Relentlessly competing, Weller played one of her best high school games at the perfect time. A force in all areas, Weller scored 14 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and made seven steals. Her all-out effort was contagious, and all her teammates followed that lead as Neumann routed Benton, 58-33 in the District 4 Class A quarterfinals at Frank Lupacchino Court. Sheiana Tutler scored a game-high 18 points and also pulled down 14 rebounds, while Gigi Parlante and Niyah Tutler each scored 12 points with Lily Reid adding five assists.

Put it all together and Neumann (15-8) entered new territory, becoming the first team in program history to reach consecutive semifinals. The Knights are trying to become the first now to reach the championship and will play Lourdes in Saturday’s semifinals at Danville.

“We’ve been working so hard together in practice, and we came together as worked as a team,” Weller said. “We really meshed well and it’s great to do it now in the playoffs. Most of us having been playing together since middle school and it’s really showing.”

“We knew going into this (Benton) game, it’s go hard or go home, and the girls really want it,” Neumann coach Helena Floyd said. “We have some proving to do.”

Sheiana Tutler of St. John Neumann puts up a shot against Benton Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 58-33. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Weller proved she can be quite a difference-maker against Benton.

Tutler and Parlante often draw the most attention, but Weller set the determined tone against Benton. The 6-foot junior helped Neumann navigate first-half foul trouble, overcome a slow start and go ahead to stay late in the first quarter. Maybe most important, Weller all but single-handedly fouled out Benton standout center Gracey Baker.

Baker entered the game averaging 15 points and 16 rebounds per game, but Weller went right at her and three of the fouls Baker drew came on Weller drives, putbacks and/or offensive rebounds. Weller jumped high for her 12th rebound following a Neumann miss with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter as Baker exited after reaching over Weller’s back, leaving with six points and five rebounds.

Weller scored Neumann’s first points after 10 straight misses when she went right at Baker for a layup. That jumpstarted the Knights and they went ahead to stay 10-7 by the quarter’s end. By halftime the lead was nine and Weller already had a double-double by late in the third quarter when her offensive board and putback made it 42-24.

Tutler and Parlante, despite foul trouble, did their thing, but Weller putting everything together offered a glimpse into how dangerous she could be moving forward.

Sheiana Tutler of St. John Neumann puts up a shot against Benton Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 58-33. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I was feeling really good,” Weller said. “Especially next year, I really have to step up. Knowing that I did really well in a playoff game like this is big for me. It shows me I have the potential to do it.”

“She played really well,” Floyd said. “We kind of told her in the third quarter you have a double-double and she was surprised. That really got her going.”

Weller helped get the whole team going and Neumann dominated the second half to seal another semifinal appearance and complete a three-game sweep of their Mid-Penn rival. Sheiana Tutler and Parlante ignited a quick burst with their work inside before Niyah Tutler capped a 13-0 run with a 3-pointer and put Neumann up 22. Baker fouled out soon after and Benton never threatened again.

The Knights were out of control at times in the first half but settled in following halftime. And despite some struggles, Neumann still fought through the tough times, forced 16 first-half turnovers and went up 28-19 at halftime when Sheiana Tutler went nearly coast-to-coast and sank a mid-range, buzzer-beating jumper. What was the end of the half actually signaled the beginning of the storm which ultimately blew away Benton.

“We were really hyped,” Weller said. “Sheiana made that shot right before the half and that really fueled us even more.”

Lizzie Weller of St. John Neumann and Cadence Karcher of Benton fight for a loose ball Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 58-33. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Sheiana Tutler and Weller had double-doubles by the third quarter and Parlante nearly collected one, finishing with seven rebounds and three steals. Niyah Tutler helped loosen up the inside and Reid consistently found the open player, dealing four first-half assists as Neumann started taking control. Ella Ballard provided Neumann strong minutes off the bench and a hustling block from behind prevented a first-quarter layup which would have given Benton the lead.

Little plays like that often make a big difference, especially at this time of the year.

“That’s something we try and tell them. It’s not always about how many points you have,” Floyd said. “There’s so many other things that you can do and as a team we meshed together and made it happen.”

Neumann will try and do that again against Lourdes. Both teams return good groups from 2022 state qualifiers, and it has felt like they were on a collision course to meet come playoff time all season.

A year ago, eventual state champion Northumberland Christian ended Neumann’s district championship dreams in the semifinals. The Knights have spent countless hours since then working for another opportunity and now that opportunity has come.

“We can really rely on each other. It doesn’t have to be all on one person,” Weller said. “It’s everybody working together and helping out.”

“We’ve worked all year for this,” Floyd said. “We knew we had to work hard to get in this position again this year and we’re hoping to do everything we can to try and go further this year.”

BENTON (33)

Gracey Baker 2 2-2 6, Anna DiLossi 1 1-4 3, Malaia Hart 5 0-3 11, Callie Nickles 1 2-2 5, Caydence Karcher 0 2-4 2, Lilly Whiteknight 2 0-0 4. Totals 12 7-17 33.

NEUMANN (58)

Sheiana Tutler 8 2-3 18, Gigi Parlante 5 2-3 12, Lily Reid 1 0-0 2, Niyah Tutler 5 0-0 12, Lizzie Weller 7 0-2 14, Ella Ballard 0 0-0 0, Kailee Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 4-8 58.

Benton 7 12 5 9-33

Neumann 10 18 16 14-58

3-pointers: Benton 2 (Nickles, Hart); Neumann 2 (N. Tutler).

Records: Neumann 15-8. Benton 9-13.