Loyalsock has won 10 straight games and produced two of its widest victory margins on consecutive nights last week. The Lancers went on the road both times, topping Southern Columbia and Montoursville by 93 combined points.

After his team started strong each game, Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson played his reserves almost exclusively over the final three quarters at Southern and the final 1 1/2 quarters. And if Loyalsock makes a postseason run, those two games could hold some importance.

And that is because so many young players competed, often going against the opponents’ starting units. It was a good learning tool, but also a reward. All those girls who might not see their name in the newspaper have played a key role in Loyalsock (14-2) surging to the top of the HAC-II and District 4 Class AAA standings.

They are the team’s unsung heroes, the ones who push the starters each day. They make the starters better and vise-versa and those two games last week let the reserves enjoy their moments in the sun, too.

“It’s super valuable. They have to go against our first varsity group all season and that becomes a grind,” Jacobson said. “You can’t get enough moments like this; these game moments. Practice is practice but game moments against their starters are huge and they competed at a super high level. With a running clock you get less opportunities but I felt like we did a good job with those opportunities.”

Those younger players and/or reserves also seize their opportunities at practice. Like the scout team in football, they are the players whose purpose it is to push the starters, give them the best opponent look they can and help them be in the best position possible come game time.

Without the headlines, that might seem like a thankless job but it is a critical one. It is one which makes the starters better and themselves better. Taken together, that makes the entire team better.

Loyalsock would not be where it is without having so many athletes who might not see varsity time, play key roles each day. So when moments like last Wednesday’s and Thursday’s game it provides them both experience and a well-deserved opportunity.

“I’m grateful for my teammates who are ahead of me who get those big leads, so I can just be very competitive and just play my game and be with my team,” sophomore Maddie Wertz said after playing well at Montoursville in her second game back from a torn ACL. “I hope I’m a good asset to the team.”

She is and so are all the other players who saw their most varsity action last week. Others might not know how important those players are, but their teammates and coaches sure do. With or without court time, they help make Loyalsock a better team.

And that is why so many who do play a lot were so happy watching their teammates excel at Southern and Montoursville. Because this is not a team of starters or a main rotation. It is a team, period and they are all pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves.

“They know that for us to do what we want in a game, we have to practice it and they’re the ones we have to practice it against and not once do they complain about anything,” Jacobson said. “That’s hard to find. It’s hard to find players who are willing to do that and at the same time, have the big picture in mind and realize how much better that’s going to make them.”

FOR THE DEFENSE: Muncy has turned its season around behind the strength of its swarming defense. The Indians (8-5) have won seven of their last eight games and have allowed fewer than 30 points in all eight. Doing so has helped them stay within a game of St. John Neumann in the Mid-Penn West standings and also has moved them to second in the District 4 Class AA standings. Muncy has won four straight games and held both Benton and Millville to 29 points in double-digit wins last week.

Point guard Addi Eyer has been a defensive spark and also is running the offense well, producing 23 points, 12 rebounds and 14 steals last week. Her sister Ava added nine points, 12 rebounds and five steals against Millville, while Addi Gresh pulled down six rebounds.

PUTBACKS: North Penn-Mansfield is right behind Muncy in the Class AA standings and has made a five-win improvement from last season. The Tigers (9-5) have won three straight games, also playing strong defense and holding each opponent to 33 or fewer points … Montgomery is another team which has made nice strides, reaching a three-win improvement so far. Falin Reynolds had a big night in Saturday’s 41-30 win at Sullivan County, going for 24 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Rubi Solano added 10 points, nine rebounds and six steals. August Harney scored a career-high 17 points for Sullivan … Milton played an outstanding second half Saturday at Montoursville, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a 59-40 win. Kiley Long has been vital to the Black Panthers surging and scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half. She has 39 points in her last two games and freshman Addison Wenzel scored 16 at Montoursville, while Warriors’ senior Maddie Labatch tallied 15 … Williamson (11-2) clinched its first playoff spot since 2018 Saturday, defeating Canton, 46-25. Taylor Rae Jones scored 19 points and Kenna Thomas 17 as the Warriors continued their best start since 2002. Williamson also is seeking its first league title in more than two decades and leads Northeast Bradford by one game in the NTL-II … Before playing undefeated, defending District 4 Class A champion Meadowbrook Christian tough Thursday, Bucktail recorded a quality 43-38 win at Northwest. Makenzie Wagner scored 20 points in that win as Bucktail dominated the second half, allowing just 14 points and erasing a seven-point halftime deficit … Wellsboro (5-7) has moved back into the District 4 Class AAA playoff picture after earning wins against Sayre and Canton. The Hornets allowed just 46 points in those games.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Loyalsock (14-2): Loyalsock closed its week with an impressive 51-32 against rival Bloomsburg, which it has met in districts in each of the past six seasons. Sophomore Alaina Dadzie was a force inside, scoring 24 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and making six steals. Her sister Izzy nearly produced a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, and Lacey Kriebel added 10 points and six boards.

