Like the chicken and the egg, one can debate whether the outside shooting first opened the paint or vise-versa. Loyalsock does not care. It simply is happy that all the offensive aspects came together and helped give first-year coach Ryan Cioffi his first high school victory.

Braydon Cioffi scored 18 points, Gusick (14 points, nine rebounds) nearly recorded a double-double, four starters reached double figures and Saoj Jones blocked eight shots as Loyalsock defeated Wellsboro, 63-42 Friday night at Ron Insinger Gymnasium. It was the first time in 51 years that a coach other than Insinger coached the home opener and the way Loyalsock (1-1) played offered encouraging signs going forward.

“They complement each other and it’s really fun to watch when it gets going because they all have different strengths,” Ryan Cioffi said. “We think that at any given time anyone can step up, whether that’s inside or outside.”

“We can all score. We can all get to the basket and knock down shots,” Braydon Cioffi said after reaching a career-high for a second straight game. “That’s a strong key for us.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Isaac Blackwell (3) and Brecken Gusick (10) block a shot by a Wellsboro player during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

It certainly was against a Wellsboro team which pushed Loyalsock hard and trailed just 24-22 at halftime. The Lancers, however, changed the game’s complexion by pushing the tempo with a full-court press and taking a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Every player did his part, too. Jalil Coates scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Isaac Blackwell scored 10 second-half points, adding three assists. Jones was an eraser inside, conducting his own block party, and Loyalsock made 16 of 29 second-half shots, including five 3-pointers.

“There’s nothing more in basketball than when a shot goes in to get everyone going. When that shot goes in, the defense picks up,” Ryan Cioffi said. “At halftime we made adjustment that we wanted to go full-court to speed them up. To be able to do that, the ball has to go in the net first. The shots going in complemented us going forward and sped them up and then it’s the domino effect from there.”

Gusick helped Loyalsock turn a two-point second quarter deficit into a 24-22 halftime lead by scoring eight points, pulling down five rebounds and dishing two assists in the second quarter. He had a hand in all 13 Loyalsock points during that time and the Lancers never trailed again.

Wellsboro (0-1) started focusing more on Cioffi after he hit two early treys and that created opportunities for Gusick and Coates who scored seven third quarter points. That, in turn, opened the perimeter back up and Cioffi again heated up and two quick fourth quarter 3-pointers gave a 16-point lead before he took advantage of the defense doubling him and found Coates for a layup which made it, 55-37.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Brecken Gusick (10) grabs a loose ball away from Wellsboro's Jonathan Carl (22) during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

“When you get open shots, that comes from your teammates driving and kicking and spreading the floor. They did a great job,” Braydon Cioffi said. “My role on the team is to knock down shots and get guys open if someone has to come out on me. Then I can get it to guys open in the paint like Saoj and Jalil.”

Jones scored six points, but it was the points he took away which made a huge difference in the game’s outcome. The 6-foot-6 junior center was a force, blocking eight shots and repeatedly taking away what looked like prime scoring opportunities.

Jones blocked two potential layups in the third quarter and turned those into four points, first outletting to Ronnie Emery who found Coates in transition and then grabbing the rebound off a block and feeding Gusick for a fast-break basket. Jones added seven rebounds and three assists and, even when Wellsboro broke down the defense, effectively went straight up and saved points.

“Having a big guy like that on your team is always a great thing to have,” Braydon Cioffi said. “Saoj is a difference-maker in the paint.”

That was especially big because Wellsboro started strong and Colin Fletcher had a big night, scoring a career-high 23 points. Fletcher drained five 3-pointers, but points in the paint became harder and harder to come by. Luke Rothermel scored eight points, grabbed eight rebounds and dealt three assists, but Loyalsock limited the Hornets to 20 second-half points.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Colin Fletcher (12) shoots as Loyalsock's Saoj Jones (0) defends the basket during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

It was a well-rounded Loyalsock performance which offered a look at what it could be. A year ago, the Lancers went 6-16 but Gusick and Cioffi were freshmen and only two players with varsity experience returned from the previous season.

Now, the Lancers have that vital experience. They played perennial district title contender Central Columbia tough on the road in a four-point season opening loss and are gaining confidence. The key now is balancing that desire and fun.

Do that and Ryan Cioffi likes what this team could become.

“They want it. At times I think they want it too much. I want them to be more loose,” he said. “Our philosophy is play really hard on defense and let it fly on offense. When you watch us, you’re going to see a lot of shots go up. We’re OK with that as long as you’re giving everything on the defensive end.”

WELLSBORO (42)

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Braydon Cioffi (33) and Isaac Blackwell (3) defend as Wellsboro's Jonathan Carl (22) drives towards the basket during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

Luke Rothermel 4 0-0 8, Colin Fletcher 9 0-2 23, Jonathan Carl 1 1-4 3, Marek Mascho 0 0-0 0, Griffin Morral 1 0-0 2, Ransom Schultz 0 2-2 2, Ethan Keane 2 0-0 4. Totals 17 3-8 42.

LOYALSOCK (63)

Jalil Coates 5 0-0 12, Braydon Cioffi 6 0-0 18, Brecken Gusick 5 4-4 14, Isaac Blackwell 4 2-2 10, Saoj Jones 3 0-0 6, Ronnie Emery 1 0-0 3, Ryan Lingg 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 6-6 63.

Wellsboro 13 9 11 9–42

Loyalsock 11 13 21 18–63

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Gideon Lawton (1) looks to the basket around a trio of Loyalsock defenders during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

Wellsboro 5 (Fletcher 5); Loyalsock 9 (Cioffi 6, Coates 2, Emery).

Records: Loyalsock 1-1. Wellsboro 0-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jalil Coates (5) blocks a shot by Wellsboro's Luke Rothermel (11) during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Isaac Blackwell (3) comes up with the loose ball during a high school boys basketball game against Wellsboro at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Isaac Blackwell (3) reaches for a rebound around Wellsboro's Griffin Morral (14) during a high school boys basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.