By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
HERSHEY—Moments after one of the most important wins in school history Loyalsock team managers Grant Walters and Ronnie Emery summed up the experience perfectly by thanking the fans and calling the game special.
“I just want to thank the fans,” Emery said. “It was one of the best groups of fans I’ve ever seen.”
Emery and Walters have been with Loyalsock throughout the entire 2017-18 season. They’ve experience the highs and lows of being with a team throughout the course of a season, but Wednesday’s quarterfinal upset of District 1 champion might have been the best moment yet.
Loyalsock has survived through tight contests all season. Against Valley Forge it was no different. Leads were exchanged, ties were broken, and a late three from Mitchell Klingerman proved to the difference as Loyalsock pulled away for a 54-50 win over heavily favored Valley Forge.
The will advance Loyalsock to play Trinity, which defeated District 12 runner-up Dobbins, 69-41. The game will be played Saturday at a time and place yet to be named.
For Loyalsock, it was another tight game. Klingerman, who entered the final stanza with just two points, two steals, and a rebound, hit the biggest basket in the Lancer’s season thus far. The shot made it with no problem, barely touching the net as it sailed through to give Loyalsock the lead for good.
“I knew what we were down by and I knew we needed a big shot to give us the lead,” Klingerman said. “I knew if we had the lead it would give us an easier transition in defense. We didn’t need to score they had to score. We didn’t need to push it.”
The shot gave Loyalsock a one-point advantage as Valley Forge was down to its final possession to tie or win the game outright. The Lancers defense, which made big plays throughout the game, stopped Valley Forge and forced a traveling call to put even more pressure on the District 1 Champion.
Foul shots eventually iced the game for the Lancers, who turned Valley Forge over 22 times. The defense also kept the Trojans’ big men in check throughout the game as Bam Brima and Connor Watkins gave outstanding efforts underneath the basket.
As those two players controlled the paint, Gerald Ross and Anthony Pastore did their jobs defending the top of the key. Ross, who finished with a team-high 20 points, stopped Arion Lewis through the first half, limiting Valley Forge’s top player to just five first half points.
“It started with the guards and putting pressure on them so they couldn’t get it inside to the big guys,” Ross said. “They are just so big we had to swipe at the ball and do anything to mess them up.”
Ross has been clutch throughout the postseason, hitting game-winners in the PHAC tournament and the PIAA Tournament. Wednesday’s game offered another player to get into the action as Klingerman canned a trey with 13.9 seconds left to give Loyalsock a slim one-point lead. A defensive stand that forced a traveling call ended any chance of a Valley Forge comeback.
“We needed a big shot to put us in the lead,” Klingerman said. “It felt really good to be able to help Gerald (Ross) and hit that shot. We realize that we don’t want it to come to an end.”
Klingerman finished with eight points, Pastore and Watkins each added seven, and Brandon Bauman scored four off the bench. Aiden Gair, after his biggest game of the season to open the PIAA tournament, hit a three in the second to help extend Loyalsock’s lead.

4-2 Loyalsock 54, 1-1 Valley Forge 50
Loyalsock (54)
Brandon Bauman 1 2-3 4; Gerald Ross 8 1-1 20; Collin Graver 0 0-0 0; Anthony Pastore 2 3-5 8; Connor Watkins 2 3-4 7; Mitchell Klingerman 3 1-4 8; Bam Brima 2 0-0 4; Aiden Gair 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 10-17 54
Valley Forge (50)
Arion Lewis 8 9-9 27; Will Colleran 1 0-1 2; Abraham Deng 2 0-1 4; Kobie Reid 1 0-0 2; Quadir Miller 1 4-4 7; Marius Ntwari 2 4-11 8. Totals 15 17-26 50.
VALF 8 8 21 13–50
SOCK 12 8 19 15–54
3–Point Goals: Valley Forge 3 (Lewis 2, Miller). Loyalsock 6 (Ross 3, Klingerman, Pastore, Gair).
Records: Valley Forge 22-7. Loyalsock 22-7.
Next: Loyalsock vs. Trinity, Saturday, TBA

