Both skillfully again played those roles Tuesday night against Delaware Valley and all their teammates mastered their roles as well. Together, Williamsport continued surging right into the District 2-4 Class AAAAAA semifinals.

Chilson scored a game-high 13 points, Rainier made a game-high five steals and Williamsport overwhelmed Delaware Valley, 54-18 in the district quarterfinals at the Magic Dome. Payton Baney (12 points) and Ella Wilson (10) also scored in double figures, Williamsport opened on a 24-3 run and it reached the district’s Final 4 for a fourth straight season. The Millionaires (9-14) also won their fourth straight game entering Friday’s semifinals at top-seeded Hazleton.

“Not that I didn’t go hard at practice before, but I just realized this is my last season, so I have to go hard all the time,” Chilson said after also grabbing eight rebounds. “This is it, and I have my teammates to back me up.”

“I like playing that defensive role,” Rainier said. “That’s really the first thing I go for when we start a game is defense.”

Jaelynn Helmrich of Williamsport drives to the basket as she’s defended by Krystina Orby of Delaware Valley Tuesday evening at Williamsport High School, Feb. 21, 2023. Williamsport won 58-18. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chilson scored eight first quarter points and Rainier helped wreak havoc as the Millionaires led 18-1 less than six minutes into the game. It was 24-3 by the end of the quarter and Williamsport landed the knockout blow in the third, closing on a 16-0 run to invoke the mercy rule.

After concluding the regular season on a three-game winning streak, Williamsport took another huge step in the right direction.

“We want to carry that over into the playoffs because this is a brand-new season. Coming into tonight, they’re 0-0 and we’re 0-0 and it’s 32 minutes to decide who advances,” Williamsport coach Justin Marnon said. “Anything can happen this time of year, so I’m glad that we were able to stay focused and locked in from the beginning.”

Chilson started locking in around the season’s halfway point. A three-year starter, the senior forward always has been productive, but Chilson has taken her game up a notch down the stretch, averaging 14.4 points over the last 10 games. During that time, she set a new career-high for points three times, while combining with Baney to give Williamsport a formidable inside duo.

That remained that case against Delaware Valley. Chilson and Baney combined for 16 of Williamsport’s first 18 points and teammates consistently set them up for high-percentage shots. Chilson was up to 13 points after three quarters and finished 6 for the 9 from the field, while also making four steals.

Payton Baney of Williamsport pulls in a rebound against Delaware Valley Tuesday evening at Williamsport High School, Feb. 21, 2023. Williamsport won 58-18. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We’ve really been playing good, team basketball,” Chilson said. “We always say, ‘paint touches, paint touches,’ but after we get it inside a few times, then there’s always somebody on the outside to kick out to.”

“It’s a testament to who Chilly is as a person. Coming in as a senior leader on our team and with a new coaching staff in your senior year, that can be difficult, but she has embraced it all,” Marnon said. “Her attitude never changes. She comes and works hard every day and leads the rest of the players. I’ve been super happy for her to have this success toward the end of her scholastic basketball career.”

Rainier is enjoying similar success while also making a big impact. The junior guard can provide and did contribute an offensive punch against Delaware Valley, but Rainer’s defense is what has especially made her stand out. It sure did Tuesday as Rainier constantly harassed Delaware Valley guards for 90 feet.

In addition to making five steals, Rainier also tipped passes, forced errant passes and was a monster factor in never letting the Warriors feel comfortable. On its first two possessions, Delaware Valley was unable to inbound the ball against Williamsport’s pressure and the Millionaires did not allow a shot before having already forced four turnovers and building a quick 6-0 lead.

“CC has embraced that role. She brings tremendous intensity on the defensive end, and we’ve been able to kind of lock down who we feel is the top scorer for the other team,” Marnon said. “She has bought into that, and she plays that role very well and I think other players feed off of it.”

Alexandria Chilson of Williamsport and Carrigan McCormick of Delaware Valley fight for posession of a ball Tuesday evening at Williamsport High School, Feb. 21, 2023. Williamsport won 58-18. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That was the case against Delaware Valley with every player Marnon used playing well. All 12 players either scored, assisted, rebounded or made steals. Nine players scored and Williamsport continued piling up assists, producing an impressive 18 on 23 field goals.

Wilson saw the court well all night, collecting a game-high seven assists while flustering the opposition and making for steals. Fellow guard Mia Nieto also swarmed ball-handlers and reserves like Sydney Crews, Nadirah Tutler, Jaelynn Helmrich, Abby Mahon and Anna Harstead all played key roles in Williamsport leading 34-15 at halftime. Eight different players dealt at least one assist; Tutler had three, Mahon pulled down five rebounds and Helmrich added three steals.

Williamsport moving the ball effectively and efficiently played a major role in it shooting 64 percent in the first and third quarters when it outscored Delaware Valley, 39-5. Williamsport offered a preview of things to come on its opening possession, patiently working the offense, moving the ball inside and outside and then setting up Baney for a layup.

“That’s our mindset, let’s just play good team basketball,” Rainier said. “It’s big to get paint touches. That’s what we go for. We look for our post. That opens up the outside and gets us a lot of open looks.”

Delaware Valley did not back down and outscored Williamsport in the second quarter. The Millionaires, though, turned it on again in the third quarter and Rainier scored all seven of her points during a blistering 16-0 run which pushed the lead to 33. Rainier scored seven of the first nine points during that flurry, while Wilson added six and Williamsport masterfully worked its offense in both halfcourt and in transition.

Mia Nieto of Williamsport is fouled as she puts up a shot by Joran Dikerson of Delaware Valley Tuesday evening at Williamsport High School, Feb. 21, 2023. Williamsport won 58-18. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We’re playing really well as a team and looking for everybody else,” Chilson said. “Our assists to shots made ratio has really gone up and that’s what we’ve been looking for.”

DEL VALLEY (18)

Carrigan McCormack 1 1-2 3, Lily Cosentino 2 0-2 4, Jordan Dickerson 1 3-5 5, Emma Dolcemascolo 1 0-1 2, Leah Bird 1 2-2 4. Totals 6 6-12 18.

WILLIAMSPORT (54)

Payton Baney 5 2-2 12, Ally Chilson 6 1-4 13, Ella Wilson 5 0-0 10, Cierra Rainier 2 3-4 7, Mia Nieto 0 1-2 1, Abby Mahon 0 0-0 0, Nadirah Tutler 1 0-0 2, Anna Harstead 1 0-0 2, Jaelynn Helmrich 0 0-0 0, Sydney Crews 2 0-0 4, Khamya Moate 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 7-14 54.

Cierra Rainer of Williamsport puts up a shot over her shoulder as Audri Smith of Delaware Valley tries to stop the attempt Tuesday evening at Williamsport High School, Feb. 21, 2023. Williamsport won 58-18. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Del Valley 3 12 2 1-18

Williamsport 24 10 15 5-54

3-pointers: Williamsport 1 (Moore).

Records: Williamsport 9-14. Delaware Valley 3-20.