Rapidly improving Shore wants to keep it going
Two years ago, Jersey Shore won three games and usually played in front of mostly-barren gyms.
Last Thursday, Jersey Shore’s gym was filled and fans made lots of noise from start to finish. And just two years after finishing 3-19, Jersey Shore is taking its place among some of the best teams in program history. Talk about a huge turnaround.
Jersey Shore overcame an early deficit and excelled under pressure in the fourth quarter, beating HAC-I champion Shamokin, 43-37 in the District 4 Class AAAA quarterfinals. The Bulldogs (18-5) won the program’s first playoff game since 2006 and are state-tournament bound for the first time since 2001. Jersey Shore now also has a shot at winning the program’s first district championship of the 2000s, facing top-seeded Montoursville in the semifinals.
“I have never heard our gym as loud as (Thursday),” Jersey Shore coach Darrin Bischof said. “The girls kept their composure and executed the game plan which was to pressure them the whole half and wear them out. It was a pressure filled game and I am proud of the way we executed down the stretch to beat a very good team.”
Bischof took over last year and has quickly built Jersey Shore into one of the district’s premier teams. The Bulldogs made a six-win improvement last year and surged down the stretch, beating eventual District 4 Class A champion North Penn-Mansfield on its home court. That gave Jersey Shore a taste of success and a group of determined players were eager to keep moving upward.
The Bulldogs attacked the offseason hard and have attacked games even harder. Jersey Shore relentlessly competes and has established itself as one of the district’s most tenacious teams. Jersey Shore might have nights where it is outscored but it is never outworked and that is a big reason it has come so far, so fast.
“We just compete. I love this team because no matter how a game is going, we just get after it,” Bischof said. “This group of seniors especially, have been through a lot and they have been determined to achieve this.”
Before this season, Jersey Shore had not had a winning campaign since 2006. And that was the program’s first since 2001. Changing a culture is never easy, but Jersey Shore has done it in two short years. The Bulldogs now expect to win instead of wondering if they can. Different players have come through at critical times all season and the Bulldogs have won three games with last-second shots after rallying late each time.
“Getting to states is great because I am not sure I envisioned that when I first took over,” Bischof said. “However, I knew this was a year we could reach higher goals, just by the way we ended last season and the heart we have.”
That heart was evident against Shamokin. The Indians beat Jersey Shore for the HAC-I championship, winning the regular-season finale. Shamokin then snapped Montoursville’s 12-game winning streak, overcoming a 17-point deficit in the HAC Tournament semifinals. The Indians looked like they were peaking, but Jersey Shore dominated down the stretch and had its fans standing and cheering as the final seconds ticked away.
Three players scored in double figures and both starters and reserves made big impacts. The performance symbolized everything that has made Jersey Shore a winner and now the Bulldogs have an opportunity that seemed far-fetched two years ago.
“They are very excited but they do know that Montoursville is a great team,” Bischof said. “They challenge you inside and outside and we have to manage their pressure. We will have our work cut out for us, but that is what makes the playoffs so special.”
HISTORY MAKERS: The Sullivan County gym features few girls basketball banners. How special it feels for this year’s team then to know that it continues making history. The Griffins also continue enhancing their status as the best team in program history.
Sullivan won two playoff games last week, earning both their first-ever Class A state tournament berth and their first district championship appearance. The Griffins (21-3) routed Millville, 43-14 in the quarterfinals before rallying in the final three minutes and beating Galeton, 42-37 in a thrilling semifinal. Sullivan will play Lourdes in the district championship as it tries making more history. Its 21 wins also are a program-record so it has been a year to remember.
“We’re breaking records all the way around. It feels awesome,” Sullivan forward Stef Kramer said. “When I was a freshman I started one game and I was horrible. We played summer league and worked hard and we’re getting better and the freshmen coming up are getting better.
Sullivan also won the Mid-Penn championship, going undefeated in league play. Even losing standout Kaiti Beinlich to a season-ending injury at midseason has not slowed the Griffins. Players like Kramer, Leah Beinlich, Alexis Randall and Jessica King have elevated their performances to compensate. Senior starters Sarah Parrish, Ashley Faus and Bethany Weinhardt have provided steady production and leadership as well.
The defense has been dominant at times and held Millville to two first-half points. Sullivan showed it is mighty tough as well, stopping a big Galeton run and making eight straight fourth-quarter foul shots in the last 55 seconds. Faus was especially clutch, making six straight during that time, all in one-and-one situations.