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
WILLIAMSPORT—With 21 seconds left to play it appeared Loyalsock would hold the ball for the final shot of the game after a late timeout.
Everything appeared to be going right until a miscommunication cut what might have been six or seven seconds into just two for the final play. A quick inbound to Gerald Ross from Connor Watkins gave Loyalsock a chance. The ball hit the glass, but bounced back for a make to give (4-2) Loyalsock a 62-60 win over District 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer at the clock expired.
The win advances Loyalsock to the second round of the PIAA Class AAA Tournament to face Valley Force, which defeated Penn Treaty 80-60.
As for the final play of the game, it was one Loyalsock had tucked away in the bank for five years. The call was perfect and set Ross up for another chance to play the hero.
“It was crazy knowing I shot it,” Ross said of his initial impressions of the game-winning shot. “It looked a little left and then I saw it twirl around and go in and I couldn’t believe it. The whole game we had to stay positive.”
Ross might have grabbed the headlines with the walk-off, game-winning shot, but plenty of other Lancers contributed in one of the teams most complete wins of the season. Seven different players scored points for the Lancers.
Brandon Bauman hit a three-pointer in the first quarter to help the offense build a three-point lead and force a Holy Redeemer timeout. Bauman later hit a three in the third quarter to finish with six points.
“I was highly impressed with the bench,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “They all made good contributions when we needed it. That was part of the game plan. We wanted to use seven or eight guys so we could keep the legs fresh.”
In the second quarter, as Holy Redeemer build a lead, Loyalsock’s offense went into a funk. The Lancers missed six-of-seven shots to open the quarter. Near the 1:19 mark, Anthony Pastore hit a long three from the top of the key. He then intercepted an inbound pass and put it up quickly for a five-point run.
The quick swing in momentum and points for Loyalsock pulled it within ten points of Holy Redeemer as the clock ticked down to halftime. Loyalsock would get to 22 points at the half as the Royals took a 29-22 lead into the break.
“You start this tournament at 0-0 and put the back games behind you,” Insinger said. “We’ve had great practices and felt really prepared for tonight.”
The second belonged to Holy Redeemer, but Loyalsock opened the third hot as Aiden Gair, who said after a good warmup to the second half his coaches game him the green light to take shots, hit a three. It paid off as Gair opened with a three and kept it going to finish with nine points over the eight minute span.
At the 3:11 mark, Gair hit his second three to cut the Royals’ lead down to four points.
“At any given night he can scorch the nets,” Insinger said of Gair. “Tonight was the night for him. He’s got two years left and this should springboard him to great things.”
As Gair made his mark on his first state playoff game, Ross also started to heat up, hitting 3-of-5 third quarter shots. Near the end of the quarter Ross hit a three. He then picked off a sloppy inbound pass and turned it into a quick three points to pull Loyalsock to within 38-36 of Holy Redeemer. Ross pulled off a similar play at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give Loyalsock a two-point lead and force a Redeemer timeout.
Prior to playing the hero, Ross was aided by big plays from Mitchell Klingerman, who connected on a long three and grabbed a rebound in the fourth quarter. Gair also had a three-point play after making a layup and getting fouled. Wakins had a steal, rebound, and two points in the final quarter.
“We could have folded when we were down 15, but we kept telling them to keep fighting,” Insinger said. “Our game plan was just to keep upbeat. Holy Redeemer is used to winning games in the 30s and 40s so we wanted to speed up the game.”
The Lancers made 11 three-pointers in the game. Ross connected with four, including two in the final quarter. Pastore used one to help the offense in the second quarter. Connor Wakins made one in the opening quarter. Bauman and Gair both had two off the bench.
“I felt good,” Gair said of his outside shooting. “I shot well in warmups and felt like I should just keep shooting. Coaches just gave me the green light and they let me shoot whenever.”
Loyalsock has been outstanding in big-game situations throughout the postseason. In the PHAC Tournament Watkins connected with a late layup off a pass from Ross to give the Lancers a two-point win. That victory came on the heels of a game-winner from Ross at Danville to hand the Ironmen their only league loss of the season.

(4-2) Loyalsock 62, (2-2) Holy Redeemer 60
Holy Redeemer (60)
Bryce Yencha 2 1-2 5; Derek Answini 4 0-0 12; Joey Judge 3 2-4 9; J.D. Turosky 2 0-0 4; Collin Cook 5 4-5 15; Sean Wills 0 0-0 0; Nick Prociak 6 3-5 15. Totals 22 10-16 60
Loyalsock (62)
Brandon Bauman 2 0-0 6; Gerald Ross 10 1-2 25; Collin Graver 0 0-0 0; Anthony Pastore 2 0-0 5; Connor Watkins 2 0-0 5; Mitchell Klingerman 3 0-0 7; Bam Brima 0 2-5 2; Aiden Gair 4 2-3 12. Totals 23 5-10 62
HR 9 20 18 13–60
LOY 11 11 19 21–62
3–Point Goals: Holy Redeemer 6 (Answini 4, Judge, Cook). Loyalsock 11 (Bauman 2, Ross 4, Pastore, Watkins, Klingerman, Gair 2).
Records: Holy Redeemer 16-8. Loyalsock 21-7.
Next: 4-2 Loyalsock vs. 1-1 Valley Forge, Wednesday, TBA

