City of Basketball Love

Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert)
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PHILADELPHIA — Kaylene Smikle made a promise when she arrived at Westtown School before last season.

“Once I heard we never won a state championship,” she said, “I told Coach Fran (Burbidge) we’re going to win it. Not that we might win it — I told him we’re going to win it.

“I told him I’m going to give him that state championship that’s going to be hung up in this gym.”

It didn’t come easy for the Friends League champions, but Smikle’s word held true on Saturday night. The Rutgers-bound wing poured in 28 points as the Moose held off Inter-Ac League winner William Penn Charter 51-50 in the girls’ PAISAA championship game at La Salle’s Tom Gola Arena to earn the program’s first state title. 

And as the buzzer sounded, Smikle went right up to her coach.

“I told him, ‘We did this,’” the senior said. “I knew we were going to win. I knew it. And it was a really good feeling to win with my team. This team, we’re so close. I feel like (winning) with a group of girls that you genuinely love as your sisters, it’s a great thing.”

Smikle has built relationships with her Westtown teammates since she transferred to the West Chester-area boarding school last school year. Their close connection has helped them fight through adversity throughout her time with the Moose, and the state final was no different.

“Everybody has teams that are close and they’re good friends and all that,” Burbidge said. “... But these guys genuinely really, really care for each other. And the fact that they live together makes that bond even a little bit stronger. I thought that was a key for us at the end.”

Westtown needed to lock in as Penn Charter jumped out to an early lead on Saturday. Aleah Snead scored 13 points in the first half for the Quakers, doing damage from the perimeter and in the lane as Penn Charter took a 29-27 lead into the break. Smikle had 17 points at the break, keeping the Moose close as they collectively squandered some scoring chances around the basket.

“As soon as we got back to the locker room, I told everyone we have to get back on the same page,” Smikle said. “Everyone understood what I was saying because everyone wants to win.”

Westtown celebrates winning the 2022 Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association (PAISAA) championship. (Photo: Ty Daubert/CoBL)

After Westtown met at the half, Smikle got right to work to begin the third quarter, burying a deep stepback 3-pointer to take the lead on the first possession of the second half. She continued her scoring prowess by drawing a three-shot foul and hitting a tough layup as the Moose built a nine-point lead late into the third.

“She’s got terrific range,” Burbidge said. “She’s strong, she can finish at the basket and she shoots foul shots really well.”

However, Smikle’s efforts to build a lead were quickly undone. The Quakers went on a run to end the third, tying the game 41-41 as senior Maddie Shoup banked in a turn-around desperation prayer from long range at the buzzer.

It was one of several plays made by Shoup, who finished with 13 points, to keep Penn Charter right in the game throughout the night.
“She’s an incredible competitor,” Quakers coach Joe Maguire said of Shoup. “She’s a Division I lacrosse player, and she’s already missed a week of lacrosse (playing basketball). She’s throwing her body all over the place, and she’s done it all year. It’s the only way she knows how to play. She gives us everything.”

Westtown had to regroup once again after Shoup tied the game. But with Smikle picking up her fourth foul, a group effort was needed from the Moose in the fourth quarter. Smikle was confident in her teammates to do their part.

Senior guard Meliah Van-Otoo was one Moose to step up as the two teams battled in a closely-locked final period. Her layup with under two minutes to go put Westtown ahead by one point, before another Snead two-point basket gave Penn Charter the advantage with 50 seconds remaining.

The next time down the floor, Van-Otoo drove across the baseline, turned and nailed a shot from the left side to give the Moose a 51-50 lead. Smikle cheered on as she watched from the sideline.

“I was screaming,” she said. “I was so excited. We needed that. We definitely needed that basket.”

The Quakers failed to score on the other end, and couldn’t capitalize on two extra opportunities as Shoup drew offensive fouls on consecutive inbounds passes. Penn Charter’s last unsuccessful shot attempt caromed off the rim and into Westtown’s hands to dribble out the clock.

“I was saying, ‘Please dribble it away so we don’t have to throw the ball in bounds again,’” Burbidge said with a laugh.”

Penn Charter, despite coming up short, was more than pleased with the effort displayed in this back-and-forth title game.

“There’s nothing more I could’ve asked from them,” Maguire said. “They did everything that they physically could have done.”

For Smikle and Westtown, the victory marks history. One of the most talented players on one of the best teams the program has seen closed the book the right way.

“It means a lot,” Smikle said. “I definitely wanted to leave a legacy here.”

With a state championship banner set to be raised in Westtown, that legacy is cemented.

By Quarter
Penn Charter:  15  |  14  |  12  |   9   ||  50
Westtown:        9   |  18  |  14  |  10  ||  51

Scorers
Penn Charter: Aleah Snead 16, Maddie Shoup 13, Kaylinn Bethea 11, Bella Toomey 9, Gracie Shoup 1

Westtown: Kaylene Smikle 28, Grace Sundback 10, Meliah Van-Otoo 8, Helena Lasic 5