“We’re all working hard and it’s great being able to do well for our school,” Kramer said. “It’s great being able to win and being with a great group of girls.”
BREAKING THROUGH: Like Jersey Shore and Sullivan, Hughesville has enjoyed a basketball renaissance. The Spartans (15-8) made a big statement in the District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals, going on the road and routing No. 3 Troy, 54-20. Hughesville won its first playoff game since 2007, reached the semifinals for the first time since that season and now has a chance to reach the championship for the first time in the 2000s if it can beat Wellsboro in Tuesday’s semifinals.
The Hughesville seniors have led the resurgence, helping improve the program’s win total in each of the last four seasons. Before last year, Hughesville had not reached the postseason since 2007. This team has continued raising the bar, winning four more games and thumping a Troy team that featured an explosive offense. Freshman guard Morgan Gentile averaged more than 20 points per game and had 41 earlier this year against Sullivan. It speaks volumes about Hughesville’s swarming defense then that it held Troy to just 20 total points and Gentile to eight.
Hughesville’s defense has been downright nasty down the stretch, holding four straight teams, including Montoursville, to 32 points or fewer. The offense can come and go at times, but Hughesville knows if it continues playing that tough defense it has a chance to win any game. And a chance to make this one of the biggest breakthroughs in program history.
FOR THE DEFENSE: Speaking of defense, Montoursville has built a district title contender around its strong defense. That was the case in Thursday’s Class AAAA quarterfinals against Shikellamy, as Montoursville won 37-28 and clinched its second state tournament berth in three seasons. It was the 12th time in 13 games that the Warriors (22-2) held an opponent to fewer than 40 points.
The offense has hit a lull the last few weeks, but Montoursville continues hounding opponents and that keeps it being successful.
“We pride ourselves on our defense and we hold teams to about 30-35 points per game. Every practice we work hard at it because defense wins championships and that’s ultimately what we try to do,” Montoursville coach Travis Heap said. “With Marlene (Bassett) in middle kind of disrupting things and Lauren (O’Malley) being so athletic, Lexi (Marchioni) has free range to kind of run wherever she wants and jump passes and it works out. We contest shooters, we box out well and we just play overall team defense and you saw that (Thursday).”
Montoursville has won 13 of its last 14 games and is seeking its first district championship since 2000. Three players are averaging in double figures, but if Montoursville wins that elusive title it likely will be the defense leading the way.
“We understand we have to keep going,” Heap said. “We have two more steps to take care of, but it’s always nice going home and knowing that at least you’re going to play among the 32 best teams in the state in your classification.”
AROUND THE AREA: Loyalsock won a 32-31 District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal over Warrior Run, taking its first playoff win since 2011. The Lancers (15-8) overcame a halftime deficit, made a late defensive stand and earned a spot against Mount Carmel in the semifinals with a chance to reach the state tournament. Sam Stopper grabbed 11 rebounds and Sarah Van Fleet scored a team-high eight points. Warrior Run’s Madi Welliver capped a fantastic scholastic career in that game, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds … Lewisburg has been hit hard by costly injuries but is headed to the state tournament for the second time in three seasons. The Green Dragons (11-12) made a two-hour road trip and stunned NTL champion Athens, 36-28. Grace Kelleher scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Emily Sholly added nine rebounds and five blocks. Lewisburg will play rival Mifflinburg in the AAAA semifinals … Wellsboro will be trying to reach its second straight district final when it plays Hughesville Tuesday. The Green Hornets (17-8) thumped Williamson, 43-26 in the quarterfinals as Lizzie Poirier scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Dr. Masse’s Top Five: 1. Montoursville (22-2); 2. Sullivan County (21-3); 3. Jersey Shore (18-5); 4. Loyalsock (15-8); 5. Hughesville (15-8)
Players of the Week–Emily Akers, Hughesville and Stef Kramer, Sullivan County: Akers has come back strong from a late-season injury and was at her best against Troy, scoring a season-high 23 points. Akers drained five 3-pointers, set an early tone and outscored Troy by herself while showing what a weapon she can be. Kramer has made huge strides during her junior season and scored 12 points while adding 10 rebounds against Galeton. Kramer hit two last-second shots ending the second and third quarters and made the game’s biggest basket, drilling a go-ahead 3-pointer in the corner 10 seconds after Galeton took a fourth-quarter lead. Kramer also had four blocks and four steals against Millville.
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