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
WILLIAMSPORT—As the seconds ticked off the first half clock Gerald Ross dribbled the ball up from Hughesville’s basket with the hopes of hitting a long shot.
Ross quickly dribbled the ball through the defense and got the looked he wanted. The shot was true, which elevated the Lancers throughout the halftime break. The Lancers continued to pour in the points, pushing Hughesville into the consolation game of the District 4 Class AAA tournament with a 58-36 victory.
Loyalsock will take on No. 1 seeded Wellsboro, which defeated Southern Columbia 53-28. Hughesville will play Southern Columbia with the winner advancing into the PIAA Class AAA Tournament.
As for Tuesday night it was all Loyalsock as the Lancers outscored the Spartans 18-7 over the first eight minutes. They never really looked back after the start as Ross finished with 22 and Anthony Pastore added 14 more to help bury the Spartans.
“I was pleased with the first four or five minutes because we started exhibiting what we are really capable of doing,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “The rest took care of itself.”
Loyalsock held Hughesville to just 13 points in the first half, but was especially good defensively in the second. Taylor Mason, who finished with 21 points, scored all six of the Spartans points over the stretch. He also pulled down two rebounds as the rest of the Hughesville offense only managed to attempt three shots.
As the defense limited Hughesville throughout the first half, Ross, who recently joined the 1,000-point club, took over offensively. He scored 12 points in the opening quarter and added another four in the second to lead all scores through the first two quarters.
“On a given night anyone can score,” Insinger said. “That helped us tonight.”
All eight of Loyalsock’s players scored points. Ross led the way with 22 and Pastore chipped in 14, but Brandon Bauman, who missed two of the last three games due to sickness, scored two points and Connor Watkins and Bam Brima each added four points.
“We wanted to start out fast,” Watkins said. “We know that their game plan it to slow the game down and run their stuff. They will hold the ball 30 to 40 seconds every time down the court. We wanted to get up on the them early and make them change their game.”
Hughesville attempts to slow the game down ended quickly as Loyalsock opened converting five of its first six attempts from the floor.
Pastore only scored two points as Loyalsock built its lead throughout the first half. In the second half he took over.
Pastore scored five points in the third quarter and then added seven over the final eight minutes to help Loyalsock closeout the win.
“We came into these last two games and played the way we needed to play,” Pastore said. “If felt good. I started off a little slow. The jump shot wasn’t falling. I started making some layups and then hit a midrange and the shot was on from there.”

No. 3 Loyalsock 58, No. 6 Hughesville 36
Hughesville (36)
Tobias Harrington 2 2-3 6; Isaiah Savage 0 0-0 0; Matt Myers 1 0-0 2; Patrick Rogers 0 0-0 0; Devon Bushor 0 0-0 0; Clayton Proust 0 1-2 1; Ori Shaner 1 0-0 2; Taylor Mason 8 5-6 21; Luke Ergott 1 0-0 2; Logan Woolcock 0 1-4 1; Austin Long 0 1-2 1. Totals 12 10-17 36.
Loyalsock (58)
Brandon Bauman 1 0-0 2; Gerald Ross 10 0-1 22; Collin Graver 1 1-2 3; Anthony Pastore 4 4-5 14; Connor Watkins 2 0-0 4; Mitchell Klingerman 1 1-2 3; Bam Brima 2 0-0 4; Aiden Gair 2 1-2 6; Ryan Sullivan 0 0-0 0; Rees Watkins 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 7-12 58.
HUGH 7 6 12 10–36
LOY 18 11 18 12–58
3–Point Goals: Hughesville 0. Loyalsock 5 (Ross 2, Pastore 2, Gair).
Records: Hughesville 13-10. Loyalsock 20-6.
Next: No. 3 Loyalsock vs. No. 1 Wellsboro, TBA

