TOWER CITY — Williams Valley started strong and shut down Pine Grove for a 44-22 home win Monday.
Mallory Miller led Williams Valley’s offense with 17 points as they outscored Pine Grove 24-7 in the first half of a low-scoring defensive battle.
“When she (Miller) goes, we go and when she hits shots it’s contagious,” said Williams Valley coach Shane Zellers. “When she trusts her shot she’s tough.”
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Williams Valley’s Presley Shomper (2) looks to pass as Williams Valley hosts Pine Grove, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Williams Valley’s Quin Smeltz (34) dribbles the ball as Williams Valley hosts Pine Grove, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Williams Valley’s Quin Smeltz (34) takes the court as Williams Valley hosts Pine Grove, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Pine Grove’s Kendra Umbenhauer (2) dribbles down the court as Williams Valley hosts Pine Grove, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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Williams Valley’s Presley Shomper (2) looks to pass as Williams Valley hosts Pine Grove, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
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SEE FULL PHOTO GALLERY: Williams Valley girls basketball defeats Pine Grove
A Miller three gave Williams Valley a 16-5 lead just over two minutes into the second quarter. Miller hit five three-pointers while Quin Smeltz and Ireland Kasper each hit three’s.
“The packed gym was an electric environment and I try to bring the energy and it’s a great team over there,” said Zellers. “They’re (Pine Grove) making noise in Division I and we had to come out pissed off.”
Williams Valley jumped out to an 8-2 lead after back-to-back Miller three-pointers and Smeltz hit another three for the 11-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Vikings knocked down a trio of three’s in the second quarter, led by Miller’s two three-point baskets for the 16-5 lead with five minutes left in the first half.
“She (Miller) showed up big time tonight and when she doesn’t score we struggle,” said Zellers. “We’re just starting to come together and it’s a big win for us.”
Kasper hit another three and Williams Valley took a 24-7 halftime lead.
Ella Kobularik picked up the pace for the Vikings after halftime and went for three points in the third quarter while Miller also hit a three for the 36-11 lead at the end of the third.
Kasper scored four points to lead Williams Valley on an 8-6 scoring run in the fourth quarter for the 44-22 win.
Kendra Umbenhauer led Pine Grove’s offense with six points Callee Leffler added five points.
Smeltz led Williams Valley on the board with nine rebounds while Kobularik had eight rebounds and Presley Shomper added six rebounds.
“Winning a game like that and just showing the rest of the league we can play with anyone,” said Zellers. “I think we got a good confidence boost tonight.”
Pine Grove hosts the Cardinal Classic Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Williams Valley travels to Millersburg Saturday at 6 p.m.
Pine Grove 22 — Leffler 1 3-3 4, Umbenhauer 3 0-2 6, Heming 1 0-2 2, Fidler 1 0-0 3, Sampson 1 1-4 3, K. Umbenhauer 1 0-0 3, Reichert 0 0-0 0, Brown 0 0-0 0
Williams Valley 44 — Shomper 1 0-0 2, Kobularik 3 1-3 7, Miller 5 2-2 17, Koppenhaver 0 0-0 0, Smeltz 4 0-0 9, Kasper 2 2-2 7, Starnowsky 0 0-0 0, Readinger 0 0-0 0
