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Kauffman looks to mirror Tagliaferri

If one ever constructs a Jersey Shore girls basketball Mount Rushmore, Hannah Kauffman and Alison Tagliaferri might be side by side.

How fitting then that Kauffman will play college basketball for Tagliaferri at Bloomsburg next winter. Tagliaferri revived a dormant program during her scholastic career at Jersey Shore from 1998-2001 before putting together an outstanding collegiate career at Mansfield University. Kauffman has done for Jersey Shore what Tagliaferri did during her high school days. Now she hopes to follow in her footsteps at the college level.

And she picked a good teacher to help show her how.

“It’s cool to play with someone that went here to Jersey Shore. She’s someone that you can look up to,” Kauffman said. “She is a great coach and was a great player.”

Kauffman shares the qualities that made Tagliaferri stand out. While she is a guard, not a forward like Tagliaferri, Kauffman plays with a relentless motor, never takes a play off and makes her teammates better. The four-year starter consistently stuffs the stat sheet and has helped transform Jersey Shore into a winner.

The similarities do not end there. Tagliaferri is Jersey Shore’s all-time leading score with 1,623 points. Kauffman is now No. 2 with 1,310 points. Like Tagliaferri, Kauffman also reached 1,000 points as a junior.

Before Kauffman arrived in 2015, Jersey Shore had not had a winning season in nearly a decade. As a freshman, Kauffman helped Jersey Shore make a six-win improvement and the big breakthrough came the following season when the Bulldogs reached states for the first time since Tagliaferri’s 2001 senior campaign. A 15-win season followed last year and now Kauffman has helped one of the area’s youngest teams start 8-5 while leading the area in scoring and contributing in all areas.

“Hannah continues to amaze me,” Jersey Shore coach Darrin Bischof said after Kauffman scored 21 points, made five steals and added four assists in last Thursday’s 62-50 win against Central Mountain. “She knows that we’re working with girls who don’t have a ton of varsity experience and she understands the more she can get them involved the more she’s going to get involved. I just love coaching her. She loves the game and she works very, very hard.”

Kauffman became Jersey Shore’s first all-state player since Tagliaferri last year, but that only fueled her competitive fire more. That is in the past and Kauffman only focused on the future throughout the offseason. She continues elevating her performance despite every opponent gearing its defense toward slowing her. Kauffman is averaging 19.8 points per game, topping 30 points twice, and also is among team leaders in every major category.

As a freshman, Kauffman did a lot of damage as a shooter, but her game has evolved a lot since then. She still can do damage from outside, but also is electric in the open court, attacks the basket well and features a nice set of post moves. Kauffman also is an outstanding defender who often wreaks havoc against opposing guards, harassing ball handlers, cutting off passing lanes and sparking Jersey Shore’s transition game. She also has become a strong team leader and helping the young players grow.

“It’s a new season. We had a different team last year. This year we’re made of mostly underclassmen and just two seniors, so this is a new journey,” Kauffman said. “The younger girls really feed off everyone’s energy so if one person’s down everyone is down. You just have to be positive and pick them up.”

Tagliaferri picked up Kauffman and might have found a gem. The Huskies are having a good season and Kauffman could help continue that upward trend next year. The foundation is there for Kauffman to become a strong collegiate player. She has all the intangibles and wants to keep improving. Maybe two of Jersey Shore’s great ones will become synonymous with success at Bloomsburg as well.

“It’s something you look up to when you’re younger,” Kauffman said. “I always wanted to play at a higher level and I just pushed myself and it’s another level of competition and I’m excited about it.”

“Hannah is a natural athlete who has so much room to grow, and Bloomsburg is getting a steal,” Bischof said. “She’s only going to work to get better.”

SILVER LINING: Central Mountain dropped to 0-9 following the Jersey Shore loss and has won just four games the last four years. But look beyond the record and one sees a lot of promise. It has been a dark decade for the Wildcats, but it finally appears there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep an eye on this team the next few years because Central Mountain could be poised to write quite a comeback story.

The Wildcats are one of the area’s younger teams and, when healthy, start two sophomores and a freshman. Sophomore guards Avery Baker and Quinlynn McCann each have had strong games this season and both are averaging more than nine points per game. Freshman guard Mia Kopasciansky also has a bright future and is a consistent double-digit scoring threat. There is potential at the junior high level, too, and Central Mountain has been more competitive in defeats this year than in previous campaigns.

Former Central Mountain boys coach Scott Baker is now coaching the girls team and is encouraged by the growth he is seeing. Baker led the boys team to a district championship two years ago and is enjoying watching this team listen, learn and stay positive. The focus right now is progress more than wins. Turning the program around is a process, not something that happens overnight.

“The majority of them are so young and they’ve trusted us. We told them we’re not going to lie to them. We’re going to tell them the truth,” Baker said. “When it’s not good enough we’re going to tell them, but we’re going to tell them in a positive way. They’re buying in and it’s getting better.”

PUTBACKS: St. John Neumann put together a strong performance Saturday against Bucktail, building a 15-point halftime lead and winning, 41-23. The Knights played outstanding defense and showed marked improvement as Anne Weller dealt five assists and made four steals … Hughesville continues playing relentless defense and defeated Bloomsburg, 37-32 last Saturday. The Spartans have allowed 33 or fewer points in four of their last five games. Guard Jade Cordrey erupted for a career and area-high 34 points in a 58-33 win against Benton … Montoursville’s Mackenzie Cohick grabbed 10 rebounds and made six steals in Saturday’s 44-17 win over Central Columbia … Aleaha Bigelow and Sasha McMonigle produced 20-point games as Muncy defeated St. John Neumann and Millville … North Penn-Liberty won its first game in dramatic fashion, rallying from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and edging Troy, 34-33. Taylor Thompson scored 13 points and Liberty outscored Troy, 18-8 in the fourth quarter … North Penn-Mansfield’s Jaime Palmer is coming on strong, averaging 11.5 points over her last four games and making 15 steals in wins against Wyalusing and Williamson … Cara Parsell had a big game, scoring 11 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in Galeton’s 51-29 against Austin. Katelyn Pagano scored 16 points and Haylee Ludington had nine assists and four steals … Cowanesque Valley is playing excellent defense, holding three of its four opponents to 35 points or fewer.

Dr. Masse’s Top Five

1. Loyalsock (11-1): Whether she scores or not, Sarah Van Fleet makes a big impact nearly every time she plays. The senior forward has helped spark Loyalsock’s defense the last three seasons and came up big in convincing wins against Bloomsburg and Southern Columbia last week. Van Fleet played well against Southern’s tall front line Saturday and grabbed seven rebounds as Loyalsock defeated the defending District 4 Class AA champions, 52-35.

“Sarah plays a lot bigger than she is. If there’s a loose ball, if there’s a rebound, if there’s a rotation where she’s getting in the way, she’s usually doing her job,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “She’s just so active. She’s such a big piece for us. She’s not going to score a ton of points, but on the defensive end her communication and directing traffic are so helpful. She’s a very special player in that regard for us. She’s a huge piece for us. She’s one of our more important players.”

2. South Williamsport (10-3): Forward Alyssa Johnson is one of several dedicated seniors who has helped transform this program. When Johnson was a freshman, South won one game. It has elevated its win total each season since and already has eclipsed last year’s regular-season win total after defeating Lewisburg, 49-48. Johnson often gives up size inside, but little else and she was outstanding against Lewisburg, scoring 11 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking four shots.

“She works so hard in the post. most of the time she’s an undersized post and she has developed so well over four years and she has never complained about anything we’ve asked her to do offensively or defensively,” South coach Justin Marnon said. “She bangs with some big bodies down there and a couple years ago she wouldn’t have been able to play with two or three fouls, but now she’s a senior, we trust her and she’s a smart player. She leaves it all out there.”

3. Warrior Run (8-4): The Defenders are one of the district’s hottest teams, having won seven of their last eight games and they took sole possession of first place in the HAC-II with a 43-37 win against Lewisburg last Saturday. Warrior Run has not let an opponent score more than 39 points in any of those last seven wins and received some quality balance in two victories. Sophomore Sydney Hoffman is having a big season, but freshman Emily McKee erupted for a career-high 17 points against Central Columbia and Avery Bieber added 12 against Lewisburg. Combine that with a swarming defense and Warrior Run has a shot at winning its first league championship of the 2000s.

4. Williamsport (5-5): The Millionaires split two games last week and have won three of their last four after defeating Pottsville Nativity, 56-52 last Saturday. Guards Jada Whaley, Katelyn Wilson and Fondrea McClain combined for 46 points in that win and forwards Emily Pardee and Samiyah Little are capable of having big games. The Millionaires play two solid District 4 teams this week, going to defending HAC-II champion Lewisburg Tuesday and hosting two-time defending District 4 Class A champion Lourdes Saturday.

5. Jersey Shore (8-5): Senior guard Reba Lorson can be a difference-maker off the bench and scored 11 points in the Central Mountain win. Lorson stretches defenses and drained three 3-pointers in the win. Aubrey Stetts is adjusting well to playing point guard for the first time and had 12 points and three assists in the win. Haley Stetts grabbed seven rebounds and Sadie Griswold scored seven points.

Players of the Week

Abby Henderson, St. John Neumann and Katelyn Wilson, Williamsport: Henderson delivered a memorable performance in the Bucktail win and set a 2000s area record for rebounds in a game. Henderson was an all-around force, scoring a career-high 25 points, grabbing a remarkable 33 rebounds, blocking seven shots and making five steals. Henderson is having a solid senior year and everything came together Saturday as she became just the third area girls player to top 30 rebounds in the 21st century. Wilson is really hitting her stride, averaging 15 points over her last four games and topping 20 points twice. Wilson scored 38 points in two games last week, 22 against Hollidaysburg and 16 against Nativity. The junior is a good shooter who also can attack the basket and drained four 3-pointers in the Nativity win.

Game of the Week

Lewisburg at Jersey Shore: Two years ago these teams met in a memorable 4A district playoff game with Jersey Shore winning at the buzzer. Wednesday will be the only time they play this year since Lewisburg is now a 3A team. This will be a chance to watch two all-state candidates and two of their program’s all-time greats, Kauffman and Grace Kelleher go head to head. Both players have young and improving groups around them and this should be a close and entertaining game.

–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse

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