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
WILLIAMSPORT—Loyalsock’s Ron “CI” Insinger Gymnasium is usually buzzing with activity, but it was unusually full last Saturday as the Lancers took on Athens in the middle of the afternoon.
Balloons hung from the railing lining the top of the gym and a larger than normal student section filled in the bleachers in the far corner. It was a special day for Loyalsock and a historical one for Pennsylvania’s high school basketball scene.
Insinger needed just one win to earn his 900th victory and junior guard Gerald Ross needed just 17 points to become the 14th player in program history to cross the 1,000-point marker for his career.
By themselves, both would be monumental accomplishments. Together, they are historic. It’s rare to even meet a person who has coached 900 games let alone won 900. For Loyalsock, which has seen its share of 1,000-point scorers, it’s almost as difficult to reach that milestone as a junior.
Both accomplished those goals as Ross hit a routine jumper in the third to cross the 1,000-point marker. The Lancers then went on to record a 71-57 win over Athens to give Insinger his 900th win.
“It’s was a very special day, a milestone and a great day for the Township,” Insinger said of his 900th win and Ross reaching 1,000 points. “I couldn’t sleep last night. You have emotions. You’re scared. You want to get it over with and reach that pinnacle, but on the other hand you have to keep everything in perspective and do what’s best for the team.”
The nerves and lack of sleep wouldn’t even have been noticed by fans. Insinger kept a calm about him throughout the game, even when the Lancers trailed through the first two quarters.
By the time the third quarter came around and Loyalsock started to make a move most in attendance were aware Ross was closing in on the mark and started to buzz with excitement. A routine jumper from the top of the paint went through the rim, barely touching the net. The next moment belonged to Ross as the game was stopped for a moment to acknowledge the feat.
Ross was presented with four blue balloons. A one followed by three zeros nearly reached the top of the gym as teammates and competitors reached out to give Ross praise. It was an outstanding scene for the everyone involved, but for Ross it was truly as special moment. As a junior, he still has one more year to play and add to that total. After hitting the shot Ross waved to the crowd and displayed class throughout the small ceremony.
“Being in combination with coach to get his 900th win on the same night you can’t ask for a better night than that,” Ross said. “Playing for a coach like him, he’s one of the greats. It was just a good feeling.”
The journey to 900 wins was long. Insinger started as a gym teacher at Loyalsock and when approached about coaching the basketball team wasn’t entirely sure he wanted the position. Obviously he leaned more toward accepting which sent him on a course to change the program’s history. Loyalsock has been a contender nearly every year Insinger has been at the helm. Insinger has won 19 district titles and has posted 20 or more wins in 33 of his 43 seasons.
“It’s really special,” Insinger said. “Many of my old assistant coaches were here. That’s very, very special to me and very meaningful that they care after all these years. I have such a passion for basketball and love the game so much. I’m just a small piece of the puzzle. I’m not bigger than the team or bigger than the school. I’ve just been blessed with quality players and great coaches and that’s just so invaluable.”
Insinger and company knew how to celebrate the feat. Entering the gym named in Insinger’s honor it was clear something special was going on. Directly above Loyalsock’s bench were golden balloons shaped to 900. Other balloons, in Loyalsock’s alternate blue, lined the top railing of the gym. It was clear something exceptional was on the line.
The balloons and obvious excitement from the fans to start the celebration looked a little premature throughout the opening quarter. Loyalsock stated slow and found itself down by six points at the the conclusion. The effort was a little better in the second quarter, but the Lancers headed into the half still down.
The third quarter of the game will be one locked in the minds of those in attendance. Ross closed in on his milestone will every basket. The Lancers also got their coach closer to his feat with every shot. It was a run that came to a stop when Ross hit his third shot of the quarter. The presentation was brief as Loyalsock quickly got back to work to outscore Athens 21-12 through the eight-minute span.
Ross came into the game needing 17 points to reach 1,000. He finished with 28 points and in typical Ross fashion helped his team overcome the sluggish start to record its 16th win of the season.
“It was just like Ross getting to 17 points,” Insinger said of Ross reaching 1,000 points for his career. “You stress yourself out and pressure yourself to the point where nothing falls. He stayed pretty loose today. He got off to a good start and that really helped.”
The final quarter continued in that fashion as Mitchell Klingerman, Loyalsock’s most improved player through the 2017-18 season, took over. Klingerman finished the final quarter with 10 points, a block, and two rebounds as the Lancers outscored the Wildcats 23-15 to closeout the historic day with one more milestone.
Insinger was greeted with hugs, pats on the back, high fives, cheers, and more cheers as the Loyalsock faithful joined with Athens fans to give the longtime coach his due. There’s a good chance this won’t be the last celebration for Insinger’s distinguished career, but for one moment he and Ross will be linked to one of the best days in Loyalsock’s history.

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
SHIKELLAMY—For a second consecutive game Loyalsock found itself planning a play for the final seconds that could possibly give it the win.
It was the second game it came down to the final possession and for a second straight time No. 2 Loyalsock delivered. Gerald Ross took the shot for the win the first time. He then displayed another level Wednesday as Loyalsock opened the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference playoffs against No. 3 Mount Carmel. Ross is typically the focal point of the defense. He used that to suck the defenders in, which allowed Connor Watkins to break free for an open look at the basket.
Loyalsock looked tired for three quarters, but found a way late, scoring 22 points over the final eight minutes and receiving a second consecutive buzzer-beater to defeat Mount Carmel 53-51 in the semi final round of the PHAC playoffs.
Loyalsock will take on No. 1 seeded Danville Friday at 6 p.m. once again at Shikellamy high school. The Lancers and Ironmen split the season series. Danville won on a late three from Jordan Bickhart at Loyalsock. In the final regular season game of the year for the Lancers, Ross canned a three late to give Loyalsock a dramatic win over Danville.
It all added up to a championship matchup between the two most consistent teams in the league. Danville lost just one game within the league all season. Loyalsock avenged one of its two losses with the win at Danville. All told, it’s exactly the way any good league championship should be claimed.
As for the Wednesday’s game, a small roster hit with sickness throughout the season and that dramatic win over Danville, meant Loyalsock opened with an emotional letdown that nearly doomed it from the jump.
“You hate to see that, but that’s why you play the game,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “That’s why sports are so unpredictable.”
The only predictable thing about Wednesday’s game was the suspenseful finish. Both teams looked like tired boxers in the 12th round of a championship fight. Mount Carmel would score. Loyalsock would head right back down the court to match.
There were two lead changes and a tie through the final quarter. Locked at 51 apiece, Loyalsock needed some more late drama. Unlike Monday’s win at Danville, Loyalsock had the advantage of time as Anthony Pastore dribbled the ball up court with nearly 30 seconds left on the clock. The Lancers moved the ball around and quickly called a timeout with 4.6 seconds left.
“It was Gerald’s shot, but Connor was the second option,” Insinger said. “He did a great job and had good body control. He blew by the kid. The worse thing we thought he would end up at the foul line.”
Ross didn’t have the look he wanted as defenders quickly got on top of him. That meant there was an opening somewhere in the defense and Ross found it as Watkins made a break for the basket.
“We were trying to get the ball into Gerald and just make a play on it,” Watkins said. “I told him before if they weren’t guarding me I was going to cut hard to the basket. I’m just happy he gave me an opportunity.”
As far as last second, buzzer-beating shots it wasn’t at the high end of the difficult scale. Watkins cut directly to the basket, split two defenders and put the game-winner up without much interference.
“That suggest the signs of a good athlete,” Insinger said. “He knows what it takes to win.”
Watkins finished with six points. All six came over the final two quarters. He also pulled down five rebounds over the stretch. Mitchell Klingerman, the lone Lancer to finished with double-digit points, helped the rebounding effort with four over the last two quarters.
“We said we had to start doing what Mount Carmel did to us the first three quarters,” Insinger said. “That was getting second, third, and fourth efforts and winning the 50/50 balls. We also had to clean up on the glass. We had to stay in our stance and put pressure on from 90 feet.”
Loyalsock’s offense looked sluggish to open the game. Klingerman was the lone spark, scoring six points in the opening quarter and following that up with two more and a rebound in the second.
“We came up underestimating Mount Carmel’s level of play,” Klingerman said. “We thought we would be in Friday no matter what, but it hit us really hard they were the real deal. We came out slow and just needed to wake it up.”
Klingerman hit five threes in the game to lead the Loyalsock offense with 18 points. He also pulled down four rebounds.

Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference Boy’s Basketball Playoffs

No. 1 Danville 50, No. 2 Central Mountain 48
Central Mountain (48)
Issiah McCann 2 1-2 5; Collin Jones 0 0-1 19; Matthew Storeman 1 2-2 4; Tyler Adair 1 1-1 3; Jake Sketch 2 0-0 5; Trevor Hanna 4 2-3 12. Totals 19 6-9 48.
Danville (50)
Coleman Cush 0 1-3 1; KJ Riley 0 0-0 0; Shane Kozick 6 0-1 12; Peyton Riley 5 0-0 11; Jack Smith 0 0-0 0; Mavin James 1 1-2 3; Jordan Bickhart 3 2-3 10; Colin Holcombe 6 1-2 13. Totals 21 5-11 50.
CMT 16 5 13 14-48
DAN 19 6 14 11-50
3–Point Goals: Central Mountain 4 (Hanna 2, Jones, Sketch). Danville 3 (Riley, Bickhart 2).
Records: Central Mountain 11-10. Danville 18-3.
Next: No. 1 Danville vs. No. 2 Loyalsock at Shikellamy, Friday, 6 p.m.

No. 2 Loyalsock 53, No. 3 Mount Carmel 51
Mount Carmel (51)
Michael Belichik 1 0-0 2; Anthony Moser 0 0-0 0; Donovan James 8 3-4 20; Evan Salamone 0 2-2 2; John Ayres 1 0-0 2; Tommy Reisinger 10 1-3 22; Michael Hood 1 0-0 3. Totals 21 6-9 51.
Loyalsock
Gerald Ross 3 3-6 9; Collin Graver 0 0-0 0; Anthony Pastore 3 0-0 7; Connor Watkins 3 0-0 6; Mitchell Klingerman 6 1-2 18; Bam Brima 2 0-0 4; Aiden Gair 3 3-3 9. Totals 20 7-11 53.
MC 13 16 14 8–51
LOY 9 7 15 22–53
3–Point Goals: Mount Carmel 3 (James, Reisinger, Hood). Loyalsock 6 (Pastore, Klingerman 5)
Records: Mount Carmel 17-6. Loyalsock 18-5.
Next: No. 1 Danville vs. No. 2 Loyalsock at Shikellamy, Friday, 6 p.m.

