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Princeton prospect helps Tigers pound the Falcons
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Howland’s Taylor Williams (24), under pressure from Fitch’s Brianna Edwards (34), prepares to shoot during an All-American Conference basketball game Thursday in Austintown. Williams, a 1,000 point scorer and reigning second team all-Ohio honoree who is headed to Princeton University, posted 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help lead the Tigers over the Falcons, 54-38.
By Matthew Peaslee
AUSTINTOWN
She’s a 1,300 plus point scorer and a reigning second team all-Ohio honoree from Howland. In Thursday’s 54-38 victory over Fitch, she scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
In college she wants to major in architecture and her four-year cash winnings total a scholarship to prestigious Princeton University.
Please welcome Taylor Williams.
If Howland’s senior center was ever to be on the quiz show “Jeopardy,” her introduction would sound something like that.
Yet Williams, herself, isn’t even sure that Alex Trebek would name her the winner if the Tigers had their own version of the show.
“We have so many smart girls on the team,” Williams said. “I think Erika [Nites] or Natalie [Silbaugh] would win.”
It doesn’t stop other teammates from asking the Ivy League prospect for homework help.
“Almost everyday in almost every subject,” guard Paige Loychik said.
And Williams is there to offer her guidance — always.
“The title student-athlete means to a lot to me,” she said. “You have to focus harder in the classroom before you can focus on the court. It’s a pride thing for me. I want to have that reputation of being not just a student or jock, but a student-athlete.”
Many colleges have been scouting the 6-foot-3 standout since she arrived at Howland. Williams narrowed it down to six schools before deciding on Princeton.
“I just wanted to make the best academic decision for me and that’s going to be found at Princeton,” she said.
This season, Williams averages 17.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.
On top of the glory of her future playing career and distinguished degree, Howland coach John Diehl sees brighter monikers for the star.
“She’s broken all of our records and is a special player,” he said. “When she’s done at Princeton, she’s going to be thought of as the best player to come out of Trumbull County.”
Fitch coach Stacie Cepin knows that isn’t a stretch.
“Her length and athleticism is her strong suit,” Cepin said. “She’s able to do things inside and outside. She steps it up another notch and gets her teammates involved. Great players do that.”
All-around, the Tigers (16-1, 8-0 All-American Conference) have a pretty great team too.
They led by as many as 22 against the Falcons and Nites totaled a game-high 20 points with four 3-pointers. Loychik added seven points, three assists and two steals.
“I just think the winning tradition is what the kids feed off of,” Diehl said. “They want to be seen as the best. They want to exceed expectations.”
Cepin sees Howland as a model program for its opposition.
“They’re always such a great team,” Cepin said. “We can kind of gauge where we are as a program by playing great teams like Howland.”
Two years ago, Loychik joined the Tigers after spending a year at Champion. She meshed well with the team right away and bought into the winning mentality immediately.
“Everyday in practice we work hard knowing that every team wants to come out and beat us,” she said. “It drives us a little more.”
Fitch (10-7, 4-5 AAC) scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and at one point cut the Howland lead to seven. Megan Sefcik had 12 points to go with three steals and two blocks. Anissa Hill scored 17 points, including a 3-pointer at the end of regulation.