Panthers lean on unflappable Natane White and she delivers in the clutch
By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent
Natane White didn’t even crack a smile when her shot from beyond halfcourt swished home. She knew it came after the buzzer. She knew it was only window dressing.
As the crowd cheered in appreciation, White walked stone-faced to the bench. It was time to focus on the next play. The sophomore in Schuylkill Valley’s senior-laden lineup is the one the Panthers expect to stay even-keeled.
“I told her, ‘You calm down the athletes a little bit,’” SV coach Jason Bagenstose said. “Sometimes they can be a little rambunctious. She’s calm and cool all the time. I always give her credit. She’s handling the ball and running the offense on a team like this.”
White’s stoicism was on display again three quarters later. She deposited the clinching free throws with two seconds left to help Schuylkill Valley hold off Brandywine Heights 30-26 in a Berks III-IV girls basketball crossover at Leesport Tuesday night.
Coaches can tell you what they think about a player without saying a word. Bagenstose spoke volumes when he put White into the starting lineup a year ago.
It was an implied trust. An indication that the newcomer was going to be an essential piece of Schuylkill Valley’s puzzle for years to come.
White was caught off guard when it happened. She didn’t expect to start from Day 1.
“First scrimmage in my freshman year they told me I was in the lineup,” White said. “I kind of just went out there. I was surprised. But I was so excited because I wanted that more than anything.”
White and her older sister, Abbey, shared point guard duties last season. It was a way to ease Natane onto the varsity scene. Schuylkill Valley had high expectations going forward and needed its floor leader to come of age.
Bagenstose, always one to push little motivational buttons, handed White a toy car before this season began. It wasn’t hard to recognize the metaphor.
“It’s your car,” Bagenstose said. “You’ve got to drive it. But you’ve got all these crazy older kids in the backseat hanging out the windows.”
Those are the senior starters: Madison Ziska, Lekaiah Solomon, Jadyn Heck-Hoppes and Sarah Gilbert.
Schuylkill Valley (6-0, 13-1) has put it all together over the past five weeks. The Panthers are running away with Berks III. Their only loss was a four-point decision at Susquehanna Township with two starters missing.
The matchup against Brandywine Heights (6-1, 10-2) featured the only one-loss teams in the league. It came down to two sets of free throws as the clock inched toward zero.
Solomon made hers to give Schuylkill Valley a 28-26 lead with 16 seconds left. Caroline Fenstermacher missed hers five seconds later.
Brandywine Heights point guard Olivia Moyer was injured during a hard fall as she drove to the basket on the Bullets’ final possession. Coach Don Vinciguerra had to pick someone on the bench to take the ensuing foul shots. Fenstermacher was thrust into a difficult position.
White was fouled during the mad scramble for the rebound after the second miss. Her two free throws ended it.
Solomon was the best player on the floor, wreaking havoc defensively and chasing down crucial rebounds. The senior finished with 13 points and 10 boards.
Addison Benner led Brandywine Heights with nine points. The freshman phenom was on the bench for a 6:32 stretch of the second half because of foul trouble. Avery Potteiger had 21 rebounds for the Bullets.
Bagenstose said he’ll sometimes pull White aside and ask her what plays she wants to run. The coach respects her understanding of what’s happening on the floor.
“She studies the game,” Bagenstose said. “She loves it. She would play every day of the year if she could. She complements this group perfectly.”
The calm sophomore and the rambunctious seniors. It’s not a common formula but it’s working for Schuylkill Valley.
White knows she’s fortunate to have landed on a team with so many veteran players.
“They’re amazing,” she said. “Anything I need, they’re always there to help me. On and off the court. It’s just a great experience.”
After Schuylkill Valley left its makeshift locker room, which is a Spanish classroom during the day, White saw someone peeking through the hallway door. It was Abbey, who now plays soccer at Kutztown University.
The game was over. The pressure was off. There was no next play to worry about.
These photos and others from the Brandywine Heights/Schuylkill Valley game can be purchased here.
