Less than 24 hours after the Winters Mill boys basketball team clinched its spot in the regional final, several players returned to the gym Tuesday night to watch the girls try to do the same.
“It was nice to have a filled student section for a playoff game,” Falcons guard Hannah Neske said. “We haven’t had that here in a hot minute.”
Neske and the Falcons delivered, dominating Hereford with a wire-to-wire 40-22 victory in a Class 2A North Region I semifinal. Winters Mill will face Manchester Valley for the third time this season in Thursday’s regional final.
“My team came out very aggressive,” Winters Mill coach Jordan Neville-Witte said. “I’m really proud of what they did.”
The marquee matchup entering the game was in the paint. Winters Mill’s Cielo Balsamo squared off against Hereford’s Shea Kanning, who led the Bulls to the Class 2A state title game last season. While that battle drew attention, it was Neske’s performance on the perimeter that ultimately made the difference.
“I felt like my confidence was really high going into this game,” Neske said. “I played awesome.”
Winters Mill seized control early with a 13-0 run. The Falcons did not allow a basket until four seconds remained in the first quarter, capping an exceptional defensive stretch.
They denied entry passes to Kanning and sent relentless pressure at Hereford’s ball-handlers, speeding up the tempo and forcing uncomfortable possessions.
“They did their job on the press,” Neville-Witte said. “We controlled the game and stepped up from a rebounding perspective. We made that team feel absolutely flustered.”
That defensive intensity opened the door for Neske to take command. She scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the first half. When Hereford shifted into a 2-3 zone, Neske found soft spots along the perimeter, slipping into the corner for open looks and pushing the lead into double digits.
Show Caption1 of 11Cielo Balsamo drives the lane during a playoff basketball game at Winters Mill High School. (Thomas Walker/Freelance)Expand
After a brief Hereford run in the second half, Neske the facilitator appeared. Following steals and defensive rebounds, she ignited the break, pushing the ball ahead to Balsamo, Riley Haskins and Alexis Imbraguglio for easy finishes inside.
“The thing that makes her special is that she has an extremely high IQ.” Neville-Witte said. “She knows the appropriate times to make the read and when to settle and stay disciplined.”
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The lead ballooned to 20, drawing loud approval from the boys basketball players seated in the student section across from the home team bench.
Next up is a third meeting with county champion Manchester Valley. The Mavericks won the first two matchups, a 39-37 thriller in December and a 43-29 victory a month later. With a regional title on the line, Nevelle-White kept the message simple, echoing the same approach her team displayed Tuesday night as she looks ahead to another shot at talking down the county’s top squad.
“We understand that we just have to play our game.” Neville-Witte said. “Be calm with your mind, but fast with your body. Take that deep breath and then make the adjustment we need to be successful.”
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Class 2A North Region I semifinal: No.2 Winters Mill 40, No.3 Hereford 22
WM- Hannah Neske 17, Alexis Imbraguglio 9, Cielo Balsamo 6, Riley Haskins 4, Riley Hollinger 2, Lily Jillson 2
H- Grace O’Reilly 10, Shea Kanning 4, Aliya Davis 2, Keegan Elser 2, Maya Kopajtic 2, Hannah Shedahah 2,
