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Williamsport need not solve any mystery as its District 2-4 Class 6A semifinal against top-seeded Hazleton approached. Hazleton has built its winning tradition upon a stifling full-court pressure defense and Williamsport knew the Cougars would throw that at it for 32 minutes.
That in-your-face defense gave Williamsport fits early last December when Hazleton defeated it, 60-40 at the Magic Dome.
But that was a much different Millionaire team. And this time, Williamsport had the answers for that press which so many others over the years have not. The Millionaires efficiently took that press apart last Friday, frustrated Hazleton with its own tenacious defense and won, 54-37.
"We knew they were going to press for four quarters no matter what, and we were able to run floor well and beat them in transition a few times," Williamsport coach Justin Marnon said. "And our defense playing as well as it was, they were not able to score as much and get in that press."
Beating the press helped Williamsport beat Hazleton for the first time since 2006 and exorcize a lot of demons from the past. In fact, this was Williamsport's first playoff win against Hazleton during the 2000s and it earned the Millionaires a spot in Friday's championship against either Wilkes-Barre or Wyoming Valley West at Mohegan Sun Arena.
For most of the season, it appeared Williamsport had little chance of reaching this final. That went double following a disappointing loss at Danville dropped it to 5-14. When other teams might have broken apart, however, this one pulled closer together.
Williamsport has not lost since, winning five straight games by double-digit margins. The threats have been many, the play unselfish and the defense outstanding. Put it all together and Williamsport has earned itself an opportunity at winning the program's first district title since 1995.
It will be another all order against a 17-win team, but Williamsport already has shown that it enjoys embracing challenges.
"There are not too many times you have the opportunity to turn 20-point loss into 17-point win. It's a testament to their hard work," Marnon said. "It was a really tough loss at Danville for us and they could have kind of folded but they didn't do that. We have good leadership on the team and we talked about all our goals being in front of us, so they just continued to work hard.
"When you go into the postseason at 8-14 with some tough losses, it's easy to overlook a team like us, but our goal all along to play best basketball at this time and we certainly put it all together (against Hazleton)."
SOMETHING TO PROVE: No St. John Neumann players were named when the Mid-Penn released its first and second team all-star squads three days before the playoffs started. This, despite Sheiana Tutler and Gigi Parlante each averaging double-doubles and Neumann (16-8) having its most wins since 2016.
This already was a team motivated to make history and the all-star snub threw some gasoline on the flames. Now, Neumann has two missions and they go hand in hand.
Neumann defeated Benton and perennial district power Lourdes last week, earning a spot in its first district final. The Knights also are state tournament bound for a second consecutive season for the first time and will try winning the program's first district championship when it plays top-seeded Meadowbrook Christian Thursday at Milton.
Neumann is trying to make this entire playoff run its rebuttal to the all-star snubs.
"It definitely fueled our fire," Lizzie Weller said after recording the first of her two playoff double-doubles in a 58-33 win against Benton. "They gave us motivation."
Neumann rallied from a six-point third quarter deficit to dominate the final 10 minutes and defeat Lourdes, 63-47, denying it a third straight finals appearance in process. Parlante, Tutler and Weller all had double-doubles, while Lily Reid scored a team-high 16 points and Niyah Tutler added eight.
The Mid-Penn offered its view on what it thought about Neumann, but the Knights disagree. This is their response and they hope their best reactions are yet to come.
"I said we need to show them why they made a mistake. We definitely deserved the recognition but I told them it's just a title they give you," Neumann coach Helena Floyd said "At the end of the day, if you help the team win, that's bigger. We're trying to go the whole way. Thats the most important thing."
SOMETHING TO PROVE II: South Williamsport also felt disrespected by the Mid-Penn all-star results. Aleigha Rieppel, a first teamer last season who has been even better this year, strangely was placed on the second team. That, despite the senior leader being a driving force for a team which produced a second straight undefeated league campaign.
Again, South already was motivated, trying to win the program's first district championship since 2009. Again, this added even more fuel. Rieppel responded by scoring a career-high 29 points in a 69-38 thrashing of Wyalusing before the defense put on a clinic, shut down two first teamers and pounded Northwest, 43-25 in the Class AA semifinals.
South (19-6) avenged a loss from eight nights earlier, held the starters to fewer than 20 points and received strong contributions throughout the rotation. The Mounties face Line Mountain in Thursday's championship. They know first-hand the power of extra incentive after exacting revenge against Northwest and now must brace for a surging Line Mountain team it defeated two weeks ago but which beat No. 3 Muncy and No. 2 Northeast Bradford in impressive fashion to earn another shot.
EXHAUSTIVE PURSUIT: Loyalsock opened defense of its consecutive District 4 Class AAA championship by overcoming a third-quarter deficit and defeating pesky Troy, 59-45 in the quarterfinals. Izzy Dadzie scored a career-high 22 points, Alaina Dadzie made five steals and Loyalsock (17-6) earned a spot in Wednesday's semifinals at Shamokin against long-time rival Bloomsburg.
Winning the game and extending the season was the primary goal last Friday, but Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson was equally happy about the effort his team put forth. The Lancers played intense, energetic basketball for 32 minutes, taking Troy's best shot and coming back strong over the game's final 14 minutes. This is exactly that kind of effort coaches and players know they will have to use against as they face Bloomsburg for a sixth straight season in the playoffs and for the third time this season, after the home team won each regular season game.
"We hadn't played in two weeks, but we played really hard. Our energy level was high and our players were really tired," Jacobson said. "If you're tired at the end of the game, to me, that's a win. Even if you don't win, that's a win. means they're competing."
Dr. Masse's top 5: 1. Loyalsock (17-6); 2. Jersey Shore (18-6); 3. Lewisburg (16-7); 4. South Williamsport (19-6); 5. St. John Neumann (16-8)