Thomas Jefferson’s Williams sisters provide championship link

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 12:55 AM

There is a notable link between the last two section champions in girls basketball at Thomas Jefferson.

The Williams sisters.

Shaylor Williams is a 5-foot-6 junior guard and second-year starter on the 2017-18 section-championship team at TJ.

Her older sister, Skylar Williams, was a 5-7 senior guard on TJ's previous section-winning squad in 2009-10.

Skylar, who went on to a distinguished four-year hoops career at Bethany, is in her second season as a TJ varsity assistant/junior varsity head coach.

“I have been preaching to the girls for two years about how the section title banner needed updated, and that they were good enough to do it,” Skylar said. “They were aware that a section title hadn't been won since my senior season (at TJ).

“Things were different eight years ago with there only being four levels of WPIAL. We were 3A, and now TJ is 5A. I am curious how my old team would do now against the different competition, and vice versa. I do think that this current TJ squad, if we play to our potential and our talent shows up, has the ability to go much further in the postseason than my team.”

In 2009-10, Thomas Jefferson secured first place in Section 5AAA with a 10-0 record, ahead of Belle Vernon (7-3), Yough (4-5), McGuffey (4-5), Elizabeth Forward (4-6) and Waynesburg (0-10).

The Jaguars, who had won back-to-back section crowns, drew a high seed for the WPIAL tournament thanks in part to an 11-game winning streak at the end of the regular season. But TJ was upset in the first round by Uniontown, 46-43, to end up 16-5.

This season, the TJ girls finished first in Section 2-5A with a 9-1 record, ahead of Gateway (8-2), Oakland Catholic (7-3), Woodland Hills (3-7), West Mifflin (2-8) and McKeesport (1-9). The Jaguars have won nine of their last 10 games and take a 19-3 record into the playoffs.

“I think the two teams have different types of skills,” Skylar said. “We were well-rounded my senior year with dominant posts and guards. Now, we are very guard-heavy. Ashley Stoner was my go-to for assists and points. She went on to score 1,000 points at IUP.

“One thing the teams have in common is the will to win. Team chemistry, trust in each other and having fun are things that made my team successful eight years ago, and (those have) made us so successful this year so far.”

Shaylor was 9 when the Jaguars won the section title in 2009-10; she attended almost every TJ game that season.

“I remember the team being quick and able to really bring the pressure on defense,” Shaylor said. “My sister was the only senior, and she was a big reason for their success. It was always fun watching her play when I was younger, and it is crazy that it is now me winning a section title.

“Our team has a great bond, which helps on the court, and we all have the ability to score. We play our hardest each game and never give up on each other or the game. We feed off each other's energy and confidence. It is hard to take down a team with more than two players to stop.”

Shaylor, like her older sister, began her hoops career in the PHARA program. Shaylor was in first grade back then; she switched to Metro USA in fourth grade.

As she is on the basketball court, Shaylor is an active student at Thomas Jefferson. She owns a 3.7 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, Big Jag Little Cub, Interact Club, student council and prom committee.

“I am very excited and proud of my team for winning section this season,” Shaylor said. “We have come a long way and fought our hardest to get here. It is a great feeling to have, especially since TJ has not won (a section title) since my sister's junior and senior years.

“I'm expecting to go far into the playoffs and hopefully play at the Pete. I believe we have the potential to make it there if we work as hard as we have so far throughout this season.”

Skylar, 26, is a health and physical education teacher at South Allegheny Middle/High School. One thing she definitely has helped instill in her 17-year-old sibling is defensive tenaciousness

“My sister is stepping up well in her starting role, and I think she is one of our best on-the-ball defenders,” Skylar said. “Something I always took pride in was defense. In college, I transformed into a point guard, which limited my scoring. I believe I played as much as I did because of my ability to be the best defender and not play selfish.

“I try to pass on the things I know about the game — teamwork and defense, especially — to all of our players. My sister does not always want to hear what I have to say, but I think she has learned a few things from me.”

The Jaguars' starting lineup consists of senior guard Marina Petruzzi — a four-year starter, 1,000-point career scorer and Wesleyan recruit — junior point guard Jenna Clark, a pair of guard/forwards in sophomore Alyssa DeAngelo and senior Becca Mascaro and Williams.

“It is nice but also challenging to have my sister as my coach,” Shaylor said, “because it is hard to look at her as a coach and not my sister. But I respect the guidance she gives me and the team.”

Top reserves on this year's team include senior guard Casey Gedman, senior guard/forward Maura Siess and junior guard Julia Shearn.

Jamie Polak coached the TJ girls team in 2009-10. The starting lineup consisted of Williams in the backcourt, plus four juniors: 6-foot forward Stoner, point guard Jordyn D'Alessandro, forward Tori Peifer and guard Madison Wawrzeniak.

Junior forward Marie Carroll, who played in college at Grove City, and junior guards Allie Geary and Sydney Risley were leading reserves.

“I played a lot of Metro tournaments with that group when we were younger, which I think helped us be successful later,” Skylar said. “There were only three of us who went on to play in college from the group that I played with, but the group of girls I coach now have way more than three players who have the skill sets to play at the next level.

“I am extremely excited to be a part of the next team to put a section title on the banner, and I am excited to see what the future has in store for us.”

The current section-winning squad has been ranked in the top five in its division for most of the season; the Jaguars' average margin of victory is 17.2 points.

“It has been a lot of fun playing with my teammates,” Shaylor said. “I am excited to see what success we can have in the postseason. We definitely aren't ready to be done playing yet.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson