Walhalla Rallies To Defeat St. Joseph’s 47-41 To Earn AAA Upper State Girl’s Title

Billy Baker • March 2, 2025

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Walhalla Coach Bryon Wimphrie and his team Captains.

By Billy G. Baker

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Florence—After the St. Joseph’s girls’ basketball team took a 9-1 lead, after the first period over HSSR number two ranked Walhalla, fans in the Florence Civic Center, with the AAA upper state title on the line, were surely thinking that an upset might be in progress on February, 28.

However, like Popeye taking a gulp of spinach, the Lady Razorbacks, with a loud student section cheering them on, out-scored their foe 18-5 in the second period to secure a 19-14 lead at the half as they went on to claim a hard-fought 47-41 win.

Walhalla (26-3) will now take on Dillon (23-2) in the AAA girl’s finals at the Florence Civic Center on March, 6 at 6 p.m. Dillon won a thriller over Oceanside Collegiate, 59-57 to advance after they had trailed by 10 points at the half.

After the game, Walhalla head coach Byron Wimphrie shared his thoughts with the HSSR. “I think our poor start was attributed to nerves but I was proud of our second quarter recovery,” said Coach Wimphrie. “St. Joseph’s is a well-coached team and they had a good game plan against us.

“I am very proud of the play of Kami Roach tonight and her 21 points she scored,” said Coach Wimphire. “I have enjoyed coaching her since the 8th grade and she has one more year left in our program. It was a complete team effort truly. I felt like the key for us was stepping up our defense in the second quarter and that seemed to help us be more productive on offense also.”

Coach Wimphrie said he scouted the Dillon team earlier in the day. “They are quick, athletic and they press teams very well,” he said. “We are looking forward for the opportunity of playing them in the state finals.”

St. Joseph’s head coach Natalie Satterfield was on point about her team’s close loss. “Every year we make a deep run in the playoffs, and get to the upper state finals, and after we lose, we keep talking about how young we are,” said Coach Satterfield. “Honesty, we are still young. I didn’t have a senior on the floor tonight. We started a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors.

“Our two captains are juniors Tiffany Helmer and Lola Kelly and they are our two captains who provide a lot of leadership,” said Coach Satterfield. “They will be back next year.” (Helmer earned all-state honors from the Coaches Association this season).

Coach Satterfield also said her two starting guards having three fouls in the first half effected how much pressing she did in the second half.

Five different players scored for St. Josephs in the first period. Stella Nash scored on a three-bounce pass assist to start the game. Lola Kelly next scored on a running lay-up, and then freshman prospect Evie Adams bombed a three-point shot from the left elbow to make it a 7-1 game with 1:27 left in the opening period. Then Emi Reese and and Brianna Armocida each hit one free throw to make it 9-1 entering the second period.

Walhalla turned up the heat on their defense in the second period. Junior guard Kami Roach spear-headed the rally making two free throws, a three-point shot, and then going coast-to-coast after a steal to make a basket that put Walhalla up 17-14 . Ashlyn Frick scored off of a steal to close out the first half with just two seconds on the clock.

The second half of the game was highly competitive. Walhalla took a 30-26 lead into the final quarter. St. Joseph’s began the third period scoring two straight baskets by Kelly and Adams made a lay-up to give St. Joseph’s a 21-19 lead at the 4:48 mark.

Annie Campbell then tied the score at 21 for Walhalla on a basket at the 4:12 mark. After Roach gave Walhalla a 30-24 lead late in the period with consecutive baskets, Armocida made a lay-up with 19 seconds left in the period to make the score 30-26 entering the fourth period.

The score was tied at 38 with 2:37 left in the game. From that point, until the end of the game, Walhalla out-scored their foe 9-3. Miley White scored on a free throw and a three- point shot while Roach added five points on a three-pointer and a steal and lay-up.

The scoring index for Walhalla showed Roach with a team high 21 points. Gianna Ortiz-Viera contributed 8 points while White scored seven points. Baylee Cannon and Annie Campbell each scored four points and Ashlyn Frick added three points.

St. Joseph’s was led by Kelly with 18 points and Adams contributed 10 points.

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