2. Hughesville (14-2): The Spartans stayed within one game of Loyalsock in the HAC-III, recording double-digit wins against Mount Carmel, South Williamsport and Warrior Run. The defense allowed just 48 points in the last two games and four players scored in double figures in all three. Freshman Maddie Smith capped the week with a 19-point performance Saturday in a 57-29 win against Warrior Run, while Ava Snyder scored 16 in a 53-40 win against Mount Carmel as the Spartans beat the Tornadoes for the first time since the Heartland Conference was formed. Hughesville is second in the District 4 Class AAA standings and if it remains among the top four, it will host a playoff game for the first time since the district started awarding quarterfinal home games.

3. Jersey Shore (12-3): Jersey Shore also had a busy week, sweeping three games and taking sole possession of first place in the HAC-I with a key 49-38 win against Shikellamy. Those two rivals split the league crown last season. Jersey Shore played tough defense in all three wins, including Saturday when it defeated Lewisburg, 45-36. Jocelyn McCracken was tough inside in those wins, scoring 16 points each time. Cailyn Schall continues running the offense well, dealing eight assists at Lewisburg, and Peyton Dincher scored 25 points in the Shikellamy win. Jersey Shore has won six straight games.

4. Williamsport (7-6): The Millionaires concluded a seven-game road trip Monday night at Lewisburg, building momentum for it by beating long-time nemesis Harrisburg, 61-39 last Saturday. Williamsport has surged since starting the season 0-3 while playing a demanding schedule. Payton Baney was a force at Harrisburg, producing 20 points, 16 rebounds and four assists. Abby Mahon shined off the bench with 10 points and Cierra Rainier also scored 10 points. Nadirah Tutler hit the boards hard, grabbing 12 rebounds. Ella Wilson scored 16 points a few nights earlier at Altoona and added five assists at Harrisburg.

5. St. John Neumann (10-4): Neumann has won six straight games to maintain a one-game lead in the Mid-Penn’s West Division as it tries winning the program’s first league championship. The Knights also have moved to second in the District 4 Class A standings. Sophomore Bre Nixon is heating up and providing Neumann another threat after scoring 20 points in her last two games. Point guard Niyah Tutler has averaged more than 15 points per game over the last few weeks and Lizzie Weller added 14 in a win at CMVT. Gigi Parlante is 12 rebounds from 900 for her scholastic career as Neumann prepares to host Benton tonight.

Players of the Week

Chloe Brandenburg, Wellsboro and Nolah Moyer, Muncy: Brandenburg helped Wellsboro win both its games last week, scoring 33 points against Sayre and Canton. The junior point guard has helped the Hornets heat up, averaging 18.7 points in her last three games. She also has scored 16 or more in four of her last five contests. Moyer will pitch at St. Bonaventure in the spring of 2025, but she also shines on the court and produced consecutive double-doubles in Muncy’s wins. Moyer totaled 27 points and 24 rebounds, while adding four assists against Benton and three steals against Millville.

Game of the Week

Hughesville at Loyalsock: It’s Round Two Saturday night. The area’s top-ranked teams meet for the second time in 18 nights then after Loyalsock won the first game, 50-42. Neither team gave an inch that night and Loyalsock is the only team to beat Hughesville over its last 15 games. The Spartans are one game behind Loyalsock in the HAC-II and are second to it in the Class AAA district standings, so this game again features several possible ramifications.