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Jersey Shore girls leave their mark by routing Selinsgrove and winning first league title in 27 years

By Chris Masse 6 min read

JERSEY SHORE–This time 27 years ago, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men held the country’s No. 1 song spot, belting out “One Sweet Day.”

The current Jersey Shore girls’ basketball players might not know that song, but their parents likely do. Heck, most of them were still in school back then. Yes, it sure had been a long time since Jersey Shore won a league championship.

That drought ended Thursday, and this officially became One Sweet Night. Now’s it’s time to break out some Queen because Jersey Shore is the champion at last.

Putting together a complete effort and utilizing swarming defense, Jersey Shore thumped Selinsgrove, 45-22 Thursday night and captured a share of the HAC-I championship. The Bulldogs (17-4) share the crown with Shikellamy after the rivals split their season series. Jersey Shore, however, earns the league’s automatic spot in next Thursday’s HAC Tournament at Shikellamy and will battle for overall conference supremacy against either Mount Carmel, Bloomsburg or Central Columbia in the semifinals.

“It’s really exciting,” junior forward Celia Shemory said. “It’s been a long time and it’s the first for coach (Darrin Bischof), so it’s really special.”

“It’s a great accomplishment,” point guard Cailyn Schall said. “We earned it together.”

They sure did.

Jersey Shore was one of the district’s youngest teams two years ago when it won three games during a condensed COVID season. That team always competed hard and as it gained more experience–as well as some outstanding freshmen last year–it made a 180-degree turn. The Bulldogs won 13 games, reached districts and laid the foundation for future success.

More work remains and Jersey Shore has bigger goals it hopes to accomplish yet. Still, looking at how far the Bulldogs have come so fast made definitely made Thursday a time to savor.

“We’ve definitely come a long way,” Schall said. “We’ve really built it up.”

“I just told them that they earned it. I said you earned it by playing hard and giving your all,” Bischof said. “You came out and did what needed to get done in a convincing way.”

Jersey Shore started slow against Selinsgrove and briefly trailed in the first quarter before heating up toward the end and taking a five-point lead. Turns out the Bulldogs were just getting warmed up because they put on a clinic in the second quarter, broke the game open and basically turned the second half into a coronation.

All five starters scored at least eight points and all five scored during the second quarter as Jersey Shore produced 23 points and built a 32-8 halftime lead. The Bulldogs forced six second quarter turnovers, moved the ball quickly and produced good shots. Every player played her role and Jersey Shore generated a perfect example of how it has turned things around so quick.

“It’s awesome,” Shemory said. “To see this team working together, that’s our big thing.”

Sophia Stover ignited the second quarter surge when she drained two quick 3-pointers. Her first one came in the opening minute of the quarter and made it all five starters already scoring. That balance continued all night as Peyton Dincher scored a game-high 11, Schall 10 and Stover, Shemory and Jocelyn McCracken eight each.

After Stover opened the quarter with her 3-pointer, Peyton Dincher made two quick steals and turned them into layups. Another Stover 3-pointer followed and when Jocelyn McCracken found Schall inside, the Bulldogs led 21-6. At that point, they had scored 12 points in two minutes, while making all five shots from the field.

“The second quarter, defensively, we took over the game,” Bischof said. “We work together and share the ball. Whoever was in tonight, they all stepped up. I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished this year and hopefully we can carry that momentum into Saturday (at Loyalsock) and into the playoffs.”

Equally impressive was Jersey Shore’s ball movement. Whether in transition or the halfcourt, Jersey Shore came alive in the middle quarters and repeatedly produced quality shots. The Bulldogs tallied 13 assists on their 18 field goals and McCracken had five. Schall is one of the area’s leaders in assists and added three, while Dincher (5 rebounds) and Stover each dealt two.

Shemory played one of her best games as well, helping Jersey Shore inflict the mercy rule five minutes into the third quarter. She also made the shot of the night in the third quarter when she took a McCracken pass under the basket and made an impressive reverse shot, nearly going all the way behind her head to do so. Seconds later, Shemory intercepted a pass at midcourt.

“Celia is so athletic and can jump out of the gym,” Bischof said. “She really worked hard tonight and had one of her better games.”

McCracken, a forward who consistently plays taller than she is, imposed the mercy rule less than a minute following Shemory’s reverse, scoring off a putback to make it, 43-13. Jersey Shore defeated Bald Eagle Area Wednesday night and heads to Loyalsock Saturday, so Bischof promptly removed his starters, let them rest up and gave his backups quality experience, as well as a taste of championship action.

When asked about the last time Jersey Shore had won a league championship before Thursday, Shemory pointed to the banner which showed 1996. This is a hungry team which is still young and wants more. But it also has earned its spot on the banner; done something no other Bulldogs team had achieved in 27 years and that sure provides a great feeling.

“We’ve been fighting and working hard the whole season,” Shemory said. “It feels nice to have this right before the playoffs start.”

SELINSGROVE (22)

Murphy O’Brien 1 0-0 3, Alyssa Latsha 3 1-4 7, Haylee Nava 0 0-0 0, Kristin Shaffer 2 1-6 5, Shaela Kruskie 2 0-2 5, Erika Piepszowski 1 0-0 2. Totals 9 2-12 22.

JERSEY SHORE (45)

Peyton Dincher 4 2-2 11, Jocelyn McCracken 3 2-4 8, Cailyn Schall 4 0-0 10, Sophia Stover 3 0-0 8, Celia Shemory 4 0-0 8, Rachel Lorson 0 0-0 0, Rayne Herritt 0 0-0 0, Paige Wheary 0 0-0 0, Hannah Heaton 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Fleegle 0 0-0 0, Destiny Budman 0 0-0 0, Avery DePasqua 0 0-0 0, Mya Lehman 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 4-6 45.

Selinsgrove 4 4 6 6-22

Jersey Shore 9 23 11 2-45

3-pointers: Selinsgrove 2 (O’Brien, Kruskie); Jersey Shore 5 (Schall 2, Stover 2, Dincher).

Records: Jersey Shore 17-4, 8-2 HAC-I.

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