EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the latest in a series looking back at the top 10 girls basketball teams, coaches, games and players from last decade

There are no easy HAC-III games. The league has been one of central Pennsylvania’s the last four years and all six teams recorded winning records last season. That in mind, one could excuse Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson if he scheduled some softer non-conference opponents.

But that is not his nor his team’s style. Loyalsock wants to play the best because it’s ultimate goal is to be the best. Jacobson builds one of District 4’s most challenging schedules each year because he wants his teams as prepared as possible come playoff time. If that means a few more regular-season losses so be it. If it produced some fantastic regular-season wins that is even better.

The main goal has been building a consistent state-caliber program. And in just four years at Loyalsock, Jacobson has done that. In each of his four seasons, Loyalsock has reached the state tournament, beating Trinity, Holy Redeemer and Notre Dame-Green Pond in first-round games the last three years. Loyalsock has topped 20 wins in three consecutive seasons, captured the 2019 District 4 Class AAA championship, won two straight HAC-III titles and won the 2018 Heartland Conference Tournament title.

Because this list only takes into consideration what happened from 2010-19, this past season’s 24-5 mark which included a district final and second-round state tournament appearance was not included. Still, even taking that away, Jacobson did enough in three years to beat an outstanding field and claim the top spot. From 2017-19, his teams went 62-21 and compiled a .774 winning percentage. That record looks even more impressive when one considers the schedule Loyalsock has encountered each season, one that featured eight state qualifiers, in 2019.

“I was asked at the beginning of the (2019) season, ‘why are you scheduling Dunmore, why are you scheduling this team?'” Jacobson said following a first-round state tournament win against Holy Redeemer. “One, I think we can play with them and even if we can’t we’re going to figure out why we can’t. No game now should be too big because you’ve played the Dunmores, you’ve played Penns Valley … We’ve been playing really good teams night in an night out and it just makes them better.”

“People look at our schedule and kind of call Jacobson crazy because we schedule a lot of tough game, but in the long run all those close games help us in the long run,” forward Sarah Van Fleet said that same night. “They all help us for games like this.”

They also have helped create one of the district’s best programs.

Before Jacobson had arrived, Loyalsock had not won a playoff game since 2011. A five-year playoff drought had ended just a year earlier as well. Right from the start, however, Jacobson started letting his young team know that they could be great. The Lancers would respect everyone, but fear no one and an upward climb began as they went 16-10 and finished third in District 4. Loyalsock made big strides throughout the season, surged at the right time, nearly beat perennial power Mount Carmel in the district semifinals and gave state power York Catholic a serious scare in states.

The York Catholic performance was an eye-opener. That Loyalsock could hang with one of the state’s top programs was encouraging, but Jacobson remained unsatisfied. Moral victories were not why he and his players were after. The good news was that nearly all those starters were returning for 2018.

But then guard Cassie Gee tore her ACL in the team’s first game. Then when leading scorer and three-year starter Maddie Fox tore her ACL at midseason, hopes of having a great season appeared dashed. At least it looked that way from the outside.

Inside the locker room, Jacobson and his staff, including his wife Kerri and Kirk Bower, kept the players upbeat and focused. They bought in and, against the odds, continued thriving. At 5-foot-8, Van Fleet was the team’s tallest player, but she and her teammates attacked opponents with fury and took off down the stretch. Freshman Summer McNulty blossomed, junior guards Sam Stopper and Juliana Cruz shined in the backcourt, Rhiallie Jessell made a big impact as a first-time player and the defense swarmed.

Instead of crumbling, Loyalsock went on a roll and finished 22-7. The Lancers beat HAC-I champion Shamokin and HAC-II champion Lewisburg for the HAC Tournament championship. They then made a statewide statement when they beat District 3 champion and 2019 state semifinalist Trinity in the first round of states.

“Getting there is one thing, but we talked about making your mark and making sure people in the state understand who Loyalsock is and understand that we’re not just one of those teams that you’re going to beat up on. We want to be competitive and we schedule that way,” Jacobson said afterward. “We want to be one of those programs competing at the state level and the girls are understanding that they can. This goes beyond this group of athletes. It builds the program, it builds excitement for young players watching the games and this is the game that hopefully is starting something big.

It was. And it continued growing in 2019.

Loyalsock put together one of the most dominant campaigns by an area team last decade, going 24-4 and romping to both the HAC-III and District 4 championships. Four starters returned from that 2018 team and both Fox, who reached 1,000 career points, and Gee returned strong. Jacobson again got the most from his players. A tireless worker who seemingly has seen film or scouted live any potential Loyalsock opponent, he constantly had his teams prepared. He also was like a mad scientist at times, switching defenses, alternating game plans and making rapid adjustments. Mixing that with a talented and driven group created a powerful blend and Loyalsock blew out three straight district opponents to capture its first district title since 2010.

“We’ve been going through this with Jacobson for three years and we’ve kind of matured each year as it goes on,” Cruz said that year. “At this point, almost every situation that comes we’re getting better and better at being OK with it and being confident in what we’re doing on the court.”

Loyalsock again defeated a perennial state title contender in the first round, downing Redeemer, 57-41. The Lancers had Imhotep on the ropes at times in the second round and executed well, but a bad shooting night doomed it in a 49-38 loss.

“They bought into it. The credit first to the senior class and then everyone buying into what the senior class has done,” Jacobson said. “They’ve shown them the ropes and that is going to pay dividends for the next few years as well.”

It already has. Despite losing four decorated starters from that 2019 team, Loyalsock again won 24 games last winter and Jacobson earned Sun-Gazette Coach of the Year honors for a third straight year. Loyalsock won another HAC-III title, beat 24-win Notre Dame-Green Pond and gave powerhouse West Catholic a battle in the second round of states. All but one starter return next season as well.

The schedule will remain demanding and the expectations high. And Jacobson, 86-26 in his four years, will be making sure Loyalsock fears no opponent.