PVI girls
The Panthers pose with their hardware after their victory over STAB Saturday afternoon at Benedictine.

Paul VI girls win 16th straight state championship, 67-56

St. Anne’s Belfield, talented and hungry for a state title and coming off big wins against Potomac School and Bishop Ireton, had as good a chance to stop Paul VI’s string of VISAA championships as anyone in recent years. Saturday at Benedictine, the Saints’ star player, Kymora “Mo” Johnson dropped 32 points and…

It didn’t matter.

Junior center Laura Williams had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and senior Brooke Batchelor canned four three-pointers as Paul VI prevailed 67-56 to win its 16th straight VISAA Division I title.

The only blemish on the string remains from a few years ago, when Paul VI didn’t participate in a watered-down invitational that was held in lieu of a tournament due to COVID. The Panthers haven’t lost to an actual opponent in a VISAA Tournament game since before its players were born–or when they were infants.

“In an intense game like this, we’ve been in so many of these throughout the season, that our kids played with a sense of composure toward the end,” said PVI coach Scott Allen. “I think our schedule really helped us come through with a win today because when you think about the games we just played–McNamara, the buzzer-beater versus Ireton, this is all year long. The perseverance of these kids is amazing.”

Early on it was PVI’s trademark defense that set the tone. The Panthers made a concerted effort to wall off Johnson, with the tall Williams as their last line of defense. Johnson was only 1-8 from the field in the first quarter thanks in large part to Williams, who blocked at least three shots early on. After one quarter it was 10-5 PVI.

Laura Williams and Riley Hamburger (right) work to seal off STAB star Kymora Johnson.
Laura Williams and Riley Hamburger (right) work to seal off STAB star Kymora Johnson.

“When you’re playing against a kid like Mo Johnson and you’re on your heels the entire time, you try to just pick whatever you can to take away,” Allen said.

With the inside walled off mainly through the efforts of Williams and sophomore Riley Hamburger, who guarded Johnson directly, Belfield adjusted by shooting more from outside. Johnson, their senior standout headed to play at the University of Virginia, started to heat up as well. The game stayed close, within one or two possessions, for most of the second and third quarters.

As STAB (27-2) started to heat up on offense, so did PVI. Williams was dominant inside on offense as well as defense, following misses up and getting to the free throw line, making all ten of her attempts. Batchelor’s three-pointers were back-breaking–it seemed like every time the Saints were ready to make a run, she had an answer.

Brooke Batchelor's bombs were back-breaking. She had 17 points.
Brooke Batchelor’s bombs were back-breaking. She had 18 points.

“How about Laura’s free throws? I don’t think she missed a free throw,” said Allen, laughing. “I mean, Brooke Batchelor missed her free throws but can make it from thirty feet–I’ll take both.”

Williams, a high-Division I prospect who used to mostly just provide defense and rebounding for her team, has embraced and excelled at her growing role as a focal point in the Paul VI offense.

“I’m learning to step up when I need to,” said Williams. “I knew that STAB was one of the best teams in the country so we were going to have to come out and do our best. That’s why I did it for my coach, my team, my family, everybody.”

“Before the game I was nervous, but once I stepped on the court and got into my rhythm there was no pressure.”

PVI center Laura Williams was dominant on both offense and defense in the victory.
PVI center Laura Williams was dominant on both offense and defense in the victory.

The Panthers (23-10) stretched their lead to double figures late, but it took all their composure to hold off Belfield. The Saints’ downfall was probably their inability to do damage inside. While they did bury eight three-pointers on the afternoon, they could do next-to-nothing inside against Williams and the rest of the PVI defense. The Panthers got to the line 21 times, while the Saints only shot three free throws all day.

Junior Sadie Shores added 11 points and senior Louis Volker 10 for Paul VI. The victory was sweet for the entire team, but possible sweetest for Allen. Though he is no stranger to winning championships, Allen missed last year’s title victory as he cared for his ailing mother out of state. She’s feeling much better now, as is Allen.

“It’s one of the best ones,” Allen said after being asked where this championship ranked for him amongst all the others. “I went through so much last year with my mom and everything…but to be back here and come back here with a group like this and get a state championship…it’s just incredible.”

“I’m so proud of these kids.”

–Chris Jollay

all stats are unofficial

PAUL VI FG FT TP REB AST
BATCHELOR 7-12 0-2  18  5  2
HAMBURGER 3-4 0-1  6  2  3
WILLIAMS 6-9 10-10  22  13  3
VOLKER 4-12 2-3  10  4  3
SHORES 3-9 4-5  11  7  3
Kunzwiler 0-1 0-0  0  1  0
TOTALS 23-47 16-21  67  32  14
Threes: Batchelor 4-5, Shores 1-2, Hamburger 0-1               Kunzwiler 0-1
STAB FG FT TP REB AST
LEWIS 2-11 0-0  6   2   1
GAMENI 1-3 0-0  2   3   0
JOHNSON 13-29 2-3  32   6   3
RICE 3-5 0-0  6   3   0
KILKOIL 2-4 0-0  4   2   0
Burruss 2-7 0-0  6   0   0
Williams 0-1 0-0  0   3   0
Branch 0-1 0-0  0   1   1
Delmore 0-0 0-0  0   1   0
TOTALS 23-61 2-3  56  21   5
Threes: Johnson 4-12, Lewis 2-7, Burruss 2-7, Rice 0-1