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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
There will be a sense of deja vu at the Altoona Area High School Fieldhouse tonight at 7 p.m. when Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic takes on Williamsburg in a PIAA Class 1A girls basketball semifinal game and not just because the teams have met in the last two District 6 championship games.
"That's where my last game was, so it's kind of funny," Williamsburg coach Amy Hileman said. "I'm looking forward to it. Our fans, their fans, it will be just like 1993, but hopefully we can turn it around this time."
Hileman is referring to her senior year when the Lady Blue Pirates topped the Lady Marauders in the District 6 championship game before BG got revenge in the PIAA semifinals, 57-49, and went on to win a PIAA championship.
"We played at Saint Francis in the District 6 game, and there were so many fans there that they had to bring out seats on the sides to be able to accommodate everybody," Hileman said. "It was just amazing, the atmosphere. It was the most people I remember being out for games back then. We have a huge community following now that's completely awesome, but it was unbelievable. That's what I have always hoped to help my players achieve, playing in that atmosphere with everybody supporting you and wanting you to do well. BG had a good following as well."
Bishop Guilfoyle did it again the next year, beating Williamsburg, 60-44, in the semis after losing the district title game but lost in the state final.
Williamsburg finally made it to the state championship game in 1995 but lost before once again being upset by the team it beat in the District 6 title game, Bishop Carroll, in the 1996 state semifinals, 45-42. The Lady Blue Pirates finally put everything together in 1997 to win their only state championship, 55-43, over Marian Catholic.
Tonight, Williamsburg is the District 6 runner-up and BG is the champion, and the Lady Pirates are hoping to turn the tables on their history.
"It definitely is ironic," Hileman said. "That just goes to show you how good basketball is out of District 6. It's funny how the stars align and things happen that way and you're back 31 years again. I was just thinking that today that my kid is going to be replaying my footsteps is just weird."
Hileman's daughter, Ayla, is one of very few seniors who will play a big role in tonight's game. Ayla Hileman, along with fellow starting senior Laney Prough and reserve Claire Carper are the only seniors for Williamsburg, and BG's only senior, Sarah Geishauser, has missed the entire season with an injury.
"(Geishauser is) just a phenomenal kid, and the level of comfort she brings, even having her on the bench, she's always the first kid jumping up to celebrate someone," Bishop Guilfoyle coach Kristi Kaack said. "She will try to pick up a kid when she knows they need it. While it's absolutely heartbreaking that she hasn't been able to be on the floor with us all year, she has still has a really big impact on helping this young team get to where they are today."
Despite the youth of the players who will be on the court tonight, there is plenty of star power. BG freshmen Maurie Querry and Morgan Ruggery have established themselves as high-powered scorers, and sophomore LeeAnna Royer and freshman Levada Gorsuch are budding stars for the Lady Blue Pirates.
"It definitely looks like we will both have good teams going forward," Hileman said. "There should be pretty good competition between the two of us. What's neat is that you have all of us that played in the 90s have our kids coming up through the program. I went into working with the elementary program when my boys were in elementary school, and that was with the hopes and dreams of things working out where we had state playoff runs and getting to maybe be state champions."
Hileman reflected on some of the stars she played with and against in the 90s.
"That was when Michele Taddei, Liz Runk, Jade Consiglio, Kelly Adams played for BG and for Williamsburg my sister Abby (Hoy), Jill Tate, Tracy Houck and Janell Loose played," Hileman said.
Kaack, who played at Altoona and played her college basketball at Duquesne, wasn't aware of the rivalry until she began coaching at Bishop Guilfoyle.
"The first time we played Williamsburg in 2021, Coach (Rich) Consiglio gave me the history of Williamsburg and Bishop Guilfoyle," Kaack said. "When I was growing up, it wasn't something I knew a lot about, but obviously now that I have been coaching at BG for six years, I have caught up with all of it."
Kaack thinks the memories of the past will add to tonight's game.
"It's kind of wild," Kaack said. "The history between both schools intensifies and hypes up the excitement of the game. I know both teams are really excited about the opportunity that we have to play each other, especially with the chance to go to a state championship on the line."
Bishop Guilfoyle won both the regular season matchups. The first went in BG's favor, 41-37, at Pleasant Valley gymnasium, but Ayla Hileman didn't play as she was still recovering from her offseason ACL injury. The second, with all players healthy, came at Mount Aloysius in the District 6 final. Williamsburg led at halftime, but BG rallied for a 46-42 win.
"I keep telling my kids to stay hungry and not be satisfied with what they have done so far," Kaack said. "So far, on a big stage, they have performed really well."
The Lady Pirates know they will have to make some adjustments.
"We have to play good defense," Royer said. "We have to drive and execute our offense to get shots and open looks. It's going to be crazy with all our fans there and the community all together there for us."
Fans of Wyomissing and Blackhawk, who will play at the AAHS Fieldhouse at 5:30 p.m. before BG and Williamsburg, might have trouble finding seats.
"I would be very disappointed if the whole town of Williamsburg wasn't out at the game," Hileman said. "The game (Saturday) was the talk of the town. People are super excited, and when I see anybody they say they'll see me Tuesday."
Kaack expects the crowd to rival those she played in front of in high school.
"The last time I remember a gym being completely packed was when we saw Oakland Catholic my senior year," Kaack said. "There wasn't a seat to be had. We expect that gym is going to be extremely full and that it's going to be loud. But for girls basketball, I think that's going to be a really fun environment for the kids to play in."
Williamsburg is playing in its second PIAA semifinal in the last three years and lost to eventual PIAA champion Union Area in the quarterfinals last year. Those runs have reestablished the Lady Pirates as a state power in 1A girls basketball.
"It just comes down to the hard work and dedication from the kids," Hileman said. "They are the ones that put the time in and work at their game yearound," Hileman said. "I always wanted to help them love the sport. I have always loved the sport. I love still trying to attempt to play the sport, but I'm so proud of what the groups of girls have accomplished the last five years. We are very blessed to have an opportunity to be a state contender."
Either way, District 6 will be represented in Friday's state championship game in Hershey's Giant Center at noon against either Mountain View or Greenwood.
"I think just to see where girls basketball is going, especially in the area, I'm really excited about it," Kaack said. "We are two teams that play a little faster, more exciting style but can also really defend and grind out wins in big games. I think it's going to be a really great game to watch."