Jalil Coates literally almost played a perfect game Friday against Jersey Shore. The Loyalsock guard made 14 straight shots from the field and foul line and did not lose a turnover until the final three minutes.

As impressive as this all-around display was, it is what Coates does behind the scenes which continues pushing his team forward even more. Of all the ways to describe the team’s lone senior, the best might be simply to call him a consummate leader.

And Coates certainly led Loyalsock to an exciting win at Ron Insinger Gymnasium.

Coates scored a career-high 28 points, went 12 for 12 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and made two steals as Loyalsock rallied from a 12-point second quarter deficit and defeated Jersey Shore, 68-60. The Lancers (5-1) were down 12 in the closing seconds of the first half but put together a dominant third quarter run and won their fifth straight game. During that game-changing quarter, Coates had a hand in 15 points.

“We’ve been working. We’ve been playing hard at practice; competing and making each other better. We just keep grinding,” Coates said. “Being a senior, I had to step up into that leadership role and lead us a little better.”

As he did last fall on the football field, Coates is not just elevating his play but the play of his teammates. He often gathers teammates following practice to make extra foul shots and/or jumpers and is guiding both by words and actions.

Loyalsock struggled throughout the first half, but Coates kept it alive, scoring 13 points as Jersey Shore took a 35-26 lead into halftime. While the Lancers were not clicking, Coates was a calming influence, encouraging his teammates, something especially important considering all are underclassmen.

“Jalil comes to work every day. As a senior, he’s not just an amazing athlete in football and basketball, but he’s a true leader,” Loyalsock coach Ryan Cioffi said. “He’s absolutely the complete package. When the jump shots aren’t going in, he gets in the kids’ ears, telling them the next one is going in. His steady leadership has got us to where we are right now.”

Braydon Cioffi (14 points) hit three free throws with no time remaining in the first half as Loyalsock crept within nine. The Lancers then went off starting the third quarter, going on a 14-2 run in less than three minutes. Seemingly fittingly it was Coates who put them ahead to stay, draining a lone 3-pointer which made it, 40-37.

Every Lancer did his part in igniting the third quarter eruption, but Coates scored 11 points during that time and added two assists. And his perfect night from the field was not just the result of converting layups or easy shots. He made two 3-pointers, multiple jumpers, and three reverses in traffic. It was not until a missed free throw following a baseline layup with 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining that Coates missed a shot when his free throw attempt fell off the mark.

“He is a special athlete. When he’s in the gym he moves different than everyone else,” Ryan Cioffi said. “We kind of had him pegged for a huge breakout game. We didn’t know if it was going to be this game or down the road. We knew it was coming.”

Coates capped his scoring with two big shots which helped thwart Jersey Shore rallies after the Lancers went up 11 in the fourth quarter. His baseline drive made it an eight-point game and a reverse layup around two defenders made it, 62-53 near the two-minute mark. Equally important, the HAC-III all-star defensive back intercepted a pass in the final two minutes when Jersey Shore was trying to make it one-score game.

“With my size and athleticism, I like to play good defense. I feel like defense is first,” Coates said. “You can’t win without playing defense. I think that sets the tone for a lot of games.”

It sure did in that third quarter. Jersey Shore brilliantly executed its offense throughout the first half, all five starters scoring the first 10 points and making 9 of 13 second quarter shots. Loyalsock switched its defense at halftime, opting to play the post instead of fronting it. The players then perfectly implemented the strategy and knocked Jersey Shore out of sync, forcing eight turnovers and quickly turning most into points.

Brecken Gusick made two of his four steals during the third quarter and dealt three of his six assists. A Cioffi 3-pointer made it, 51-43 entering the fourth and every Lancer did his part.

“It’s a team that can score in bunches and they score them off defense,” Ryan Cioffi said. “We get a couple stops and mix in a jump shot, a layup, an and-one and all the sudden you’re up two points in three minutes. It happened really fast and it happened off of defense.”

Loyalsock turned defense into offense and did so unselfishly, piling up 17 assists on 25 field goals. A team with four players averaging in double figures produced three Friday with Isaac Blackwell going for a career-high 17 points and seven rebounds. Saoj Jones grabbed six rebounds and Ronnie Emery, who Cioffi praised for his leadership at practices, excelled off the bench, especially defensively.

Jersey Shore never backed down and twice clawed within six points with three opportunities to pull closer, but Loyalsock’s balance and defense helped fight it off.

“We just weren’t making shots the first half. Once we got going, we got some stops and got momentum and got the crowd on our side,” Coates said. “It was a big crowd; a nice atmosphere and that really energized us.”

Loyalsock needed a 1.21 jiga-watt charge after Jersey Shore (3-3) controlled the first half. Five different players scored in each quarter and the Bulldogs twice went up 12 late in the first half. Players moved as fast as the ball and Jersey Shore offered a glimpse of how dangerous it can extend two good quarters into four.

Really, it was one bad quarter which doomed Jersey Shore because it tied Loyalsock in the fourth quarter. It was still in the victory hunt until Blackwell sealed it with 17 seconds left, making consecutive free throws.

“I told the guys that first half was what I’ve been dreaming about all summer. That’s what we think we can do,” Jersey Shore coach Jon Boob said. “That’s how we play, that’s how we guard, that’s how we move the ball. That offense in that first half was the best we’ve ever looked. Everyone is moving, the ball is moving, and different guys are getting touches.”

Breylan Guerrero shined off the bench, bringing both production and his usual relentless competitive streak. The versatile forward scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds, dealt three assists and added two steals. He had a hand in 10 second quarter points, making all three of his shots there as well.

For Jersey Shore, it was another learning experience. The Bulldogs did a lot of things right and the focus now will be on putting that completed game together. That also is Loyalsock’s focus because, a year after going 6-16, the Lancers are determined to make that season an aberration.

So far, so good.

“These are good wins, but these are just the building blocks,” Coates said. “We’re looking for a lot more.”

JERSEY SHORE (60)

Jacob Lorson 3 1-1 7, Ty McDermit 5 1-4 12, Carson Watkins 6 0-0 13, Khani McCray 2 0-0 6, Landon Lathan 1 2-2 4, Breylan Guerrero 4 0-0 8, Tucker Hanna 3 0-0 7, Kaihl Harlan 1 0-0 3, Orrin Pennycoff 0 0-0, Mazden Lupton 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 4-7 60.

LOYALSOCK (68)

Brecken Gusick 2 0-0 4, Jalil Coates 12 2-5 28, Braydon Cioffi 3 6-7 14, Isaac Blackwell 6 3-6 17, Saoj Jones 2 0-4 4, Ryan Lingg 0 0-0 0, Ronnie Emery 0 1-2 1. Totals 25 12-24 68.

Jersey Shore 15 20 8 17–60

Loyalsock 10 16 25 17–68

3-pointers: Jersey Shore 6 (McCray 2, McDermit, Watkins, Hanna, Harlan); Loyalsock 6 (Coates 2, Cioffi 2, Blackwell 2).

Records: Loyalsock 5-1. Jersey Shore 3-3.