Loyalsock’s Connor Watkins passes a ball near the top of the key. Watkins finished with tens points as the Lancers knocked off Mifflinburg, 62-57.
Loyalsock’s Mitchell Klingerman goes in for a layup during a game against Mifflinburg.
By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
WILLIAMSPORT—It was the middle of the first quarter at Ron “CI” Insinger gymnasium and the crowd and players could tell something special was brewing.
Mifflinburg’s Tanner Stoltzfus was closing in the 1,000 career points, which has widely become the mark of a truly impactful player at the high school level. Stoltzfus crossed the plateau with a free throw, giving him exactly 1,000 points on the dot.
Obviously, Mifflinburg players were there to congratulate the newest member of the club, but so were the Lancers, who all came over to offer a hand shake and pat on the back.
After the special moment it was all business for Loyalsock. Gerald Ross finished with 10 points, Connor Watkins added another ten, and Mitchell Klingerman led the way with 15 as the Lancers completed the season swept of Mifflinburg with a 62-57 win.
“They are probably the most underrated team in District 4 right now,” Ron “CI” Insinger said.
Mifflinburg led at the end of the first and at the end of the first half as Stoltzfus and company went on a run after the milestone was reached. Mifflinburg looked much more relaxed after the basket, carrying a one-point lead into the break.
Brandon Bauman has continued to emerge as a go-to player for the Lancers. He helped them gain a little separation throughout the third quarter, scoring six points. He also had a big block in the fourth to prevent Mifflinburg from inching closer to the Lancers.
Loyalsock has struggled from the line as of late, but it canned four consecutive shots in the final minute to secure the win. Both Klingerman and Watkins made their attempts.
“We’ve had these moments before,” Insinger said. “We are just playing well enough to win and it’s going to bite us. We just have to play better for longer periods of time.”
Along with hitting the game’s final two free throws, Klingerman led the Lancers with 15 points. He was all over the floor in the final quarter, scoring seven points and pulling down four rebounds.
“Every time we play we miss free throws that could help put the game away,” Klingerman said. “I still don’t think we’ve played our best game. There’s still room to improve, but we came out big in the end.”
Loyalsock opened the game connecting on its first six attempts from the floor. The result was a 12-6 lead, but Mifflinburg, moments after Stoltzfus recorded his 1,000th point, closed out the quarter hot to end the first up 16-15.
Loyalsock 62, Mifflinburg 57
Mifflinburg (57)
Jordan Tyson 0 0-0 0; Logan Mensch 3 0-0 8; Levi Yoder 5 0-0 11; Tanner Stoltzfus 5 5-10 15; Austin Raymer 6 0-0 12; Chris Day 3 2-4 11; Daniel Zack 0 0-1 0. Totals 23 7-15 57.
Loyalsock (62)
Brandon Bauman 4 0-0 9; Gerald Ross 4 1-2 10; Collin Graver 0 1-2 1; Anthony Pastore 4 1-2 9; Connor Watkins 4 2-5 10; Mitchell Klingerman 4 5-7 15; Bam Brima 2 0-0 4; Hunter Webb 0 0-0 0; Aiden Gair 1 1-1 4. Totals 21 11-19 62
MIFF 16 14 10 17–57
SOCK 15 14 16 17–62
3–Point Goals: Mifflinburg 4 (Mensch 2, Yoder, Day). Loyalsock 5 (Bauman, Ross, Klingerman 2, Gair).
Records: Mifflinburg 11-6, 2-5. Loyalsock 12-4, 5-1.
Next: Montoursville at Mifflinburg, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Lewisburg at Loyalsock, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
JV Score: 58-47 Mifflinburg
High Scorers: Mifflinburg:Degroat, 11; Doebler, 11. Loyalsock: Herwig, 15.