Doing it her way
Williams flirts with season triple-double
In case you missed it, this is the season of the triple-double.
If Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook keeps up the pace of 30.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game, he’ll become the first player to average a tripledouble for a season since Oscar Robertson in 1961-’62.
Westbrook has gained serious MVP consideration for his play. Robertson’s season helped cement his status as one of the game’s all-time greats. Shemera Williams, on the other hand, toils with little fanfare.
The 5-foot-9 point guard from Milwaukee Academy of Science, however, is one of the state’s top sophomores. And she, like Westbrook, is flirting with a triple-double this season with averages of 28.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game.
Does she pay attention to the numbers? How can she not?
“I do, but at the same time I like passing the ball,” she said. “I like giving my teammates the chance to score. It just means I’m a team player.”
If Williams were really about getting the glory, she wouldn’t be at the Milwaukee Academy of Science. The program’s history is modest at best and with an independent schedule, it is hard to fill a 22-game slate with the kind of match-ups that would bring attention to the program.
The school is located on N. 20th St. and W. Kilbourn Ave. Its basketball program didn’t have any big-time success until Williams arrived last season. Its first winning season was just two years ago.
The school’s lack of tradition, ironically, is what appealed to her.
“It was my choice,” said Williams, who plays with Wisconsin Playground Elite during the off-season. “I’ve been here since K-4 and I feel like I want to make something
here instead of going other places where they already had something.”
Players that came up from the school’s first middle school team helped the Novas go 12-11 in 2014-’15 as freshmen. When Williams joined the varsity last season, MAS went from average to pretty good, going 20-3 and losing the Division 5 regional semifinal by three points in overtime to Sheboygan Lutheran, which went on to play in the sectional final.
This year the team is 12-3 with losses to Brookfield Academy and University School, a couple of solid Division 3 teams, and Deerfield, a 10-3 Division 3 team.
Otherwise, Williams has done her damage against a collection of City Conference teams and small Christian schools. The games haven’t been much of a challenge, but every contest provides an opportunity.
“Getting better on defense,” she said when asked for her approach in those kinds of games, “passing the ball better, shooting better, my IQ, seeing the floor better and helping my teammates improve.”
Some players have great stats. Others have great skills. Williams has both.
Even in a lopsided affair, you still get flashes of why she already has four Division I scholarship offers: the quick first step, well-beyond three-point shooting and an ability to see the floor and find teammates for easy buckets.
Marquette offered a scholarship when she was in the eighth grade. Wisconsin, Valparaiso and Kansas State also have offers on the table.
As for the triple-doubles, Williams has five in 11 games. The most impressive showing is a 40-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist showing in a 77-51 victory Jan. 4 over Heritage Christian (10-5), which is tied for third in the Midwest Classic.
As for the upcoming tests, there is a game with Division 3 Milwaukee Languages on Feb. 1 and Division 2 Milwaukee Washington on Feb. 14. Then begins the tournament, where Williams along with senior guard Tatianya Evans (17.1 ppg., 12.6 rpg.) can really help MAS make its mark.
Having a program-changer like Williams on the floor can make that much of a difference.
“We don’t have a lot of older girls, so she has to play that part of a leader,” said Beth Gotstein, who shares head coaching duties with David Ziegelbauer. “We’re asking a lot of her and I think she does a good job with the pressure we’re putting on her.”