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
DANVILLE—Just how does one follow up a history making performance in front of the hometown supporters? Well, if you’re Loyalsock’s Gerald Ross you follow it up with a dramatic game-winning shot.
As seconds ticked away late against Danville, Ross stood by the three-point line waiting for a chance. After some ball movement, Connor Watkins found Ross by the line and shot him a quick pass. The rest was up to Ross, who delivered a long three to give the Lancers a 49-47 win over Danville, avenging an early season loss.
Loyalsock, which finished the season 17-5, will head to Shikellamy Wednesday to take on No. 3 seeded Mount Carmel. The tip is set for 7:30 p.m. and will follow the opening game of the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference playoffs that features HAC I winner Central Mountain against Danville.
“It’s tough to win at Danville,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “I call it the Danville mystic where they have the ability to hit shots at the buzzer. We didn’t want to be in the position we were in, but that’s what happens when you play here.”
Ross, fresh off of joining Loyalsock’s 1,000-point club, helped open the game with a spark, converting all four attempts from the floor and nailing another free throw to finish a three-point play. He converted another basket and free throw in the second. Those points were crucial, but Ross’s trey at the end of the game proved to be the winner.
“There were like 16 seconds left and we were down by one and I was nervous,” Ross said. “Connor (Watkins) found me and set a good screen for me to get an open look and I just shot it with confidence. I wanted the game-winning shot.”
Ross got it as Loyalsock didn’t even blink after Shane Kozick gave Danville a one-point lead. The Lancers, who still had a timeout, ran up the floor, moved the ball around and gave Ross the chance to play hero.
“To come up here and win by two feels good,” Ross said.
A big reason for Loyalsock’s late efforts being on the table came from a complete team effort to try and contain Danville’s Jordan Bickhart. In the first meeting, Bickhart torched the Lancers throughout the first half. He was contained in the second half, but still managed to hit a late three for the game-winner.
At Danville, Loyalsock used multiple players to stop Bickhart, but one that really stood out was Bam Brima, who finished with six points, two blocks, and four rebounds. He also did an outstanding job of rotating on defense to pick up Bickhart. Once on him, Brima used his length to stop Bickhart off the dribble.
“He had a good all around game for us,” Insinger said. “He had some points for us in the first half. Anytime Bam scores for us it’s a bonus. He’s out there for defensive purposes and rebounding.”
Loyalsock received an outstanding effort from the entire team as it held one of the area’s top offenses under 50 points through four quarters. The defense was good, but it was Ross who led the way offensively.
Ross finished with 21 points with seven coming over the final eight minutes. Anthony Pastore, who was one of the primary defenders on Bickhart, finished with four points, but also managed to pull down five rebounds. Mitchell Klingerman finished with eight points, eight rebounds, and a steal.
Loyalsock opened the game on a 7-0 run. Ross had five of those points as the defense clamped down on the Ironmen, who finished the first quarter with two air balls and four turnovers.
Danville took a lead in the second after Shane Kozick was fouled on a difficult attempt under the basket. Loyalsock used a run to close out the quarter to take a lead into the half, but Bickhart heated up with six of the first eight points in the second half.

Loyalsock 49, Danville 47
Loyalsock (49)
Gerald Ross 8 2-2 21; Collin Graver 0 0-0 0; Anthony Pastore 2 0-1 4; Connor Watkins 3 1-2 7; Mitchell Klingerman 3 2-2 8; Bam Brima 3 0-1 6; Aiden Adair 1 0-0 3; Ryan Sullivan 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 7-10 49.
Danville (47)
Coleman Cush 1 0-0 2; Shane Kozick 5 4-6 14; Peyton Riley 1 1-2 3; Jack Smith 0 0-0 0; Mavin James 3 1-2 7; Jordan Bickhart 6 0-0 17; Colin Holcombe 1 0-0 2; KJ Riley 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 8-12 47.
LOY 15 11 11 12–49
DAN 10 11 11 15–47
3–Point Goals: Loyalsock 1 (Ross). Danville 5 (Bickhart 5).
Records: Loyalsock 17-5 (8-2). Danville 17-4 (9-1)
Next: Mount Carmel at Loyalsock, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Danville at Bloomsburg, today, 7:30 p.m.
JV Score: 62-49 Danville
High scorers: Loyalsock: Hertwig, 17. Danville: Riley, 16.

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
WILLIAMSPORT—The beautiful thing about sports is there always seems to a be a shot at redemption waiting for those athletes ready to make amends for past performances.
It requires work and a willingness to face the mistakes of the past to overcome and excel through the new challenges ahead. Recently, Loyalsock’s Gerald Ross was forced into a situation his coach called a possible chance at a “lift lesson”.
Ross was charged with a technical during a late loss to Montoursville. It contributed to the Lancer’s deficit. It also took Ross out of the game as Montoursville completed it comeback to avenge a mid season loss. It was a devastating moment for the both the team and the player.
Luckily for Loyalsock, the rare moment did little to define the team and player as both bounced back nicely to redeem themselves. Ross posted a team-high 33 points in Loyalsock’s following game, but as a whole the team played much better during a tough road contest against Jersey Shore.
The Bulldogs are not an easy opponent, especially on the road. The school is known for having a committed student section that loves to support their players. Loyalsock weathered the environment throughout the game to secure a 67-54 win.
“Saturday was tough,” Ross said. “We started off well, but it was just a tough game overall.”
Ross opened the game with 13 points to lead the Lancers in scoring. It was an outstanding start to the game. It built a lead and quickly got Ross, who is referred to by his coach as one of the top athletes on the floor regardless of the game, on track. He proved everything his coach said, connecting on multiple shots from difficult angles to keep the defense guessing throughout the opening quarter.
The first eight minutes displayed exactly what type of athlete Ross has become over the years. It showed growth both mentally and physically. He distributed the ball well, helping move it around throughout to find open shooters. Mitchell Klingerman benefited greatly from it, nailing seven points over the first minute of the game. He jumped out to clear a three and then followed that with two quick field goals to bring his early totals up and keep Loyalsock motivated.
“It was a good start,” Klingerman said. “That good start really helped us in the long run. It just happened I was at the right place at the right time and my teammates found me.”
Adversity struck for Ross in the middle of the game when Loyalsock’s offense slowed to only scored nine points in the second quarter. It allowed Jersey Shore to comeback, but a lapse in defense through the third had it on the ropes. Junior Armstrong matched Ross’s output throughout the third, but Ross and the Lancers just wouldn’t break. A defensive adjustment worked as Loyalsock contained Armstrong enough to hold him to just six fourth quarter points.
As the defense worked to limit the Bulldogs, Ross came back for a strong finish over the final eight minutes to get his team back on track. Again, the basket just appeared to be made for Ross, who barely let the ball hit the floor with his efforts. Ross, an All-state selection in football, overcame a lot for the performance, but it never really showed. He opened with an outstanding effort to get his team in front and continued to lead it throughout the win.
“It looked huge,” Ross said of the basket. “I remember I shot a shot from the baseline, didn’t jump and my arms felt heavy and it still went in. It’s just that night.”
Ross will be a key piece for the Lancers moving forward. He has provided valuable leadership, scoring, and athleticism. His ability to overcome difficult situation makes him that much better for the Loyalsock.

