Jan 6, 2025
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Sophia Stover and Loyalsock’s Alaina Dadzie reach for a rebound during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
Many fans who filled the bleachers at Ron Insinger Gymnasium arrived early and stayed late. In between they watched two district title contenders play a fiercely-contested, back and forth game, while creating an electric atmosphere.
Ultimately, the scoreboard last Monday read Loyalsock 46, Jersey Shore 38. Really, though, the biggest winner was high school girls’ basketball.
Last Monday’s showdown between teams who entered with a combined record of 12-1 was everything both teams could have asked for and more. The game itself helps both teams because it was so competitive and riveting with neither one leading by more than four points from midway through the second quarter until the fourth quarter’s final minute.
More importantly, it was a celebration of both teams’ achievements the past few years and an acknowledgment of the hard work which has put both programs on the state basketball map. Simply put, it was high school sports at its best.
“It was so fun. I’m glad a lot of people showed up because sometimes it feels like there are no people at the games,” Loyalsock forward Alaina Dadzie said after topping 1,000 career points in the game’s last minute. “It’s super fun to see the support that people showed both teams and we’re both good teams, so it’s good for fans to see some good basketball.”
Loyalsock and Jersey Shore have both produced some quality basketball. Loyalsock is seeking its ninth straight Class AAA state tournament berth and Jersey Shore has captured two straight HAC-I championships. Dadzie’s accomplishment Monday gave the game three 1,000-point scorers who reached the milestone before their season years with the all-state junior joining multi-time all-state selections teammate Lacey Kriebel and Jersey Shore’s Peyton Dincher.
Three-year Loyalsock starter Julie Ellis played a terrific all-around game as did four-year starting point guard Cailyn Schall. Honestly, however, pick a Lancer or Bulldog who participated and one can allude to a part of the game where they made huge impacts.
This was not just a game but also a showcase of two excellent teams illustrating exactly how they have achieved what they have these last few years.
“Tonight was good for girls basketball. It was just a good moment,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “We have college coaches here, we have different opponents who we’re going to play here, and we have a packed house. It’s such a good environment. I hope our girls appreciate when people are here supporting them and here rooting against them.”
“Both these teams put in a lot of work, so to get a little acknowledgment in front a decent crowd against a quality opponent is about as good as you can ask for,” Jersey Shore coach Mike Schall said. “We try to put in that effort to showcase who we are as a program at Jersey Shore and I know Curtis tries to do that here.”
Together, Loyalsock and Jersey Shore produced a win for girls basketball not just because they played, but how they played. After the Lancers built a 12-point lead early in the second quarter, Jersey Shore steadied itself and roared back, countering with a 13-0 run. From there, the lead changed hands 11 times with it being tied at halftime and Jersey Shore leading, 31-30 entering the fourth quarter.
Any time one team seemed like it was seizing the momentum, the other one came fighting back. And it was a game not defined by one or two players but by each one delivering in key moments. Avery DePasqua gave Jersey Shore its final lead, 36-34, and Sophie Stover banked in a runner to make it 40-38 with 1 minute, 49 seconds remaining.
Loyalsock then scored the game’s final six points, freshman Madison Perry twice finding Dadzie inside and Kriebel spotting her for her 1,000th point. The last four points came in the final 35 seconds, so the final score is a bit deceiving in terms of how close this game was the from the second quarter on.
In terms of competitiveness and playing in front of large crowds, Loyalsock and Jersey Shore could not have asked for a better scenario than the one they encountered last Monday. And come Feb. 10, they get to do it again when Loyalsock heads to Jersey Shore in the afternoon and these rivals play in front of the entire Bulldog student body.
That will be just one game as was last Monday’s. Still, each season is made of moments and players only get four years to build high school memories. They work and sacrifice and games like these are a well-earned reward.
“Winning is hard, whether it’s blowouts or close games. All the emotions, ebbs and flows … there is so much these girls get through, so (last Monday) was a really good night for girls basketball,” Jacobson said. “I would have said it in a loss because it was good for everybody.”
STILL THINKING BIG
Many dismissed defending District 4 Class A champion St. John Neumann as a repeat threat after it graduated all-state forward Gigi Parlante and 500-rebounding forward Lizzie Weller.
Coach Jaiden Cioffi was not among them.
The Neumann graduate let the team know during the preseason he would prefer not to change the program’s expectations. Granted, that is not easy since the Knights feature just six players. Still, they are showing that there is still plenty left in the tank, winning four of the last five games and highlighting that with Saturday’s hard-fought 40-38 win against rival South Williamsport.
Niyah Tutler (18 points, 10 rebounds) produced a double-double, Bre Nixon scored 12 points and Savana Smith hit a key fourth-quarter 3-pointer as Neumann continued coming on strong. It was another step forward for a team which can still be dangerous in a wide-open Class A field. The Knights have moved to third in the district standings and appear to be getting better each game.
“We knew coming into the season that there were going to be some limitations and some expectations dropped but I told them if you don’t want to live them up to them let me know now. It would be hard for me to adapt to it because I’m looking to win and replicate last season,” Cioffi said. “I think this win will be great for them. I think it’ll help them realize this is who they are now. They realize they can truly play with anybody in the Mid-Penn, so hopefully that’s a sign of good things.”
PUTBACKS
Bucktail built some momentum in the new calendar year, rallying from a four-point halftime deficit Friday to defeat Montgomery, 47-34. Matti Mason scored 18 points, Kendall Wagner 15 and Eva Sockman 12. Paige Winters produced 16 for Montgomery and Addi Muhl 11 … Central Mountain has won three of its last four games and defeated Danville, 52-24. Taylor Doyle (17 points), Camdyn Weaver (15) and Lena Walker (9) all are averaging in double figures for a balanced squad … Cowanesque Valley (3-4) is coming on strong and asserted itself Thursday with a 41-38 win against 4A Athens, its second straight victory … Kameron Lightner is having a strong season for North Penn-Mansfield and scored 18 points while adding seven rebounds and three steals in a 39-32 win against rival Wellsboro. Freshman Maddie McNamara totaled eight points, six rebounds and five steals and Claire Dominick had four assists, four rebounds and four steals … Cowanesque Valley (3-5) is making nice strides and defeated Athens for the first time this decade, defeating it, 41-37. Ella Churchill scored a game-high 19 points and Ashley Woodring added 12.
Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The Lock Haven men’s wrestling team returned to the mats on Sunday when it competed at the …
PHILADELPHIA – The Penn State men’s basketball team trimmed a 16-point deficit down to two in the final …
LINCOLN, Neb. – Despite knotting the score at 59 with less than five minutes to play, the Penn State women’s …
LEWISBURG – Noah Williamson logged 20 points and ten rebounds as the Bucknell men’s basketball team snapped a …
The Penn State wrestling team (6-0, 0-0 B1G) sent various attached and unattached wrestlers to two tournaments this …
Copyright © Williamsport Sun-Gazette | https://www.sungazette.com | 252 W. Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17703 | 570-326-1551
