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Meadowbrook Christian girls win playoff thriller against Neumann

By Chris Masse 7 min read

MILTON--Meadowbrook Christian players gathered at midcourt before saluting their fans following Wednesday’s exciting District 4 Class A quarterfinal against defending champion St. John Neumann.

Afterward, those same fans, as well as coaches, saluted the effort both teams put forth. So, even though only one team could advance Wednesday, both teams had plenty to celebrate.

Hannah Millett played her best high school game, scoring a career-high 15 points and making two critical defensive plays in the final 50 seconds; Madalyn Fasnacht gutted through a sprained ankle to also score 15 and Meadowbrook edged Neumann, 44-41 in the latest chapter of what has become a storied postseason rivalry. This was the fourth straight season Meadowbrook and Neumann collided in districts, the past two coming in the final, and each team has won twice. This also was the third time the outcome was decided either in overtime and/or in the final seconds.

"I came in at halftime and said, ‘This is just a really good basketball game,’" Neumann coach Jaiden Cioffi said. "Both teams are knocking down shots, both teams are playing really good defense and causing chaos on the court."

The lead changed hands 11 times over the final three quarters, including four times in the fourth. Meadowbrook (15-8) went ahead to stay, 42-41 when Kaylee Ward drained a jumper with 2 ½ minutes remaining while earning a spot against top-seeded Lourdes in Saturday’s semifinals at Danville.

Like Neumann, Meadowbrook graduated a group of decorated seniors from last year’s state qualifier. It also faced long odds this season, featuring just two seniors and starting two freshmen. That makes this latest semifinal run especially rewarding.

"We knew where we needed to step up, and I think we did that as a team," Millett said. "It felt good. We wanted this."

"It’s good to see them get to have this experience because there were a lot of people that were saying they weren’t going to be anything," Meadowbrook coach Shane Devlin said. "These girls just bought themselves two more district games and that’s a great experience for a young team. I’ve coached here for eight years and been coaching for nearly 30 in football and baseball and at this point, my hope is the kids get the experience they’re having right now."

What an experience Neumann produced this year.

The Knights closed their season at 13-10. And with everything Neumann achieved the past two seasons, including league and district championships as well as two state quarterfinal appearances, what it did this season may be equally, possibly even more, impressive.

The Knights had just six players all season and played multiple games with only five. Through it all, Neumann kept working, kept improving and kept building on the most successful four-year run in program history. Although the Knights will not hang a championship banner, the character they revealed all season helps them leave an important, lasting legacy.

"Just to be where we are in our situation with just six players and doing this is amazing. I told the girls there is no reason to feel upset," Cioffi said. "I said, ‘You have exceeded everyone’s expectations if you couldn’t tell already.’ I just want to thank my two seniors (Niyah Tutler and Sophie Reid) for staying locked in for the entire season. They showed up every day, took it serious, and everyone worked to get better every day.”

Battling exhaustion in the fourth quarter, Neumann kept fighting and all six players scored. Tutler and Reid both scored eight points in their final games, also combining for 13 rebounds and seven steals. Tutler added seven assists; Bre Nixon scored nine points, Savana Smith eight and Kallee Johnson six with six rebounds.

Despite never being able run 5-on-5 at practices, Neumann kept growing throughout the season. Utilizing film study and showcasing a ferocious competitive drive, the Knights won their final three regular season games and came within a shot and/or play of reaching a fourth straight semifinal. Still, it is not the final outcome, but the journey which will long this 2025 Neumann squad.

"Coming into it, we knew they were a really good team," Millett said. "We knew they only had six, so we all knew they were fierce."

"There were a lot of challenges, but they battled for 32 minutes every game," Cioffi said. "The expectations were exceeded on my end and on everyone’s end."

Neumann started strong Wednesday, scoring the game’s first eight points less than three minutes in. Meadowbrook, however, rallied and held one and two-point leads, respectively, after the second and third quarters. Nixon hit a go-ahead 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter and, again put Neumann ahead, 41-40 when she took a Reid layup coast-to-coast with 2 minutes, 12 seconds remaining.

After Smith hit a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the third and after Nixon hit hers midway through the fourth, Meadowbrook freshman Megan Reed (8 points, 5 rebounds) quickly erased those leads with scores in the paint. The third time, it was fellow freshman Ward who did so, putting the Lions up, 42-41.

That set the stage for Millett who shined throughout the first half, scoring 13 points and making all but one of her six shots. She came up even bigger in the last 50 seconds, first scoring on a drive which made it 44-41 with 50 seconds left. Millett then hustled downcourt and made a steal, allowing Meadowbrook to run more clock.

Tutler made a hustling steal, and Neumann had another chance, but Millett again snuffed it out. This time, she blocked a 3-point attempt with 15 seconds left. Senior Emma George then clinched the victory, intercepting a long inbound pass as time expired.

"I knew that girl was shooting really well, and I knew they were going to get the ball to her. I don’t know how it happened, but it did," Millett said of her block. "I knew I had to step up. It helps that my teammates are always encouraging me and telling me I can do this."

Fasnacht re-injured her ankle early in the first quarter. Despite it swelling up, she returned for the start of the second quarter and continued her stellar season, making four steals and dealing three assists. Without Millett playing so well, however, Meadowbrook would not be advancing. Devlin talked with Millett earlier season after she was averaging just two shots per game and said how much the team needed her. At the perfect time, Millett received the message loud and clear.

The versatile guard was averaging 3.7 points per game, but unloaded her arsenal against Neumann, making all three of her first-half 3-pointers and scoring nearly half of her team’s points to help it go up, 28-27 at halftime. From there, the game resembled a heavyweight fight with neither team flinching, nor refusing to sacrifice their body in pursuit of victory.

"Tonight, you saw what she is capable of," Devlin said. "I was glad to see her having that kind of night."

"Both teams left it all out there. They’re bumped and bruised, and we’re bumped and bruised," Cioffi said. "It was just a really good game."

NEUMANN (41)

Niyah Tutler 3 2-6 8, Bre Nixon 4 0-0 9, Kallee Johnson 3 0-0 6, Sophie Reid 3 0-0 8, Savana Smith 3 0-0 8, Haylee Meixel 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 2-6 41.

MEADOWBROOK (44)

Madalyn Fasnacht 6 0-0 15, Hannah Millett 6 0-3 15, Kaylee Ward 1 0-0 2, Megan Reed 3 2-8 8, Emma George 1 0-0 2, Faith Lubold 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 2-11 44.

Neumann 12 15 5 9--41

Meadowbrook 10 18 6 10--44

3-pointers: Neumann 5 (Reid 2, Smith 2, Nixon); Meadowbrook 6 (Fasnacht 3, Millett 3).

Records: Meadowbrook 15-8. Neumann 13-10.

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