BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
Few teams have had a run as dominant as NEB girls’ hoops has had through their division the past six seasons. And while the outgoing group of seniors didn’t start the run, they made sure it didn’t end on their watch, either.
“I guess it’s just become our thing to win the league,” said senior Lillie Maynard. “It was handed to us when we started playing so it’s kind of our obligation to keep it going. Not winning it is kind of out of the question.”
The first couple of seasons Maynard, Lilah Hughes, and Becca VanDeMark were along for the ride, but they’ve put their stamp on the team the last two years.
“It feels great that all the effort we have put in has paid off,” said VandeMark. “It’s also cool that we have been a part of this for four years.”
“It’s so exciting that we get to be apart of it now,” added Hughes. “You’re always kind of a part of it but being able to really impact the game after watching great players before you do it is so full-circle.”
The three have been through a lot, including an NTL Showdown title, and a district championship game last year. But this year they’re going for broke.
“The biggest difference is knowing that this is my last year with my team,” VandeMark said. “I definitely am going to miss them. However aside from that this year has not felt that different. We have continued working hard and playing hard every year.”
After a strong first half of the season they hit a bump with losses to Athens, Towanda, and Canton, something they’re hoping to put behind them as they move into postseason play.
“I think we kind of stopped playing as a team after the loss to Athens and we haven’t really figured out why,” said Maynard. “With Leah Beebe being hurt and only able to play some games down the stretch it requires some of the younger girls to get more minutes and they just haven’t had much experience so it makes it harder to all come together and play how we usually do. We also have had back to back to back games which means we have no time to just get in the gym and work like we could at the beginning of the season, and that is tough on us.”
Since that loss to Canton they’ve won three straight to end the regular as they prepare for their NTL Showdown game with Towanda.
“These last few games have been really fun with my two girls,” said VandeMark. “We have just been enjoying the game and trying not to focus on the end or the pressure.”
Beating teams like Bloomsburg - a state qualifier a year ago in Class AAA - and CV - a playoff team this year - should get them back on track.
“This was a good win that I think will really boost the morale of the team,” said Hughes. “I feel like in post-season play, the mental aspect of the game is even more heightened. We’ve only gotten this title because we play as a team, so we know if we want to keep moving forward we need to trust each other and keep our heads.”
While NTL play has been a boom for them, success at the district level has been elusive. Class AA has been tough through the years, and they’ve gotten closer to that district title - reaching the third place game twice, and the finals a year ago.
“We want to leave it all out there,” Hughes said. “My biggest goal is just to leave nothing unfinished, no matter how the post-season goes I don’t want to have any regrets about my last year.”
Regardless of how it ends, it has certainly had an impact on all three of players, particularly Lillie, who has gotten to play alongside her sister Mallorie the last two years, with this year both of them starting.
“It is definitely emotional for me especially because I know our time on the court together is winding down,” Maynard said. “I am very grateful to have a hardworking sister that earned herself a starting spot her sophomore year to be able to play with me for my senior year. I know it makes my family proud to watch us dominate together, she makes me very proud every game, and I hope I make her proud as well. Winning the league with her by my side is just an added bonus.”
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PHOTO BY TINA MAYNARD
