Williams Valley head coach Shane Zellers celebrates with players Ella Kobularik and Quin Smeltz after the Vikings defeated Shenandoah Valley in Tuesday's District 11 Class AA girls' semifinal at Martz Hall (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

Kobularik’s defensive play propels Vikings past Devils

POTTSVILLE — Ella Kobularik earned a free dinner Tuesday night.

The Williams Valley girls’ basketball team has an intersquad challenge that whoever gets the most rebounds in a game gets to eat for free after the game.

Kobularik easily earned that free meal Tuesday, pulling down 11 rebounds and controlling the paint as the Vikings outlasted Shenandoah Valley 31-19 in a District 11 Class AA girls’ semifinal at Martz Hall.

The victory advances defending district champion Williams Valley (17-6) to Friday’s District 11 championship game against Marian, a 59-30 winner over Lincoln Leadership, at 6 p.m. at Martz Hall.

That game is a rematch of last year’s district final, which Williams Valley won 34-30. The win also advances both the Vikings and the Fillies to the PIAA Tournament.

“We have an intersquad challenge … whoever gets the most rebounds gets a free dinner,” said Kobularik, a 5-foot-10 senior. “Free dinner for me tonight, I guess.”

Kobularik’s play in the middle of Williams Valley’s zone was a key factor in the Vikings’ defensive dominance of the Blue Devils (11-12).

Shenandoah Valley shot 1-for-8 from the field in the first quarter and 3-for-15 for the first half while committing 10 turnovers.

Williams Valley didn’t shoot much better, going 2-for-12 in the first quarter and 5-for-25 in the first half, but an 8-0 spurt midway through the second period that included back-to-back 3-pointers by Ireland Kasper and Quin Smeltz gave the Vikings a 13-6 halftime lead.

For the game, Shenandoah Valley shot 8-for-34 and committed 14 turnovers.

“We knew we had to keep it packed in,” Kobularik said of Williams Valley’s defense. “Their big (Jocelyn Chagolla), the second time we faced them, she pretty much dominated. No. 3, (Gianna) Donovan, we had to get a hand on her.

“We had our assignments, we knew what we had to do, and we executed.”

Williams Valley broke the game open in the third quarter, opening the second half on a 6-0 run that featured a jumper by Smeltz and two long jumpers by freshman Presley Shomper.

Shomper, playing at Martz Hall for the first time, led Williams Valley in scoring with 11 points. The third-quarter spurt gave the Vikings a 19-6 lead and Williams Valley led by double digits the rest of the game.

“We challenged them. We wanted to force Shenandoah to shoot the ball from the outside,” Williams Valley coach Shane Zellers said. “We challenged them the last two weeks at practice. (Shenandoah) was going to move the ball, get the ball into the middle … and we can’t allow that.

“They responded … from the top girls Mal and Presley down to Quin, Ella and Ireland. That’s the type of movement we need. We need to move as one.

“I’m proud of the girls. They executed.”

Kasper finished with eight points and seven rebounds for Williams Valley. Gianna Donovan had 11 points for Shenandoah Valley, nailing three second-half 3-pointers.

The key for Williams Valley, however, was its effort on the boards. The Vikings held the Devils to one shot and done most of the game, with Kobularik leading the way inside.

Kobularik also was the Vikings’ main ballhandler against Shenandoah Valley’s press, not letting the Devils get easy baskets off turnovers.

“Give Ella a lot of credit,” Zellers said. “She handled the ball through that pressure all game long.

“She doesn’t get the credit … but she’s not here for the credit. Offensively, she missed a couple of peepers around the rim, but it didn’t affect her game defensively. She still rebounded, she still defended at a high level. That’s what makes Ella, Ella.”

District 11 Class AA Semifinal

At Martz Hall

SHENANDOAH VALLEY (19) — Troutman 0 0-0 0, Donovan 4 0-0 11, Chagolla 3 0-4 6, Monaghan 1 0-0 2, Li. Salguero 0 0-2 0. Totals 8 0-6 19.

WILLIAMS VALLEY (31) — Shomper 5 0-0 11, Kobularik 1 0-0 2, Miller 1 2-2 4, Smeltz 2 1-2 6, Kasper 3 0-0 8. Totals 12 3-4 31.

3-point FGs: Donovan 3, Shomper, Smeltz, Kasper 2

Officials: Merwine, Shinkus, Ji. Misstishin

Marian 59, Lincoln Leadership 30

ORWIGSBURG — Addy Marek netted a game-high 21 points as Marian rolled past Lincoln Leadership in a District 11 Class AA girls’ semifinal at Blue Mountain High School.

The victory sets up a rematch with Williams Valley for the District 11 Class AA title Friday at 6 p.m. at Martz Hall. The win also qualifies Marian for the PIAA Tournament.

The Fillies (14-10) used a strong second quarter to break things open against Lincoln Leadership, outscoring the Lions 14-2 to turn a four-point first-quarter edge into a commanding 28-12 halftime lead. Marian extended the margin in the third with an 18-point frame and cruised the rest of the way.

DeAnna Pugh added 18 points for the Fillies, going 8-for-10 at the foul line. Brooke Hannis-Miskar chipped in nine points, knocking down three 3-pointers.

Lincoln Leadership (13-9) was paced by Jocelyn Fuentes’ nine points.

District 11 Class AA Semifinal

At Blue Mountain HS

LINCOLN LEADERSHIP (30) — Taylor 2 0-0 4, K. Morales 0 0-0 0, DeJesus 1 0-0 2, Hamilton 0 0-0 0, Landis 1 0-0 2, Martinez 0 0-0 0, Sampson 1 1-5 3, Heregan 1 0-0 2, Fields 1 2-2 4, Rivera 2 0-0 4, Zapata 0 0-0 0, Fuentes 3 0-0 9, A. Morales 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 3-7 30.

MARIAN (59) — Pugh 4 8-10 18, Minzola 3 2-3 8, Hannis-Miskar 3 0-0 9, Knock 0 1-2 1, Kwon 0 0-0 0, Decosmo 1 0-0 2, Marek 8 4-13 21. Totals 19 15-28 59.

3-point FGs: Fuentes 3, Pugh 2, Hannis-Miskar 3, Marek

Officials: Scheeler, Bulka, Cooper