King Hill: Davion Hill breaks Lycoming County single-game scoring record and leads Neumann to victory

As he cut along the baseline and around the backboard, Davion Hill threw up a one-handed reverse shot. It banked high off the glass before falling through the net, giving Hill yet another historic achievement.

The shot was anything but high percentage, but how it went in could possibly be explained by the head band Hill wears every home game. Minutes after breaking the Lycoming County single-game scoring record Saturday at the Catholic Community Center, St. John Neumann’s guard still had his “Callie Strong,” head band on even after being doused with a celebratory ice water bath.

Hill wears the head band in honor of Callie Cavanaugh who bravely fought cancer before passing away five years ago. No doubt, she was probably smiling somewhere Saturday.

Hill left an indelible mark on county history, scoring a record 60 points while helping Neumann rout Millville, 91-64. The three-time first team all-stater broke Brad Litchfield’s 21-year-old scoring record of 57 points with two free throws early in the fourth quarter. Seconds later, he became the first to reach 60 with Cavanaugh possibly assisting.

“I’ve worn this every game and I wore it around my neck during football season. Growing up, she’s always been special to me, especially playing with her brothers Cy Cavanaugh and Chase my freshman year,” Hill said. “I like to do what I can to try and carry on her name.”

What a job he is doing.

Hill already is the only area player to ever earn first team all-state honors three straight years. He broke the single season scoring record last season and became the county’s all-time leading scorer two weeks ago. Still, there was another record both Hill and his teammates believed was in sight. Achieve that one and the triple crown would Hill’s.

After scoring 45 points Thursday against Benton, Hill believed Saturday could be a historic day. So did his coaches and teammates. And, collectively, they immediately attacked that goal. By the end of the first quarter, Hill had 19. At halftime it was up to 38 and by the third quarter he already had joined Litchfield as the only area players to reach 50 points in the 2000s.

“Everybody worked together,” Neumann coach Louis Roskowski said. “You can’t score 60 if they don’t get him the ball. Everyone was on the same page, so it was special to be a part of.”

Roskowski was a teammate of Litchfield’s and was there at Neumann in 2002 when Litchfield scored his 57 points, while making 15 3-pointers against CMVT. He never guessed that 21 years later at the same gym, he would witness that record fall.

Honestly, Hill never really thought he would either. Litchfield’s father John is Hillá’s old English teacher, and he told the mentor he would someday break his son’s program career record. Topping the single-game mark, though, seemed unfathomable.

“It’s a surreal feeling. 60?! That’s crazy,” Hill said. “I knew Brad had 57. I always knew that growing up and thought that was out of reach the way he shot the ball.”

So maybe the way Hill started his quest Saturday could be considered a tribute to Litchfield.

Just six seconds into the game, Messiah Baldwin whipped a pass Hill’s way. Originally, the plan was to attack inside, but Hill was wide open, so he let the shot fly and buried the 3-pointer. Then he made another … and another … Well, you get the idea.

Hill made his first four 3-point attempts and already had five less than seven minutes into the game. He finished with seven, all coming in the first half, as Neumann built a 52-28 lead.

“I was definitely in the zone. I don’t even know if that’s the word. I was stopping on fast breaks and hitting 3s and everything like that,” Hill said. “Coach told me to start off early taking it to the basket, but I shot a 3 to try it out and see how I felt. I felt good so I kept shooting them and they were going in.”

“We said take it to the hoop, but if you’re hitting it, keep shooting. He was feeling it,” Roskowski said. “He was hot early, and the guys knew that. We wanted to get him the ball. We felt like he earned it with everything he’s done and the accolades he’s achieved. I was on Brad’s team, and it was great seeing him get the record and then to see Davion break that was really cool.”

The crazy thing is Hill made it look mighty easy and probably could have scored 70 if he wanted, exiting the game with more than 5 1/2 minutes remaining. He started the game by making his first six shots and Neumann was up 22-3 midway through the first quarter. After doing his early Steph Curry impersonation, Hill showed why he is such a match-up problem and went into the post during the second half, scoring at will inside.

Just past the midway point of the third quarter, Hill broke older brother Alize Johnson’s 47-point career-high and soon after scored his 50th point in the paint. Hill was eight points from breaking Litchfield’s record at the start of the fourth quarter and immediately assaulted the mark.

After scoring six points in less than 90 seconds, Hill was fouled as he went for the record. Maybe it was fate because Hill broke the career county record at the line. Now he knocked down the single-game record, connecting on both shots.

Following a steal, Hill then made his move under the basket and entered new territory as the county’s first 60-point scorer. Hill had his back to the basket but was able to crane his head around to see the shot fall through. The 60-point summit reached, Neumann called a timeout and Hill exited to a standing ovation, being greeted by jubilant teammates as he approached the bench.

In a year when he already has surpassed 2,000 career points and become the county’s all-time leading scorer, Hill, found a way to top himself yet again.

“I wanted to leave a big mark here. Over the summer I had opportunities to go to Prep schools; I could have gone to Camden High, but I wanted to stay in my hometown and play where I’ve played my whole life,” Hill said. “It just feels good to leave a mark here and hopefully go down as a legend in Neumann history.”

More than half the season remains, and Hill has more work to do, but he already has secured that legacy. In addition to all the individual achievements, Hill has helped Neumann win three district championships, three Mid-Penn titles and reach a state championship.

“He’s obviously a phenomenal player,” Roskowski said. “There’s not much more you can say.”

There’s not much Hill has not done after he also surpassed 2,300 career points Saturday. But he still also had four assists which led to 10 points, meaning he had a hand in 70 points. Kane Wright was on the receiving end of two of those assists and scored a career-high 15 points while making 6 of 7 shots. Tyrick Moy grabbed 11 rebounds, while Joe Savage added seven boards and Baldwin six assists. And Joe Pontius received one of the day’s biggest ovations when he drained a late 3-pointer.

Every player did his part Saturday, helping Neumann win its second straight game. Still, it was all the witnesses to history will remember what Hill did more than anything. It took 21 years for the previous record to fall and good luck to those trying to top Hill’s 60 in the future.

“Coach said it was going to be one of these games where he was going to let me go for it so today, I started out hot and he let me go for it,” Hill said. “I’m grateful for the experience.”

MILLVILLE (64)

Chase Reynolds 1 0-0 3, Ian Ludwig 9 3-3 22, Hayden Weaver 1 0-0 2, Shane Johnson 11 0-0 23, Gavin Beckett 2 0-0 4, Tommy Kraintz 5 0-0 10. Totals 29 3-3 64.

NEUMANN (91)

Davion Hill 23 7-13 60, Messiah Baldwin 1 0-0 3, Joe Savage 1 0-0 2, Tyrick Moy 2 0-0 4, Kane Wright 6 0-0 15, Corey Agnew 1 0-0 2, Daiton Thompson 1 0-0 2, Joe Pontius 1 0-0 3. Totals 36 7-13 91.

Millville 10 18 21 15-64

Neumann 27 25 24 15-91

3-pointers: Millville 3 (Reynolds, Ludwig, Johnson); Neumann 11 (Hill 7, Wright 3, Baldwin).

Records: Neumann 8-4.