That sequence said a lot about Andrews the player and Andrews the person. He was sitting at 999 career points at that moment but made the smart play and helped Loyalsock extend its lead.

Patience and unselfishness paid off a few minutes later when Andrews caught a Nate Bauman pass, absorbed contact and banked in a shot, giving him 1,000 career points. It was a collective effort Saturday at the Magic Dome, but Andrews provided the biggest highlight, reaching that milestone as Loyalsock defeated Williamsport, 58-43.

Bauman scored 16 points and Gage Patterson 11 while making six steals as Loyalsock snapped a two-game losing streak against its rival in front of a huge crowd there to watch both the game and the 40 and 25-year reunions of the 1984 and 1999 Williamsport state championship teams.

“It’s a great feeling. All season long my teammates put me in position to score and make plays for them at the same time,” Andrews said. “It was always something I wanted but it wasn’t something we went into the games trying to get. We play as a team, and it came naturally.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Alonzo Rice and Loyalsock's Isiah Jennings (23) reach for a loose ball during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

Andrews put together consecutive all-state football seasons the past two falls and broke nearly every area career and single season record there is along the way. All the tools which made him good on the field help him on the court. A versatile 6-foot-3 guard who can play virtually any position, Andrews is fast, strong, shoots well and runs the court.

But what has made him especially valuable this season are all the intangibles. As he did during the fall, Andrews has developed into a strong leader on a team filled with leaders. Put the whole package together and the three-year starter has helped Loyalsock (19-1) win 16 straight games entering another tough one on Monday at HAC-II champion Danville.

“He’s grown leaps and bounds. Every year he’s gotten more mature and this year he’s really started to exhibit leadership with all these players that I haven’t seen in the past,” Loyalsock coach Ron Insinger said. “I’m a big proponent of having senior leadership on the team and he’s stepped up. He has the respect of the student body and the team. That combination makes him a natural. I’m pleased with how he’s stepped up and played his role perfectly.”

Andrews continued playing that role against Williamsport, a team determined to pull the upset while slowing him down. The thing is, if a team does focus on Andrews Loyalsock has plenty of other weapons and Bauman, Patterson, Jamaire Harden and Ethan Nagy all scored at least six first-half points as Loyalsock built a 32-14 halftime lead.

Andrews let the game and the moment come his way. The moment arrived with 25.2 seconds remaining in the first half. Harden located Bauman at the foul line and Bauman saw Andrews posting up on the left wing. Bauman put the ball in the right spot, Andrews absorbed contact while falling away and banked in the close-range shot, reaching 1,000, while giving Loyalsock its 18-point halftime advantage.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Isiah Jennings (23) finds a shot around Williamsport's Cassin Diggs (4) during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

Andrews posed for a brief picture with his mother and Insinger before continuing and helping Loyalsock erase the frustration of two state rivalry game defeats. He needed four points to reach 1,000 entering the game and now has 1,010.

“Any time a young man scores 1,000, you’re happy for him because you know they’ve put a lot of work into it,” Insinger said. “It’s a special night for Jaylen and nobody deserves it more than he does.”

“It was a great play by our coaches. Nate made a great pass. He (the defender) overplayed it, so he went over the top and allowed me to go get it,” Andrews said. “Leadership like that and seeing where to make the best pass and how to make it is what we’re good at it, so shout out to Nate for making a great pass.”

Bauman continued making plays throughout the second half, adding five rebounds and five assists to go along with his game-high 16 points. He also hit two dagger-like 3-pointers to help seal the game in the final three minutes after Williamsport had pulled within 14 and 13, respectively. Ethan Nagy scored eight points and made three steals while Jamaire Harden scored six first-half points and added five boards.

Williamsport (3-13) had opportunities to build momentum early but missed layups/and or chippies in the first quarter. Instead of gaining a lead, Williamsport fell behind 15-9 after a quarter and never could get into rhythm from there.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jaylen Andrews (1) is blocked on his way to the basket by Williamsport's Thomas Takach (11) and Caden Holt (2) during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

The Lancers increased their lead to 38-15 early in the third quarter before Williamsport countered and cut it to 14 twice that quarter. Both times, however, Bauman and Andrews answered, preventing Williamsport from sustaining any momentum.

Insinger was not happy with the way Loyalsock played throughout the second half, especially after letting Williamsport creep back. Still, he also knew the game might play out that way. How that second half transpired could help Loyalsock as it earned the win but also remained humble, knowing it needs to keep improving, entering Monday’s showdown between the HAC-III and HAC-II champions.

“It’s always good to win here because when Loyalsock and Williamsport play, you can dropkick the records to Lock Haven and back because they don’t mean anything,” Insinger said. “I expressed to the team that if we’re going to make any noise down the road, we’re going to have to put together 32 good minutes and that didn’t happen tonight. But it’s a great atmosphere and that’s only going to help us.”

Micah Washington did his best to help lead the long road back in the second half, scoring a career and team-high 14 points for Williamsport. Thomas Takach added 11 and Caden holt tried sparking a fourth-quarter rally, scoring eight of his 10 points. The bench also provided a lift with Salaij Moses-Clark providing energy and Cassin Diggs going for six points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

Williamsport fought back, but Loyalsock kept responding and was able to soak in the final 30 seconds as they ran out the clock and watched their fans rise and applaud. It was a similar scene when Andrews scored his 1,000th point late in the first half, so from that perspective, the senior leader could not have scripted Saturday night much better.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jaylen Andrews (1) brings the ball downcourt during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

“It’s a great win,” Andrews said. “The last two years we fell short to Williamsport and in front of a packed house like this going crazy, we kept our heads in there and continued to play hard.”

LOYALSOCK (58)

Jaylen Andrews 5 3-7 14, Gage Patterson 5 1-2 11, Nate Bauman 6 2-2 16, Jamaire Harden 2 2-2 6, Ethan Nagy 3 2-2 8, Isiah Jennings 0 0-0 0, Tyler Gee 1 1-1 3. Totals 22 11-16 58.

WILLIAMSPORT (43)

Thomas Takach 3 4-6 11, Caden Holt 3 2-4 10, Mahki Johnson 0 0-0 0, Naamir Lowe 1 0-0 2, Micah Washington 5 3-5 14, Cassin Diggs 3 0-0 6, Alonzo Rice 0 0-0 0, Salaij Moses-Clark 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 9-15 43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jamaire Harden (5) brings the ball downcourt during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

Loyalsock 15 17 11 15–58

Williamsport 9 5 12 17–43

3-pointers: Loyalsock 3 (Bauman 2, Andrews); Williamsport 4 (Holt 2, Takach, Washington).

Records: Loyalsock 19-1. Williamsport 3-13.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Millionaire's Cyn-sere Coney leads a group student basketball fans during a high school boy's basketball game against Loyalsock at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Salaij Moses-Clark (0) goes to the rim during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Micah Washington (22) looks to shoot around Loyalsock's Jaylen Andrews during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Nathan Bauman (24) is fouled by Williamsport's Micah Washington (22) while chasing a loose ball during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Micah Washington (22) drives towards the paint around Loyalsock's Nathan Bauman (24) and Jamire Harden (5) during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Thomas Takach (11) looks for a way past Loyalsock's Jaylen Andrews (1) during a high school boy's basketball game at Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Loyalsock won 58-43.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jaylen Andrews reaches 1,,000 career points during Loyalsock's game against Williamsport on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.