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Sock is using doubts as fuel

Trinity features a 6-foot-10 Division I-bound center. It also starts a 6-7 power forward and a 6-5 small forward. Trinity entered the season a state title contender and has done nothing to diminish that status all year.

Obviously, Loyalsock is being labeled a significant underdog Saturday when it faces the Shamrocks in the Class AAA state quarterfinals at Pottsville’s Martz Hall.

What else is new?

Loyalsock has been in this role throughout its first two state tournament games and is enjoying it. Some might have written off the Lancers (22-7) after a heartbreaking District 4 championship loss to Wellsboro, but they have used those doubts as fuel. And should have plenty more ammunition today.

“Personally, I love being the underdog because going into the game our team has nothing to lose,” forward Connor Watkins said. “We can go out and play our game the way we want.”

“It’s a challenge and these kids love challenges, so they know we’re going to have our A-plus game when we go up against Trinity,” Loyalsock coach Ron Insinger said. “They have good bigs, good guards and are a well-rounded team with good balance. It’s going to be a battle.”

Nearly every Loyalsock postseason game has been. Take away two blowout district playoff wins and Loyalsock has been pushed hard each time. The Lancers lost in the district final and the Heartland Conference final after nearly erasing double-digit deficits. Those comeback missions were completed against Mount Carmel in the HAC semifinals and against Holy Redeemer in the opening round of states as Loyalsock erased 15-point deficits each time and won on Watkins and Gerald Ross buzzer-beaters.

The Lancers did not have to overcome a big deficit against Valley Forge Military Academy last Wednesday, but they repeatedly answered each time the District 1 champions took a fourth-quarter lead. That game felt a lot like today’s going in, too, with Valley Forge featuring three players 6-7 or taller, including a Division I-bound 6-10 center.

Loyalsock was not intimidated and went on the attack, beating a team that returned a strong core from last year’s state quarterfinalist. The games keep growing tougher, but so does Loyalsock.

“I think we are the toughest team around, given that we have been in situations where we have been down by 20 sometimes,” Ross said. “We always find a way to do what we need to do to get back in it and get the win no matter what that is.”

“You can’t say enough about that. That’s something you don’t coach. That has to come from within,” Insinger said. “You can prepare them for that, but until they actually do it over and over again in front of a crowd it’s to no avail. Sometimes you can practice and practice and practice but when you need that type of thing it doesn’t happen because of nerves or tenativeness.”

That has not been a problem for Loyalsock. The Lancers might not always win, but they always believe they will and that can go a long way. When things grow difficult, this group has come together instead of pulling apart.

It has been different players delivering at crucial times as well. Ross and Watkins hit buzzer-beaters, Mitch Klingerman hit a game-winning 3-pointer against Valley Forge, Anthony Pastore ignited the Redeemer comeback and hit two clutch foul shots in the final seconds Wednesday. Bam Brima has provided strong rebounding and defense, Watkins has given up size but nothing else inside and reserves like Aiden Gair, Brandon Bauman and Collin Graver have all provided postseason sparks.

“We all trust each other to make the play. We built this chemistry all season long and it paid off,” Ross said. “One night can be me, one night Mitch, one night Anthony and one night Connor. That’s the beauty of our team. We’re deep and anybody can make that play.”

Loyalsock’s ability to make those players has brought it face to face against a familiar state tournament foe. This will be the third time Loyalsock and Trinity have met in states since 2013 and the second time they have collided in the quarterfinals. They have familiar traditions, both are well-rounded and both feature legendary coaches, Insinger and Larry Kostelac, who have combined to win 1,604 career games.

A young team that included four sophomore starters played Trinity in the 2013 state quarterfinals at Martz Hall. That team with Roger Wilson, Kyle Datres, Omar Little, Mike Pastore and Ben Sosa, led Loyalsock to the Final 4 two years later, something that had not been done at Loyalsock since 1993. It has not been an easy road, reaching this point and it has taken several twists and turns, but suddenly this team has a chance to reach the same destination.

“The last time we made the eastern finals, we had Kyle, Ben, Omar and those guys and they were supposedly the best Loyalsock team ever,” Klingerman said. “The fact that we can be going on the same path as them is awesome.”

Continuing along that path will be difficult. Trinity is the best opponent Loyalsock has faced this season and that includes playing three good 6A teams. But this is the way Loyalsock likes it.

The last two games have been as exciting as it gets with Loyalsock winning at the buzzer and in the last 14 seconds. These are the memories that last a lifetime. Whatever happens Saturday, Loyalsock will go all-out trying to create some more.

“We talked about that after the Redeemer game,” Insinger said. “We said never forget this moment and remember how good this feels and springboard it into the next game because there is not not a better feeling.”

“It’s all heart,” Klingerman said. “Nobody wants this more than the four guys that are on the court with me. We will not stop putting are hearts on the line.”

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