The Pequea Valley girls' basketball program achieved another one of its goals for the 2021-22 season. The Braves reached the PIAA Class 3A state playoffs but bowed out after a 58-31 loss at River Valley High School in Blairsville on Tuesday evening, March 8.

The Panthers pounced on Pequea early on, taking a 21-7 lead into the second quarter. The Braves (13-14) played a stronger offensive game in the second stanza and continued to allow fewer points in the third quarter. However, the momentum change did not help dig the Braves out of their early hole, ending the team's remarkable season.

Rebecca Cox led the Braves in scoring, putting up 14 points. Shania Stoltzfus added five points.

As some of the Lancaster-Lebanon League teams were still taking part in some form of post-season play, the league's coaches voted on the all-star players in each section. Representing the Pequea girls' team were Sarah Arment as a first-team all-star and Shania Stoltzfus as not only second-team all-star but also being named to the all-defensive squad. Cox, meanwhile, was selected to the Section Five all-academic all-star team.

As the Braves look to next season, one of the 10 underclassmen they hope to have back is Katie Stoltzfus.

"It was definitely exciting, making it to states," Katie Stoltzfus said. "We ended up losing but the experience was good. The support was there from everyone on our team and from our school. Everywhere we went or in the hallways at school we heard everyone congratulating us."

Speaking of support, Katie Stoltzfus is part of a support system that includes her experienced three-sport athlete brother - a member of the boys' varsity basketball team all four years as a starter.

Katie, a 5-foot-2 guard, is coming off an impressive freshman season, one which impressed older brother Nevin Stoltzfus - the Braves' lone representative in the boys' all-stars, making Section Five second team.

Nevin wraps up his academic and athletic career at Pequea Valley this semester and prepares for Elizabethtown College. He was asked to reflect on the fact that he and his sister each contributed to PV hoops this season.

"I thought it was pretty exciting," he said. "I saw her grow as a player in middle school. I didn't realize she would play this much varsity. And she did very well against varsity competition.

"Over the summer we did a lot with our coaches," continued the 6-foot senior brother. "I was also able to teach her some stuff."

"They have been very supportive of each other," Pequea boys' head coach Thad Rittenhouse remarked. "I know Katie has been to several games and has been very supportive of Nevin. I believe he has gone to some of her games as well."

"For me, I've always cared a lot about making it to my brother's games," Katie said. "I love watching him play and didn't want to miss his games.

"We really push each other," Katie continued. "We play and he would bring me around to his teammates to help me improve. Just being there for each other is important - role model and good example."

Nevin finished his career as a four-year starter, having made section all-star as a sophomore and junior as well as this year. He led the team in three-point shooting percentage two of the four years, compiling 105 treys over the years.

"He had 632 career points," Rittenhouse pointed out.

Asked how it felt to make another all-star squad, Nevin replied, "That was definitely exciting. Throughout my high school career, I was the second-leading scorer. We had a bunch of new guys this year and I had to step up into the leadership role."

Asked about the pressure that comes with leadership, the mature senior replied, "There were times where there was a lot of pressure. Overall, I think I did pretty well."

Being your best on and off the court is a common thread between the siblings.

"One thing I realized is that she's always trying her best - not just on the court but also to be a very good student," Nevin said of Katie. "That kind of inspired me to try my best. That is also an example of leadership."

And it all started and continued in the Stoltzfus driveway under a basketball net.

Asked when he noticed the athletic skills of his sister, Nevin replied, "Probably when she was in sixth grade. I always played basketball with her in the driveway. She picked it up pretty easily."

"It's pretty exciting," agreed Mike Stoltzfus, the dad. "I was an athlete in school. I never realized it would turn into this for our kids. I always wanted to have my kids be involved in some activities in school."

Speaking of parents in a multi-athlete family, how tricky is it to attend all of the games?

"Our parents made it to both of our games," Katie said. "There were only two or three times they weren't able to make it to a game."

"There were a few instances where we had to choose," Mike agreed, "and we ended up going to the home game."

Nevin's plans for college athletics involve not the ball that is thrown through a hoop, but rather the one that is dribbled down the field and either kicked or headed into the opponent's goal.

"He's a three-sport letterman and is going to E-town to play soccer," Rittenhouse noted.

"Net year, I just want to put more time into it and see us go further," Katie said of her commitment to the Braves basketball team in her sophomore season. "Working together and growing as a team is important to me."