The semifinal showdown between Henderson and Unionville was an adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster from the opening whistle to the final buzzer! Elle Johnson came out on fire, scoring seven points in the first quarter to help stake the Longhorns to a 15-10 lead after one. They kept that advantage through the second as Johnson notched eight of their 11 points in the frame as Unionville led by ten at the break.
At halftime, Henderson coach Greta Neff found her team trailing the Longhorns. Seeking a spark, she turned to her assistant coach Amy Buda, a former teammate from their West Chester University days, hoping for some insight to reverse their fortunes.
The strategy was CLEAR and SIMPLE: score and defend.
The Warriors executed the plan flawlessly, staging a remarkable second-half comeback to secure a 45-38 win over Unionville and a spot in the Championship showdown.
Henderson pitched a shutout in the third quarter, holding Unionville scoreless while staging an impressive 17-0 run. This turnaround completely shifted the momentum of the game. The Warriors capitalized on eight Longhorn turnovers and saw contributions from four different players on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Unionville struggled, managing only six shot attempts compared to Henderson’s 13, of which six found the net.
The third quarter began with Whitney Evans notching a score, bringing the tally to 26-19. Evans then leveled the score at 26-26 with a successful free throw at the 3:23 mark. Jackie Shea secured the lead for Henderson with an uncontested layup. The highlight was a momentum-swinging 3-pointer by sophomore guard Bailey Schalleur, extending Henderson’s lead to 33-26 heading into the final period.
“That 3 was huge,” Neff said. “She’s so hot and cold but she’s hit some really big shots for us this year. We joke she’s like everybody’s little sibling, but she makes kids laugh and she keeps it light, and she gets out there and the girl hustles her butt off. Seeing her get rewarded with a big basket like that is really cool.”
In the final quarter, Schalleur stepped up, sinking two crucial foul shots that helped Henderson keep a seven-point lead with just 36 seconds remaining, sealing the victory. Evans was also clutch from the free-throw line, making all four of her attempts in the fourth quarter. However, as a team, Henderson struggled with free throws, converting only 12 out of 23 attempts throughout the game.
While Evans led the charge for the Warriors with 17 points and Shea demonstrated all-around prowess with seven points, eight rebounds, and four assists, it was the collective effort that made the difference. Other players in the rotation stepped up at crucial moments, providing valuable support.
Despite a stellar 20-point effort from junior Elle Johnson, Unionville couldn’t overcome Henderson’s relentless second-half defense, committing a total of 17 turnovers. Johnson’s performance lacked the necessary support to challenge Henderson’s dominance.
“We got an opportunity to pressure a little bit more,” Neff said. “We’ve been much better this season when we can pressure the ball full court. Getting Jackie back out there underneath the basket to protect the paint is huge. The girls just kind of took it personally.”
In her tenth year at the helm of Henderson’s girls’ basketball team, Neff has experienced success before. In 2018, she led the Warriors to their first Ches-Mont championship. With players like Grace Ferguson and Abbey Shea, they boasted an impressive 30-1 record, clinching both league and district titles. Riding a 13-game winning streak, the Warriors are poised to make another strong push for the title under Neff’s guidance.
Tuesday’s Championship game against neighborhood rival West Chester East is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at Hollinger.
“It feels great, it’s surreal,” said Evans. “This is great to go all the way to the championship. It’s kind of been our story since the beginning (of the season). If we’re down, we always fight. We just keep going. Second half is really our game. We buckle down, make good passes, play defense, everything.”
