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Photographers snapped off several Kailee Helmrich action pictures Monday night. The real keeper could be the one where Helmrich took the ball just outside the arc, stood and surveyed the defense.
And that’s because it might have been the only time Helmrich stopped moving all night.
The Williamsport point guard is constant motion, endless energy and quality production wrapped into one relentless package. Those attributes rub off on her teammates, too, and Williamsport shined when the pressure was highest at Montoursville.
Helmrich produced a double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) and Ella Wilson, A’Niyah Andrews-Handy and Sarina Beiter made huge plays in the final 35 seconds as Williamsport scored the game’s final six points and edged Montoursville, 53-47. Montoursville erased an eight-point deficit and tied the game late before Andrews-Handy found Wilson for a go-ahead layup. Beiter then made a steal in the backcourt and Wilson drained two clutch free throws before Helmrich and Andrews-Handy foul shots clinched the win and closed the quick 6-0 flurry.
“They showed composure. During the process of the game we made a lot of mistakes but when it became winning time we did some good things,” Williamsport coach Terrill Seward-Buxton said. “We were able to spread them out and pull them up a little higher to get some wide open layups. It was good to watch some other girls and a lot of different subs get in there and contribute. Hopefully that keeps on going.”
Helmrich never stops going.
The senior who also is a standout soccer player is one of the area’s leading scorers, but watch her play and it is all the other aspects that often stand out more. Early in the second quarter, Helmrich chased down a Montoursville player from well behind, blocked what looked like a sure layup, rebounded the ball and started a Williamsport scoring sequence. She scored off putbacks, kept possessions alive with her defense, deflected passes, blocked three shots and made two steals.
All those things might look small at the time, but put them all together and they help produce big wins. Ironically, Helmrich said she often feels tired on the court but it never shows. She scored a lot and did so in a variety of ways, but ultimately it was Helmrich’s heart that revealed itself the most Monday night.
“I try to get on the stat sheet as much as I can in as many different areas as I can,” Helmrich said. “It’s not really all about points to me. It’s about all the other things because those are the things that win games, too. You have to be able to make steals, stop the other team and play defense before you score.”
Helmrich is a team captain, three-year starter and four-year contributor. And when a team’s leader is going all out, all the time that impact can be felt throughout the entire roster. It certainly was against Montoursville.
“She does a lot of things in the game that help you win. She does things that nobody really pays attention to or thinks about, but they are all big,” Seward-Buxton said. “If she goes as hard as she does and she’s one of our better players it means nobody has any excuses for not going as hard.”
Montoursville went hard and never backed down despite never holding a lead. The Millionaires (4-4) led by as many as nine in the second quarter before Montoursville pulled within four at halftime and as close as one in the third quarter. When Williamsport went up eight with five minutes left, Montoursville came charging back and tied it 47-47 when Maddie Adams found Sydnie Stone for a layup with 47 seconds left.
“This was the first complete game they played. It was just a couple of mishaps in the fourth quarter, a couple defensive rotations we missed and some fouls,” said Montoursville assistant coach Jaiden Lynch, who was filling in for head coach Sean Walker who was home sick. “As a coach, I’m proud. They played together and played hard. The ball just didn’t roll our way this time.”
Just when it seemed like Montoursville had the momentum and was poised for the comeback win, Williamsport collected itself, brilliantly executed and took control. Andrews-Handy (9 points, 4 rebounds) shined off the bench and brought the defense toward her before finding a cutting Wilson along the right wing for the go-ahead basket. Beiter then made the game’s biggest defensive play, knocking the ball loose, and whipping a pass to Wilson while diving on the floor. Wilson, an emerging sophomore was unflappable late, then calmly hit both free throws and made it a four-point game.
After Montoursville tied the game, Williamsport locked in and did not allow it another shot. Those final 35 seconds could provide a springboard for a young team which received a huge boost from reserves like Andrews-Handy, Abby Mahon and Taniyah Martin all night.
“It’s very exciting that everybody is on board with us and we’re on the same page most of the time,” Helmrich said. “It’s good to see other people are producing on the court, too.”
“That’s what we talk about. It takes a whole team to win a game,” Seward-Buxton said. “We tell them, ‘All your girls practice the same as everyone else and if we’re going to call you’re number, be ready to contribute.'”
Montoursville has called Maddie Labatch’s number a lot this year and the sophomore continues answering well. Labatch helped fuel the comeback, scoring 17 points, grabbing four rebounds and adding three assists. Labatch was especially strong in the second half, scoring 13 points, consistently breaking down the defense and scoring 13 points. She also made each of her last five shots.
“I tell Maddie all the time you have to be aggressive. She’s a super talented guard,” Lynch, a three-time District 4 champion at St. John Neumann, said. “She plays a lot of AAU ball and she just has to trust in her game and trust in her abilities to play at a high level.”
Stone played at a high level as well, scoring 11 points and adding six rebounds. Adams scored eight points and added three assists. Shyanne Klemick and Nyla Kutney combined for 11 rebounds and Anna Baylor added eight.
Nothing has come easy for a young Montoursville team playing in one of the state’s premier conferences, the HAC-II. Still, the Warriors (2-7) are a few plays away from having a much different record, losing several close games. The record might not show it but progress is being made and this team continues battling hard.
“Thereás a lot of excitement,” Lynch said. “This is our first year, so we’re implementing new schemes and new systems. As we go forward we’re only going to progress and get better.”
WILLIAMSPORT (53)
Kailee Helmrich 7 8-16 24, Payton Baney 0 1-4 1, Sarina Beiter 3 2-3 8, Ally Chilson 0 0-0 0, Ella Wilson 3 0-1 6, AáNiyah Andrews-Handy 3 3-6 9, Abby Mahon 0 0-0 0, Cierra Rainier 0 0-0 0, Taniyah Martin 0 3-4 3, Mia Nieto 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 19-34 53.
MONTOURSVILLE (47)
Maddie Adams 3 2-4 8, Maddie Labatch 8 0-0 17, Alaina Marchioni 2 3-4 7, Sydnie Stone 5 1-3 11, Shyanne Klemick 0 2-2 2, Nyla Kutney 1 0-0 2, Jill Stone 0 0-0 0, Anna Baylor 0 0-2 0. Totals 19 8-15 47.
Williamsport 14 3 17 19-53
Montoursville 7 6 16 18-47
3-pointers: Williamsport 2 (Helmrich 2); Montoursville 1 (Labatch).
Records: Williamsport 4-4, Montoursville 2-7.