Still, instead of wondering, what if, the Lancers focused on what could be before facing a strong 5A North Pocono team at Ron Insinger Gymnasium. And what Loyalsock proved is that it can still be a really good team.

It certainly was Saturday.

Alaina Dadzie scored 34 points and grabbed 16 rebounds; Maddie Wertz scored a career-high 13 points, and every player did her job well as Loyalsock defeated North Pocono, 56-49. The defending 3A state champions snapped a three-game losing streak and earned a hard-fought victory against a District 2 title contender while reminding others they have the will to match their skill.

“It shows that we have way more people. We have a small team in numbers, plus the injuries make it even smaller, so people stepping up and showing what they can do helps a lot,” Dadzie said. “It shows we’re not just a group of five people. We’re a whole team.”

Alaina Dadzi of Loyalsock shakes off the pain after a hard fall to the floor at Loyalsock High School. Both Dadzi and Anna Clementoni of North Pocono fell hard to the floor in the second half. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dadzie played one of the best games of her tremendous high school career, but every Lancer did her part and that pushed Loyalsock over the finish line against a team which entered 6-1 with its lone loss coming against 6A state title contender Hazleton. Loyalsock led from the second quarter on, withstood North Pocono’s repeated second half comeback attempts and looked like a different team than the one which had lost 74-50 two nights earlier against Central Columbia.

Credit not just renewed energy, but renewed focus. Loyalsock then turned those volts into a power surge, ending a run of four games against elite opponents with a flourish.

“We kept them in the locker room for quite a bit after the Central game. It was a real conversation about how I think everyone has gotten a little lax from coaches to players. We told them that’s over,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “We’re going back to having the same expectations and standard that we’ve had every year and accountability. We’re going to grow from everything we can grow on. We had a great practice (Friday) and tweaked a couple things defensively to adjust to who we are right now.

“I was super impressed with the girls. That’s about as gutsy an effort we can give.”

While Dadzie took centerstage, she had ample help with every Lancer digging in defensively and slowing a potent offense. Point guard Madison Perry pulled down 12 rebounds, adding four assists; Molly Boyer made some crucial second half baskets and Addie Bastian sparked the defense, while dealing three assists.

Alaina Dadzi of Loyalsock and Anna Clementoni of North Pocono fight for a rebound at Loyalsock High School. Both Dadzi and Clementoni fell hard to the floor in the second half. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Freshmen Stella Smith and Sam Howell also provided quality minutes off the bench. Put it all together and a team which soon may have Jaekairah Harden and Addi Barowy back in the lineup, built up its depth and sure did a lot of growing in one game.

“It’s nice for them to have this experience now,” Wertz said. “Now they know we can go to them and we trust them. I think this game brought us a ton of confidence.”

“We trust the players on our team, and we told them (Friday), we are who we are and let’s not try to be anyone different,” Jacobson said. “Let’s not have this weight on our shoulders about trying to be the best team in the state. Just be the best team in the gym any given day. Be the best version of yourselves right now. It’s not about doing more; it’s just about reaching your potential, and we had players do that today and now the bar is raised.”

Dadzie has pushed that bar mighty high the past four seasons, earning two all-state honors and last year’s 3A Player of the Year Award. So, it speaks volumes saying that Dadzie may have put together one of her top five games Saturday. Good the first six games, Dadzie was great against North Pocono despite frequently getting physically mauled in the paint, including tackled at one point.

The 6-foot Bucknell-bound center was a force throughout the first half, scoring 27 points, including 18 in the second quarter when Loyalsock turned a 3-point deficit into a nine-point halftime lead. She made seven steals and scored in every way possible, including drives, jumpers, turn-arounds, fade aways and 3-pointers.

Madison Wertz of Loyalsock puts up a shot against North Pocono reaches for the ball at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Highlighting her explosiveness, Dadzie took a last-second inbound pass, raced nearly coast to coast in three seconds and swished a runner at the buzzer as Loyalsock went ahead, 34-25.

“School is almost out, and something was exciting about coming in today, especially after a tough loss,” Dadzie said. “That brought some motivation, and I just wanted to win.”

“Alaina came out on a mission and there have been games Alaina hasn’t come out on a mission. She was on a mission today,” Jacobson said. “I just talked to her and said you’ve had a heck of a start to the season, but you just showed us what you are actually capable of.”

Jacobson had a similar message for all his players, many who are in new roles due to the early-season injuries. That includes Wertz, a co-senior leader who also fired up her teammates not just with words, but through actions.

Wertz, a valuable reserve on last year’s state champion, was a calming presence on the court, filling up the stat sheet with five assists and five rebounds to go along with her 13 points. Wertz played more aggressive and made 4 of 5 second-half shots. Wertz scored four straight points before finding Dadzie for a layup early in the fourth quarter, helping Loyalsock thwart a North Pocono run and go up, 51-41.

Madison Wertz of Loyalsock drives to the basket against North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Wertz also asserted herself defensively and helped Loyalsock clinch victory in the final 20 seconds, finding Boyer for a layup which made it, 56-49.

“I love being able to pass. It’s one of my favorite things,” Wertz said. “I felt like something kind of clicked. The shots were falling. The people were in the right spots at the right times, and we just really came together as a team.”

That shined through especially whenever it appeared North Pocono might seize momentum and complete its comeback attempt. The Trojans kept fighting back, but Loyalsock kept responding when they did.

Dadzie and Perry made critical steals in the final 62 seconds, and all the Lancers took turns fighting for loose balls and/or rebounds. The Lancers executed well but also fiercely competed and the latter provided the ultimate X-factor.

“It was just a whole team effort,” Dadzie said. “We needed something to pick us up because we’ve had a tough four-game stretch, so especially going into Christmas break, we wanted to have a good attitude and have upbeat spirits for our next games.”

Madison Perry of Loyalsock is fouled by Trinity Litts of North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It was the first time that I thought this group came together from the start and said we’re going to do this and we’re going to give our best and if our best isn’t good enough, so be it but we’re going to go out swinging and we swung a lot today,” Jacobson said. “We got downhill, we attacked and we just have to continue doing that.”

NORTH POCONO (49)

Trinity Litts 2 2-2 7, Ella Clementoni 6 4-5 18, Aleah Quinn 1 0-2 3, Celia DeCesare 2 0-0 4, Anna Clementoni 6 0-1 12, Cameron Forgione 1 2-2 5. Totals 18 8-12 49.

LOYALSOCK (56)

Alaina Dadzie 12 8-18 34, Madison Perry 1 1-5 3, Addie Bastian 0 0-0 0, Maddie Wertz 6 1-2 13, Molly Boyer 2 0-0 4, Sam Howell 0 0-0 0, Stella Smith 0 2-2 2. Totals 21 12-17 56.

North Pocono 14 11 16 8–49

Loyalsock 14 20 11 11–56

3-pointers: North Pocono 5 (E. Clementoni 2, Litts, Quinn, Forgione); Loyalsock 2 (Dadzie 2).

Records: Loyalsock 4-3. North Pocono 6-2.

Madison Wertz of Loyalsock pulls in a rebound as Alexis Silva of North Pocono reaches for the ball at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Madison Wertz of Loyalsock puts up a shot against North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Madison Perry of Loyalsock passes out of a double team from North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Madison Perry of Loyalsock drives to the hoop under heavy pressure from North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against North Pocono at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Madison Perry (0) of Loyalsock and Trinity Litts (1) of North Pocono tie up reaching for a rebound at Loyalsock High School. Loyalsock defeats North Pocono 56-49. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette