Make it back-to-back District 3-AAAA girls’ basketball championships for Wilson, which took the long way to this year’s title.
Back on Jan. 11, the Bulldogs were 6-7, scuffling and searching for answers.
Wilson hasn’t lost since.
The Bulldogs made it 16 wins in a row, and back-to-back titles, when they knocked off Dover in the championship game.
To put a bow on the tournament, here’s our all-star list, with an MVP plus five players who also enjoyed a standout two-week stretch …
DISTRICT 3-AAAA TOURNAMENT MVP
OK, so the Eagles didn’t quite soar to a district championship. But they won their first YAIAA championship before jetting to the D3 finale. And a lot of that had to do with Hall, who was simply scintillating — and un-guardable — during Dover’s run.
The cat-quick point guard was seemingly everywhere — picking pockets on defense, running the break and dribble-driving to the hoop, taking on the trees in the paint.
Her point totals: 17 vs. Exeter in the first round and 18 vs. Lebanon in the quarterfinals, and then two dynamic performances on the Giant Center’s court: 22 vs. Cumberland Valley and 20 against Wilson in the title tilt.
Hall wore out a path to the foul line in those four games, going 29-for-45 from the stripe, including 14-for-18 against Cumberland Valley in an unforgettable semi.
A runner-up finish, yes. But Hall popped in 19.3 points, was a whirling dervish, and made a lot of new fans around the district.
DISTRICT 3-AAAA ALL-STARS
Carley Brew, senior, Wilson — Bulldogs’ James Madison recruit was rock-solid in the paint, averaging 15.8 points. Most memorable moments: 21 points in the opener vs. CD East; 19 points and 11 boards in the semis vs. Manheim Township; and 15 points and nine rebounds in the finale vs. Dover.
Alex Leslie, senior, Manheim Township — University of Rochester recruit was up to her old tricks, scoring at will and plucking rebounds in the low post while helping the Blue Streaks earn the No. 1 seed and finish fourth in the bracket. Leslie averaged 15.5 points, including 18 points in the third-place game vs. Cumberland Valley in a matchup of two state-ranked teams. Stupendous season for Leslie, who is in the mix for L-L League MVP honors, no doubt.
Avery Marz, senior, Wilson — Terrific floor general and fancy ball-handler was the Bulldogs’ catalyst. And when push came to shove in the title game vs. Dover, the St. Joe’s recruit set the tempo and forced Hall and Dover to play catch-up. Averaged 13.5 points in the tournament, including 15 points in the clincher; her 3 and fast-break flush opened the third quarter, giving Wilson the spark it needed to finish off Dover.
Maddie Torresin, senior, Cumberland Valley — Played like a champ in her final district tournament, averaging 15.8 points with seven 3s. Highlights were 18 points and three steals in a win over Red Lion in the quarterfinals, and then 19 points and three treys in the third-place game win over Manheim Township. Next up for the University of Maryland-Baltimore County recruit and the Eagles: Trying to get back to the PIAA-AAAA state-championship game for the second year in a row; tricky opener on Friday vs. state-ranked Central Bucks West at 5 p.m. at CD East.
Kaitlyn Van Tash, senior, Manheim Township — Teamed with Leslie to help the top-seeded Blue Streaks claim fourth place in the bracket, after opening the season with an incredible 27-0 run. Van Tash, who recently committed to Lebanon Valley College to play hoops, bucketed 15.5 points in four games, including 16 in a win over Mid-Penn Keystone champ Mechanicsburg in the quarterfinals, and a game-high 19 points vs. Cumberland Valley in the bronze-medal game.