounds to help her team win the board battle 32-31 after it was out-rebounded 17-11 in the first two quarters.
“They were out-rebounding us at halftime and it felt like they had as many offensive rebounds (7) as we had defensive rebounds (6). That’s one of the biggest reasons we were down 10,” Bunch said. “They were just going after it a little more.
“In the second half, they got the point and were more aggressive going after the basketball. It was huge to limit them to one opportunity.”
Maxwell scored 10 points to give Central a second player in double figures.
Bella Fitzsimmons’ eight rebounds were a team high in defeat.
“We’ve been down here four years and that’s probably the biggest blessing,” Maxwell said. “With these girls, it’s been the best ride.”