Loyalsock 67, Jersey Shore 54
Loyalsock (67)
Brandon Bauman 2 0-0 4; Gerald Ross 3 3-5 33; Collin Graver 1 1-2 3; Anthony Pastore 2 2-4 7; Connor Watkins 2 2-2 6; Mitchell Klingerman 4 0-0 9; Bam Brima 0 0-0 0; Aiden Gair 1 2-2 5; Ryan Sullivan 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 10-15 67.
Jersey Shore (54)
Darren Stetts 0 0-0 0; Jason Dincher 3 0-0 6; Hunter Frantz 0 0-0 0; Nate Ewing 8 1-3 21; Tanner Lorson 1 0-2 2; Cody Stetts 0 1-2 1; Junior Armstrong 9 6-9 24. Totals 21 8-16 54.
LOY 26 9 16 16–67
JS 13 8 19 14–54
3–Point Goals: Loyalsock 7 (Ross 4, Pastore, Klingerman, Gair). Jersey Shore 4 (Ewing).
Records: Loyalsock 14-5. Jersey Shore 9-11.
Next: Loyalsock at Danville, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Jersey Shore at Selinsgrove, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

 

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
JERSEY SHORE—The quickest way to get a bad taste out of your mouth is to swiftly take a bite of something with better flavor.
For Loyalsock, the taste of Saturday’s loss to Montoursville was one that needed to be replaced quickly. Many on the team had called it a low point and it’s hard to argue.
The Lancers quickly put the loss and taste behind them with 26 points in the opening quarter against Jersey Shore. The points and production just kept coming for the Lancers, who ultimately downed Jersey Shore, 67-54.
“They were excited and enthused to come out and put that game in the archives,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said.
Loyalsock’s offense looked dialed in from the jump. Mitchell Klingerman hit three consecutive baskets to get the offense going, scoring seven points with just a minute ticked off the game clock.
“It was a good start, because of that start it helped us progress through the game,” Klingerman said. “It just happened I was in the right place at the right time and they got me the ball.”
Klingerman opened the game with a quick two. He then found an open spot on the three-point line. Loyalsock’s ball movement quickly found Klingerman, who converted the three. Loyalsock’s next possession ended with Klingerman scorning his seventh point. He later converted a layup in the fourth quarter to help put the game away for Loyalsock.
Klingerman opened hot, but so did Gerald Ross, who appeared to take the loss to Montoursville personally. Ross scored 13 points over the first eight minutes as Loyalsock built a 26-13 lead. Ross connected on five of his seven attempts from the floor in the opening quarter.
“We are tying to make the PHAC Championship and we know we need to win out,” Ross said. “We have to beat everyone in our conference and we need some other things to happen. We just came in strong.”
Ross and the offense slowed in the second quarter, but the defense continued to play well. It held the Bulldogs to just eight points. Junior Armstrong, who led The Bulldogs with 24 points, paced the offense in the second quarter. He finished with six points, two rebounds, and a steal.
Armstrong was nearly unstoppable in the third. He scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. He did a good job of following his shots and converting rebounds into points.
Loyalsock switched to a zone in an effort stop Armstrong, who still managed to hit two shots from the floor and get to the line twice in the fourth quarter.
Armstrong’s game was outstanding, but Ross was just a little better, topping all players with 33 points. He also blocked a shot, pulled down five rebounds, and added a steal.
“He had his composure and he was stroking it,” Insinger said. “He just put on an exhibition.”

