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Rhandie Jessell did not see much game action the last few years, but she still played a large role helping Loyalsock capture multiple league and district championships. Spectators may not have seen that impact, but her teammates and coaches did.
And now that the senior is Loyalsock’s starting point guard some might still miss how valuable Jessell is. She often does all the little things which fly under the radar but are so important. Friday against Milton, Jessell carried on that role but also stood out in the second half, draining three quick 3-pointers which helped Loyalsock blow the game open. Jessell scored nine second-half points and Mia Patterson (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Allyia Kennedy (18 points, 10 rebounds) each produced double-doubles as Loyalsock defeated visiting Milton, 63-38 and won its sixth straight game.
Jessell’s 3-pointers came within a three-minute span and helped Loyalsock (10-3) land the knockout blow in a game which was close until the final three minutes of the second quarter. Take away those 3-pointers and Jessell still would have had an excellent game even if some overlooked it.
“She’s played a position where it’s been hard to find time for her the last couple years. She is somebody who really has worked her tail off at practices for four years and she does a lot of little things that go unnoticed,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “She’s not going to blow you away with her stats but she plays defense every single night for us and she dictated tempo tonight and tempo is our game. She creates a lot of opportunities for everyone else and she played the best game of her career tonight, in my opinion. To me it’s just the beginning for her.”
Jessell began her scholastic career playing behind guards like two-time all-stater Summer McNulty and three-year starters Cassie Gee and Sophia Gardner. She could always play, Jessell was just caught behind a decorated trio. Jessell never pouted and instead made those guards and herself better each day at practice. Those intra-squad competitions brought out the best in both sides and Loyalsock continues reaping the benefits as Jessell runs the offense.
She has done so quite well this season and continues settling in. Jessell is a tenacious defender who helps set the tone for a team which has scored at least 59 points in each win during its streak. She also sets up teammates well, competes hard and is progressing each game in all facets.
“I feel like we played so much this summer and I’ve gotten so used to it. Even though I haven’t played I felt like I was prepared with all the hard work I put in the last few years and over the summer,” Jessell said. “Me and Summer are really good friends so I played against her a lot and that really helped me, too. It’s whenever my teammates succeed and I’m part of that it makes me feel good.”
Jessell had Loyalsock feeling really good when she started hitting 3-pointers like they were layups. Loyalsock was in control but Milton was hanging around late in the third quarter when Jessell drained two consecutive treys before finding Anna Luxenberger for another. She then set up a steal by Patterson which resulted in a layup that made it 54-24 and imposed the mercy rule.
Less than a minute into the third quarter, Jessell again hit nothing but net on a 3-pointer and Loyalsock took its biggest lead, 59-28. During that flurry, she had a hand in all 14 points. And that run drove home to everyone else what Loyalsock has known for quite some time–Jessell sure can play.
“It’s all about our teamwork. I feel like when we have good chemistry and I’m getting the right passes than you know it’s the right shot,” Jessell said. “Whenever I have the opportunity and we get the ball moving and I feel like I’m open I just let it go.”
“Those 3-pointers are deflating for the other team, especially when you work on defense and then they get one. There’s just something different about it. It’s only a one-point difference, but it just feels so different,” Jacobson said. “They were big shots for her, but again, it’s not just that. She does so much other stuff and she is very deserving of everything she got tonight.”
Milton (6-6) has improved a lot since Loyalsock defeated it 52-14 less than a week into the season. The Black Panthers had won four of five games entering Friday and handled Loyalsock’s pressure well early. Less than three minutes before halftime, Milton trailed just 18-15. Jacobson then called a timeout, Loyalsock tweaked its full-court press and everything changed.
Loyalsock started scoring fast enough to make Usain Bolt blush and mounted a 15-0 run in just 2 minutes, 20 seconds to build an 18-point halftime lead. Loyalsock forced six turnovers during that span, drastically changed the game’s pace and played like a more energized team. Patterson helped lead the charge, having a hand in the first 13 points while scoring seven points, dealing three assists and making three steals during the game-changing run.
“We came out a little flat and we were a little not into it yet,” Jessell said. “Once we got in our press it all came together and our chemistry grew. All of us were getting assists and passes and we were playing very unselfish.”
Loyalsock drove home that point by producing 18 assists on 26 shots made. Patterson had a game-high six and Kennedy five. Kennedy added six steals and Patterson five. Luxenberger, Julie Ellis (6 points), Chloe Kennedy and Lauren OáMalley provided valuable minutes off the bench. Grace Baylor and Rylie French also produced multiple assists.
The Lancers kept the energy and pace up starting the third quarter and were up 19 when Jessell dropped the hammer and helped them seal the win.
“We had to change a couple of things to our defenses early on there. We weren’t creating the turnovers we wanted to; weren’t pushing the tempo how we wanted,” Jacobson said. “We made a couple adjustments to our press that we saw on the sideline and it really turned the page.”
Morgan Reiner continued her strong play for Milton, scoring a team-high 14 points and adding six rebounds. Ditto Kiersten Stork who had 12 points and five rebounds. Abbey Kitchen added eight points and seven rebounds, while Leah Walter dealt three assists.
MILTON (38)
Morgan Reiner 6 2-2 14, Kiersten Stork 4 3-4 12, Abbey Kitchen 4 0-1 8, Leah Walter 0 0-0 0, Kya Rovenolt 2 0-0 4, Brooklyn Wade 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 5-7 38.
LOYALSOCK (63)
Allyia Kennedy 8 2-3 18, Mia Patterson 9 3-4 21, Grace Baylor 2 0-0 4, Rhandie Jessell 3 0-0 9, Rylie French 0 0-0 0, Julie Ellis 2 2-2 6, Lauren OáMalley 0 0-0 0, Chloe Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Anna Luxenberger 2 0-1 5. Totals 26 7-10 63.
Milton 6 9 11 12-38
Loyalsock 11 22 21 9-63
3-pointers: Milton 1 (Stork); Loyalsock 4 (Jessell 3, Luxenberger).
Records: Loyalsock 10-3. Milton 6-6.