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Most spectators who filled up the Catholic Community Center bleachers Monday erupted as Davion Hill threw down a highlight-reel fourth-quarter dunk. What many might have missed and/or forgotten was what created that dunk. Naseer Dymeck made a steal, fed Hill and the two-time all-state guard then put an exclamation point on a big St. John Neumann win.
Dymeck often lurks in the shadows. And he is perfectly content doing so. He knows he makes a big impact each game and so do his teammates. That is all that matters.
Dymeck delivered another strong performance Monday, scoring 12 points, playing super defense and dealing three assists. He also drained four of five 3-point shots and each came at big times as Neumann played one of its best games this season and routed Hughesville, 74-49. Hill scored a season-high 37 points, Hanief Clay dealt 10 assists and every Neumann player did his part as the Knights (18-2) won their 14th straight game.
Many may not have left the gym talking about how well Dymeck played, but make no mistake, his finger prints again were all over a Neumann victory.
“I can’t say enough about Nas because he understands his role. That kid just plays so hard on the defensive end. On every possession, he never lets down,” Neumann coach Jamie Spencer said. “He hit some big-time shots and he also played great defense. That kid plays with so much energy, so much heart. What a great kid.”
While Hill again produced a marvelous performance, scoring 35 points over the final three quarters, Dymeck’s game was especially encouraging for Neumann as it prepares for the postseason. He played a critical role in last year’s district championship run and played some of his best basketball late in the season. He looks like he might be poised to do so again and provides the Knights another weapon.
In addition to playing his usual hounding defense and helping Neumann force 27 turnovers, Dymeck played poised on offense and repeatedly hit important shots. His 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half put Neumann ahead to stay, 26-23 and Dymeck then played a monster role in changing the game’s complexion. After Hughesville made it a two-point game a minute into the third quarter, Dymeck drained two 3-pointers during a 19-3 run as Neumann needed less than four minutes to blow open the game and go up 49-31.
The Spartans never pulled closer than 16 again. Each basket hurt during that game-changing run, but Dymeck’s 3-pointers felt like upper cuts which sent Hughesville toward the canvas.
“Every time a big game comes, I get kind of a different feeling before the game. I feel more locked in,” Dymeck said. “With Hanief believing me and giving me those good passes and Davion telling me those were big shots, it just made more confident to keep shooting.
“Playoffs are coming and I’m getting back into the groove and being myself.”
So are his teammates and it showed as Neumann dominated the second half against a quality Class AAA team. Clay turned Hughesvilleás pressure defense on him against it, masterfully distributing the ball. Joe Savage scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds. JerVal Weeks-Shuler played super post defense and Naz Smith again was outstanding off the bench, dealing three assists and blocking two shots.
This was a back and forth game for the first 17 minutes but the final 15 offered a look at how much Neumann has grown since early this season.
“It was the last home (regular-season) game we (seniors) will ever play here and its nice seeing everyone involved,” Dymeck. “It felt good to have a good win like that against a good team.”
“It was a great team effort. That was by far one of the better nights we’ve played,” Spencer said. “We really scrapped and got after it. That’s a good team. They’re solid, they’re big they shoot it and that was a good test for us. That was something we needed.”
Hughesville tried getting the ball inside, but Weeks-Shuler repeatedly denied it opportunities. The senior forward cut off passing lanes, bodied up Hughesville’s post players, contested shots and pulled down seven rebounds. His defense was especially big in the first half when the lead changed hands eight times and it felt like Hughesville was on the verge of gaining some separation.
Weeks-Shuler also set a tone for Neumann by attacking the glass. He, Hill (7 rebounds, 6 steals, 3 assists), Clay and Savage all produced at least six rebounds and the Knights created some vital second-chance scoring opportunities, preventing Hughesville from ever leading by more than two points.
“JerVal is so athletic and so long and did a great job,” Spencer said. “It was just a good team win. Everyone contributed.”
Hughesville coach Nick Tagliaferri was as discouraged by his team’s collective performance as Spencer was excited about his. The Spartans (13-7) are a deep and talented team and have had a mountain of injuries, but they also looked like they took a step back Monday. Hughesville made 10 of 19 first-half shots but 13 turnovers undid the good and Hill’s steal and layup in the last five seconds gave Neumann a 28-23 halftime lead.
Josh Heiney scored 16 points and his 3-pointer had Hughesville trailing by two early in the third quarter. Then everything changed as Neumann points flowed the Niagara Falls and swept away Hughesville. Sophomores Landen King and Jeff Fenstermacher provided a bright spot, combining for eight rebounds and four assists, as did Ethan Woolcock who scored 12 points off the bench.
“I’m really proud of my two sophomores, Jeff and Landen; (senior) Nick Trevouldedes and Ethan as well. They really competed,” Tagliaferri said. “We just announced to the rest of the Triple A field we are not even in the stratosphere of contending in that tournament in a couple of weeks. Credit to Neumann.”
Hill was virtually unstoppable in the second half, consistently breaking down defenders and/or doing damage in the post. He scored 23 second-half points and Neumann made three third-quarter 3-pointers. Clay dealt five assists during that 23 point third quarter and the Knights closed the game with seven 3-pointers.
Neumann was backed by a vocal crowd and a large student section. And as loud as they cheered when Hill dunked the ball, they saved their biggest ovation for senior Jimmy Weller. A hard-working senior, Weller scored the game’s final basket in the closing seconds and both teammates and fans nearly blew the roof off the Catholic Community Center.
“The coolest thing was all our starters were up and chest-bumping and cheering and the student section is chanting, ‘MVP,'” Spencer said. “That was great. That’s what it’s all about.”
HUGHESVILLE (49)
Dylan Bieber 1 1-1 3, Carter Cowburn 1 1-2 3, Josh Heiney 6 1-2 16, Nick Trevouledes 3 0-0 7, Landen King 2 1-2 5, Luke Kaiser 0 0-0 0, Ethan Woolcock 4 4-4 12, Cam Fetterman 0 0-0 0, Jeff Fenstermacher 0 0-0 0, Mason Thomas 1 0-0 3. Totals 18 8-11 49.
NEUMANN (74)
Davion Hill 18 1-2 37, Hanief Clay 2 3-4 8, Naseer Dymeck 4 0-0 12, Joe Savage 3 0-0 8, JerVal Weeks-Shuler 2 0-0 4, Naz Smith 1 1-1 3, Jimmy Weller 1 0-0 2. Totals 31 5-7 74.
Hughesville 10 13 12 14-49
Neumann 11 17 23 23-74
3-pointers: Hughesville 5 (Heiney 3, Trevouledes, Thomas); Neumann 7 (Dymeck 4, Savage 2, Clay).
Records: Neumann 18-2. Hughesville 13-7.