Avery Smithburger of Waterford, right, Alyssa Bart of Williamstown will defend during Saturday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo: Patricia Miller)
WATERFORD – Waterford Wildcat seniors Avery Wagner, Kendall Thuley and Avery Smithburger were perfect for winning the final match at the Harry W. Cooper Annex.
After all, the senior trio had already won 87 wins in the outstanding Waterford career that began with winning a state championship in their freshman season.
On Saturday night, the Wildcats celebrated the senior night and then went to fight against the very good Williamstown Yellow Jackets team.
Waterford improved to 20-1 in the season with a 40-33 victory.
Wildcat seniors should prove as a great adjustment for the postseason of a pair of teams who are expected to combine 31 of their team’s 40 points to make a strong tournament run.
On the left, Brinley Potmeyer of Waterford will move the ball as Williamstown’s Macaela Bundy during Saturday’s match at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo: Patricia Miller)
“It was definitely emotional. It was the last time I’d play on this floor.” Wagner said. “There was a girl I played with in the stands and Coach Close had to give his little speech, but when it comes to game time, you have to lock in and get it done.
Early on in the momentum was on the side of the visitors as Williamstown took a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The jacket was lit up from the outside as Quin Bunch knocked down Gracie Montgomery with another pair in the first quarter.
Williamstown also got off to a great start in the second quarter when post-player Faith Pickens retreated and dug up the triple to push the Yellow Jackets lead to a nine.
The Wildcats went scoreless in the first three minutes of the second quarter, before Smithberger’s two-pointer.
The bucket was obtained a two-pointer by freshman Brinley Pottmeyer, which seemed to have been fired a bit under the cat and steal and finish on the other side by junior Chila Ponchuck.
Wagner closed out his 8-0 wildcat run by coming up with one of the three steels in the game and cashing it on the other side, cutting the lead to one point.
The Pickens closed the first half with a pair of free throws and sent visitors to a break with a 19-16 lead.
“We really did size up with them and it was a really intense game.” Three said. “It felt like a tournament game. It’s good to learn how to deal with pressure in these close-up games.”
Wagner kicked off the second half with a two-pointer for Jerry Close’s Wildcats, but Montgomery rang the bell from a long distance to bring the Yellow Jacket’s lead back to four points.
The Wildcats have not taken a lead in the game since the opening minute, but they went back ahead as they ran 7-0 to close the third quarter.
Three began running with the bucket inside with Ava Harley assists by knocking down what turns out to be the only three-pointer in the Wildcats and Smithburger game.
Wagner then found an open pot Meyer under the basket. It’s the same as the Wildcats had a three-point lead heading into the final eight minutes of play.
The cat was able to build a lead of more than five minutes for more than five minutes, but the visitors quickly attacked.
The Pickens’ strong movement inside gave him a classic three-point play, with the next two “jacket possessions giving Williamstown a one-point advantage with two free throws each for Alyssa Bert. I gave it.
Wagner’s two-pointers temporarily brought Waterford back, but the Yellowjackets answered with Burt’s two-pointers, playing a 33-32 lead in just over two minutes.
Unfortunately, “For Jackets head coach Danny Bunch and his team, that will be the final point they will score in the game.
Three has worked on so many big plays in her career at Waterford, and she hits again as she drove hard into the bucket and finished with her left hand to bring the white and green back forward.
Williamstown couldn’t buy a bucket in the minutes of closing, and the experienced Wildcats looked after the business with charity stripes to ensure a fierce battle victory.
Wagner led the Wildcats’ path with 14 points and nine rebounds, with the three adding 13.
Smithberger tipped in with 4 points and 5 rebounds.
“It was a real fight and a really good way to get things done with Cooper.” Smithburger said. “We didn’t have to play them before, but we were always hoping we’d win the state with them in West Virginia and we’d win.”
Wagner prepares to open tournament play next week, so he felt the game would be a real test for the Wildcats.
“They’re a good team and they have a good size, so it was definitely a good game to get into the tournament.” Wagner said. “They’re such a talented team, but this was the last time they’ve played on this floor, so they knew they had to win.”
The night was special for Sally, seeing more special nights and hoping for more.
“We’re working well together on the court. We have that fuss that we always have.” Three said. “I feel like I’m in tournaments. If we just play games by game, I think we’ll go far.”
Finishing the TVC title and 20-win season, the Wildcats have one goal left. That’s going back to Dayton in March.
“I’m sure we’re ready for the postseason.” Smithburger said. “This was a great game to prepare us for it.”
Jackets (14-5) led by the Pickens scored at 13, with Burt adding eight points and nine boards.
Bunch and Montgomery both added six points, knocking down a pair of three pointers.
The Wildcats will test one more time before playoff time when they visited Sutton Gymnasium to take on the undefeated Marietta Tigers on Tuesday evening.
