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BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Loyalsock’s Anthony Pastore gets ready to shoot a free throw during the State College Christmas Tournament.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Loyalsock’s Brandyn Bauman takes a shot against Germantown during the State College Christmas Tournament.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
After pulling down a rebound, Loyalsock’s Connor Watkins puts a shot back up during a State College Christmas Tournament game against Germantown Academy.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Loyalsock’s Mitchell Klingerman takes a difficult shot against Germantown during the State College Christmas Tournament.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Loyalsock’s Anthony Pastore cuts through a crowd of defenders to put up a difficult layup against Owen J. Roberts during the Consolation Game of the State College Christmas Tournament.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Loyalsock’s Gerald Ross dribbles the ball down the baseline for a quick look underneath the basket during a State College Christmas Tournament game against Owen J. Roberts.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Loyalsock’s Hunter Webb heads back down court after a Lancer’s basket from Gerald Ross. Webb finished the consolation game of the State College Christmas Tournament with six rebounds.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/FOR THE LOYALSOCK LANCERS
Mitchell Klingerman stands with his parents after receiving the Most Valuable Person award prior to Loyalsock’s consolation game against Owen J. Roberts.
By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
STATE COLLEGE—Loyalsock’s players, coaches, and fans knew heading into the State College Christmas Tournament it was going to be a tough set of games.
Loyalsock entered as the smallest school of the tournament in terms of classification as Owen J. Roberts, State College, and Germantown Academy filled out the bracket. The smaller size seemed to matter little to Loyalsock as it entered with a perfect 6-0 mark.
The Lancers competed tough throughout both games, but came away empty handed, suffering the first two losses of the season. Loyalsock dropped its opening game against Germantown Academy, 56-52. In the second game, Loyalsock finished with mixed results as it posted a two-point third quarter, but managed a small rally to fall 56-45 to Owen J. Roberts.
“We’ll turn a negative into a positive,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “We could have got into tournaments closer to home and with teams our size. We might have even won it, but that doesn’t prove anything. We have to go against faster, stronger kids and be challenged.”
Loyalsock (6-2) was certainly challenged throughout the two-day tournament. In the end, the Lancers might have recorded its first two defeats for the season, but a lot was gained against the quality opponents.
Mitchell Klingerman continued to produce, building on a strong start to the season after being named MVP of the Tip-off Tournament. Klingerman scored 16 points through two games on his way to being named his team’s “Most Valuable Person”.
As for the games, Loyalsock opened a little flat against Germantown Academy, scoring just 26 points through the first two quarters. Loyalsock struggled throughout the second half, making just four shots from the floor in the third quarter as Germantown Academy built a lead it would hold the rest of the way.
“We come up to this tournament and we’re clicking on all cylinders and it’s like we almost ran out of gas at moments,” Insinger said. “I’m frustrated. I’m disappointed. I’m certainly disenchanted with the outcome of this tournament, but we’ll get some leverage out of this. We’ll have some good practices and hopefully this will springboard us into the new year.”
After falling to Germantown Academy (4-6), Loyalsock took on Owen J. Roberts (6-3) in the consolation game of the tournament. It was a contest filled with highs and lows, with the final breaking point costing the Lancers the game.
Throughout the first half the Lancers appeared to be getting back to form. Gerald Ross finished with 13 points, Anthony Pastore excelled through the second quarter for six points, and Connor Watkins added four rebounds to go with four points. Once the third quarter started everything changed as the Lancers were held to a season low two points over the eight-minute stretch.
“We’ll be fine,” Insinger said. “There were moments when they just didn’t execute. It frustrates me, but we’ll get through it.”
Ross, Loyalsock’s leading scorer, finished the tournament with 28 points through both games. Watkins posted 17 and continued to be a rebounding force, finishing the tournament with a combined 13.
Loyalsock will head to Central Columbia next Wednesday to take on the Blue Jays in the hopes of reversing it current two-game slide.
“Central is a very tough place for Lancers to play,” Insinger said. “It’s a snake pit for us. It will be a challenge, but I have good feelings. We are ready for the PHAC.”
Owen J. Roberts 56, Loyalsock 45
SOCK 11 14 2 16—45
OJR 15 13 15 13—56
Loyalsock (45)
Brandyn Bauman 0 1-4 1; Gerald Ross 7 0-1 15; Collin Graver 0 0-0 0; Anthony Pastore 3 4-6 10; Connor Watkins 2 3-4 7; Mitchell Klingerman 2 0-1 5; Bam Brima 0 0-0 0; Hunter Webb 0 0-0 0; Aiden Gair 2 0-0 5. Totals 16 8-16 45.
OJR (56)
Sean Praweckyj 2 0-0 4; Marcus Martin 0 0-0 0; Shyheed May 7 2-4 18; Ryan Sayers 3 4-4 13; Nick Massa 3 2-3 10; Dawson Stuart 2 1-2 5; Sa’Vaughn Davidheiser 2 0-0 4; Justin Bailey 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 9-13 56.
3—Point Goals: Loyalsock 3 (Ross, Klingerman, Gair). OJR 7 (May 2, Sayers 3, Massa 2).
Records: Loyalsock 6-2. Owen J. Roberts 6-3.
Next: Loyalsock at Central Columbia, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Owen J. Roberts at Methacton, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.