SCHUYLKILL HAVEN–As Sheiana Tutler released a late 3-point shot, a teammates’ voice rose above the noise:

“That’s cash!” she yelled.

Yup. Tutler was money. So were all the Knights because when times grew difficult Wednesday against The Christian Academy, this team pulled together and cashed in on their opportunities.

Now they are reaping the profits.

Tutler drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 57.1 seconds remaining, added a free throw with 6.2 seconds left, scored her 1,000th career point and helped Neumann rally past TCA, 40-37 in the second round of the Class A state tournament at Blue Mountain High School. Every player coach Helena Floyd used made a positive impact and Neumann (18-9) made history, becoming the school’s first girls’ team to reach the state quarterfinals.

“When Sheiana shot that 3, I heard someone say, ‘That’s cash!'” Lily Reid said. “I looked and said, ‘Yes, it is.'”

The Knights won a record fourth playoff game this season and will play District 4 rival Lourdes in Saturday’s quarterfinals at a time to be determined.

Earning that opportunity was tough, but so is this team and Neumann rallied from down four in the final five minutes, closing on a 9-2 run. When Teah Mack’s buzzer-beating 3-point attempt bounced off the rim, Neumann clinched its Elite 8 berth just three years after winning one game.

“It feels amazing,” Tutler said. “I know everyone is watching us and they are cheering us on right now. I’m glad we could make them proud.”

Honestly, those fans would have been proud regardless of the outcome because the team’s effort revealed everything. This was not the prettiest win, but that is what made it extra meaningful. Despite foul trouble and watching a nine-point first-half lead turn into a four-point fourth quarter deficit, Neumann never buckled.

Reid scored 12 points and made two critical fourth quarter jumpers. Gigi Parlante did a brilliant job playing with four fouls over the final 6 minutes, 22 seconds, finishing with seven assists and five steals. Lizzie Weller was strong inside; Niyah Tutler ran the offense well and Ella Ballard shined off the bench.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ballard said. “It feels really good to be this first team to go that far.”

“I couldn’t have asked for any better from the girls. They left it all on the floor,” Floyd said. “We just really came together at the end and pulled it off.”

Neumann cut the four-point deficit to one and took a 36-35 lead with 2:40 left when Parlante found Sheiana Tutler inside. Bullard answered with a putback as TCA went ahead and it stayed that way entering the final minute. And then it was money time.

Tutler caught a pass on the left wing, behind the arc and let it fly. Her shot hit nothing but net and Neumann led, 39-37.

“Honestly, I didn’t know there was a just a minute left when we had the ball,” Tutler said. “I thought we had to take care of it right now.”

The defense helped take care of the rest. The Knights denied 6-foot-3, LaSalle-bound Amber Bullard any more touches, crashed the boards and limited TCA to one shot. Parlante made a steal with 26 seconds remaining, but the score remained the same when Tutler went to the line nearly 20 seconds later.

She missed the first, but made the second as Neumann went up, 40-37. When Mack’s shot missed, Neumann players stormed the court, fans gave a standing ovation, and the Knights savored a moment no other team in its history ever had.

“They had a close shot at the end and I kind of lost my breath and my heart dropped to my feet, but we got the lucky side of it,” Floyd said. “They deserve all of this. They deserve all the recognition.”

Niyah Tutler scored eight first quarter points and Neumann led 18-9 late in the quarter. That lead was cut to six by halftime before Weller went coast-to-coast and put the Knights ahead 26-18 early in the third.

Then Neumann hit its rough patch. Led by Bullard (19 points, 20 rebounds), TCA made its move. The Crusaders (20-7) forced seven turnovers in the third quarter, went on a 13-3 run and took a two-point lead into the fourth.

Neumann did a nice job cutting down the turnovers, losing only two more over the game’s final 10 minutes, but shots were not falling. Still, the Knights dug in defensively and were down 33-29 when Parlante re-entered the game. Reid hit a jumper to cut the deficit in half, but TCA responded and went up four again.

Following a Weller free throw, Reid delivered again. This time, Parlante made a steal and found Reid on the right wing. This jumper made it a one-point game and Neumann took its first lead since the first quarter two possessions later.

“I just try to help my team as best as I can,” Reid said. “If I miss, I’ll try and pick up for it on defense. Just trying to be there for my team is No. 1 for me.”

Ballard was there for the Knights as well. The sophomore was called upon with Parlante in foul trouble and produced one of the best performances of her young high school career. Giving up inches but nothing more, Ballard squared off with Bullard at times and took turns, along with Parlante, Sheiana Tutler and Weller, at limiting her touches.

Ballard also played a key role on the boards, grabbing five of her seven rebounds in the first half. Her tenacity symbolized a team which was not in awe of the Division I recruit and which never backed down, whatever obstacle encountered it.

“I knew I was going to have to go hard because we were playing a box-and-one. I knew I had to step up and get the rebounds,” Ballard said. “It felt really good to go and do what I did and help the team.”

TCA scored the game’s first points, but Sheiana Tutler provided a harbinger when she scored Neumann’s first points with a 3-pointer. Her younger sister gave TCA fits that quarter and scored eight of her team’s next 13 points before Reid added a 3-pointer which made it, 18-9.

TCA fought back and looked it had Neumann on the ropes, but these resilient Knights kept fighting back. They won together and then they danced together 20 minutes following the game’s conclusion, soaking it on the floor where they just made history.

The climb continues, but this determined team has ventured to new program heights.

“For a long time, we’ll remember this,” Ballard said. “We’ll be a team that’s remembered here.”

TCA (37)

Amber Bullard 9 1-2 19, Teah Mack 2 0-2 4, Lea Sareyka 4 1-2 10, Gabi Smith 1 0-0 2, Anna Justus 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 2-6 37.

NEUMANN (40)

Sheiana Tutler 4 3-3 13, Gigi Parlante 0 0-0 0, Lizzie Weller 3 1-2 7, Lily Reid 4 2-4 12, Niyah Tutler 4 0-1 8, Ella Ballard 0 0-0 0, Sophia Reid 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 6-10 40.

TCA 11 7 13 6–37

Neumann 18 6 5 11–40

3-pointers: TCA 1 (Sareyka); Neumann 4 (S. Tutler 2, Reid 2).

Records: Neumann 18-9. TCA 20-7.