Loyalsock 67, Jersey Shore 54
Loyalsock (67)
Brandon Bauman 2 0-0 4; Gerald Ross 3 3-5 33; Collin Graver 1 1-2 3; Anthony Pastore 2 2-4 7; Connor Watkins 2 2-2 6; Mitchell Klingerman 4 0-0 9; Bam Brima 0 0-0 0; Aiden Gair 1 2-2 5; Ryan Sullivan 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 10-15 67.
Jersey Shore (54)
Darren Stetts 0 0-0 0; Jason Dincher 3 0-0 6; Hunter Frantz 0 0-0 0; Nate Ewing 8 1-3 21; Tanner Lorson 1 0-2 2; Cody Stetts 0 1-2 1; Junior Armstrong 9 6-9 24. Totals 21 8-16 54.
LOY 26 9 16 16–67
JS 13 8 19 14–54
3–Point Goals: Loyalsock 7 (Ross 4, Pastore, Klingerman, Gair). Jersey Shore 4 (Ewing).
Records: Loyalsock 14-5. Jersey Shore 9-11.
Next: Loyalsock at Danville, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Jersey Shore at Selinsgrove, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
For the Loyalsock Lancers
MONTOURSVILLE—The final two minutes of Loyalsock’s Saturday night showdown against Montoursville featured clutch shots, timely fouls, and pressure-packed free throws.
Unfortunately for Loyalsock it was all Montoursville down the stretch as Owen Kiess hit eight consecutive free throws to ice the game, giving the Warriors a 42-36 win. The victory helped to avenge and earlier loss in the season, moving the Warriors to 13-5 (7-4). Loyalsock falls to 13-6 (7-3) with three upcoming road games.
“We never shoot well at Montoursville, but that’s no excuse,” Loyalsock coach Ron “CI” Insinger said. “We just never played at the pace we needed to play at to beat them. The ball movement was slow and we just didn’t get good looks at the hoop.”
Loyalsock struggled from the field throughout the opening half. The Lancers only managed to hit three of nine attempts through the opening eight minutes. That trend continued into the second quarter when they finished with just one bucket from the field.
Connor Watkins, who finished with six points, three rebounds, and a steal, grabbed a ball after a missed shot and quickly put it back for the Lancers lone made field goal of the quarter.
“We never once controlled the tempo of the game, well maybe a couple minutes in the last quarter,” Insinger said. “They controlled the tempo of the game. They had possession of the ball a lot more than we did.”
Loyalsock played a better third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 10-7 over the stretch. As a team, Loyalsock hit five of nine attempts for the field and played much better defense. Montoursville converted three of four attempts from the line, but only attempted four total shots as Loyalsock pulled within three of tying the game.
“They got back into the game,” Montoursville coach Mike Mussina said. “They played really well in the third quarter and the first part of the fourth. We got down and we were in a spot that if we didn’t play solid it couldn’t have really got away from us. We got a basket and got a little closer and a got a foul. The technical foul really helped us out. It was one of those games that it could have gone either way. We played well enough tonight and we’ll take it.”
Once in the fourth, both teams fought through four lead changes and one tie. Montoursville only hit two of three shots from the floor, but canned 11 of 14 shots from the foul line.
Kiess was outstanding for the Warriors down the stretch. Of his game-leading 20 points, eight came over the minute of the game. Kiess made all eight of his attempts from the line as Loyalsock attempted to foul to get back into the game. The fouls didn’t work as Kiess couldn’t miss from the line.
“He was deadly,” Insinger said. “He had the ball in his hands. They were smart about it. We had to foul at the end which made the margin larger. It’s just smart basketball.”
Kiess nailed two free throws with 55.8 seconds left moments after a technical foul was assessed to Ross. Kiess made both attempts to tie the game. Montoursville then scored on the ensuing possession to take a lead it would hold the reset of the way.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow and it has to stop,” Insinger said. “Unfortunately it came back to bite us tonight. Hopefully he’ll learn from it. It won’t bring back this game, but hopefully a life lesson will be learned here.”
Just four players scored for Montoursville on the night, but it was enough, especially after missing just six free throws. That total included just four misses over the final two quarters.
“They have really good players,” Mussina said. “We played hard and we played with energy at the end. We had a couple bounces go our way and made a couple free throws and that’s how we won the game. Sometimes you get the bounces and today was our day.”

Montoursville 42, Loyalsock 36
Loyalsock (36)
Brandon Bauman 1 2-3 4; Gerald Ross 6 2-2 14; Collin Graver 0 0-0 0; Anthony Pastore 1 1-2 4; Connor Watkins 3 0-0 6; Mitchell Klingerman 2 0-0 4; Bam Brima 0 0-4 0; Aiden Gair 0 4-4 4. Totals 13 9-14 36.
Montoursville (42)
Owen Kiess 4 11-12 20; John McCarthy 2 3-6 8; Dylan Bower 0 0-0 0; Tyler Reidy 1 0-2 2; Jason Good 0 0-0 0; Austin Loe 5 2-2 12. Totals 12 16-22 42.
LOY 8 6 10 12–36
MTV 10 10 7 15–42
3–Point Goals: Loyalsock 1 (Pastore). Montoursville 2 (Kiess, McCarthy).
Records: Loyalsock 13-6 (7-3). Montoursville 13-5 (7-4).
Next: Loyalsock at Jersey Shore, Monday, 7:30 p.m. Montoursville at Danville, Monday, 7:30 p.m.
JV Score: 51-49 Loyalsock
High scorers: Loyalsock: Tyler Herwig, 17. Montoursville: Young, 10.