BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS

Loyalsock’s Anthony Pastore drives into the paint during a game against Montoursville. Pastore finished with 16 points for the Lancers. He also helped key a second quarter run after getting fouled during a three-point attempt.

 

BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS

Loyalsock’s Brandon Bauman looks on after attempting to make a layup through the middle of Montoursville’s defense. Bauman scored five points in the fourth quarter for Loyalsock as it knocked off Montoursville 82-49.

 

BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS

Loyalsock’s Collin Graver looks on after a fourth quarter foul during a game against Montoursville. Graver scored seven points for the Lancers, who beat Montoursville 82-49 to move to 9-2 on the season.

 

BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS

Loyalsock’s Connor Watkins fights through a crowd of defenders to make a difficult layup underneath the basket. Watkins pulled down five rebounds and finished with 14 points to help the Lancers defeat Montoursville, 82-49.

 

BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS

Loyalsock’s Gerald Ross goes in for a layup during a game against Montoursville. Ross posted 14 points for the Lancers as they beat Montoursville, 82-49.

 

BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS

Loyalsock’s Ryan Sullivan looks on during the fourth quarter as Brandon Bauman goes in for a layup.

 

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY

For the Loyalsock Lancers

WILLIAMSPORT—The long road home was well worth the trip for Loyalsock, which survived its first extended time away from home of the season with six wins against just two losses.

The trip might have provided some adversity early in the season, but a relieved Loyalsock appeared ready to play once again for its home fans. The Lancers opened with 23 points over the first eight minutes and really never looked back as it downed Montoursville, 82-49.

“The first couple minutes of the first quarter and the first couple minutes of the third quarter can dictate the tempo of the game,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “It was imperative for us to hit the first couple shots.”

After outscoring the Warriors 23-14 over the first eight minutes of the game, Montoursville started to make a run that cut Loyalsock’s lead down to five points. The surge fizzled out when Anthony Pastore, who scored the first five points of the game, was fouled while attempting a three-pointer.

Pastore pulled back for the long attempt, but was knocked down in the process of shooting. He quickly fell to the ground as the ball nearly made its way to the hoop. Once at the line, Pastore drained all three attempts to spark a 7-0 run to put the Lancers back up by double-digits.

“Whenever you’re going to the line it’s really important,” Pastore said. “We work everyday on free throws and if we miss we run. It’s something that we have to make a guarantee when we go to the line.”

Pastore then scored four points over the final two quarters, but was pulled midway through the fourth as Loyalsock built a big lead. All five of the Lancers’ starters were pulled in the middle of the fourth and walked to the bench with the crowd cheering for their efforts.

Brandon Bauman, Collin Graver, and Aiden Gair all scored off the bench for the Lancers. Bauman, who finished with five points, was outstanding from the free throw line. He connected on five of his six attempts to help cushion the Lancers’ lead. He also did a good job of distributing, finding Gair twice for three pointers late in the game.

Loyalsock gained separation in the third quarter when Connor Watkins scored eight points. He also grabbed five rebounds in the quarter as he and Bam Brima, who blocked a shot and scored two points, controlled the glass.

“He’s a silent leader that leads by example,” Insinger said of Watkins. “He just has great instincts. He knows were the well is and now that he has confidence he just keeps getting better each game.”

Brima is another player who has continued to improve each game. In the third quarter, Brima was a strong force under the basket. He even displayed some quickness by intercepting a pass near midcourt and taking it back for an offensive possession.

 

Loyalsock 82, Montoursville 49

MTV 14 15 12 8—49

SOCK 23 20 18 21—82

Montoursville (49)

Eddie Rodriguez 0 0-0 0; Owen Keiss 3 0-0 6; Colin Lachemayer 0 0-0 0; John McCarthy 3 4-4 12; Dylan Bower 2 0-0 4; Tyler Reidy 2 1-2 3; Jason Good 2 2-2 6; Luke Warnecke 3 0-0 7; Austin Loe 5 1-1 11. Totals 20 8-9 49.

Loyalsock (82)

Brandon Bauman 0 5-6 5; Gerald Ross 6 0-0 14; Collin Graver 3 0-0 7; Anthony Pastore 6 3-3 16; Connor Watkins 6 2-2 14; Mitchell Klingerman 6 0-0 13; Bam Brima 2 0-0 2; Hunter Webb 0 2-2 2; Aiden Gair 3 2-2 11. Totals 33 14-17 82.

3—Point Goals: Montoursville 3 (McCarthy 2, Warnecke). Loyalsock 8 (Ross 2, Watkins, Pastore, Klingerman 2, Gair 3).

Records: Montoursville 4-3. Loyalsock 9-2.

JV Score: 56-48 Montoursville.

High scorers: Montoursville: Burger, 17. Loyalsock: Reed Watkins, 12.