But oustanding Central Columbia guard Quinlan Blake and her teammates made sure that skid continued in emphatic fashion. Blake dazzled with 24 points and a bevy of highlight-reel passes to open teammates as Central Columbia beat Loyalsock, 74-50, behind unselfish play on the offensive end.

“We’ve been focusing on that since all five of us really could score on all different levels. Focusing on that, not having one person do all the work, working as a team has really worked for us,” Blake said.

The Lancers knew they had an uphill climb against the sophomore, who received multiple Division I scholarship offers following an outstanding freshman season. Loyalsock came in to Thursday without two of its premier perimeter defenders due to injury in Jillian Kennedy and Jaekairah Harden.

And another injury in the first minute of the contest thinned the rotation even further. Even considering those challenges, Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson simply did not feel like their defensive effort was good enough.

Madison Perry of Loyalsock puts up a shot against Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“We’ve lived on defensive commitment. And right now, we just don’t feel like we’re committed on either end. We don’t feel like we’re committed on the defensive end,” Jacobson said. “I think we have individuals that are committed to different things, but … collectively as a unit, we are (not) committed to the same thing.”

Turnovers have plagued the Lancers during this losing streak, and things were no different on Thursday night. They found themselves quickly down 9-2 due to a flurry of turnovers, missed layups and unnecessary fouling on the defensive end.

“The half court defense in the first half wasn’t bad. (We) Turned the basketball over, or (we miss) a layup, and they run in transition, they turn around and make a layup. It’s just deflating,” Jacobson said. “I felt like all their points in first quarter were foul shots. It’s not even making them execute anything. It’s putting them on the foul line and, you know, getting free points out of it.”

Seven of the first 11 points in the first frame for the Blue Jays came at the foul line, before Blake scored five points in the final middle of the quarter to give Central a 16-6 lead after the first quarter.

The turnover issues continued for Loyalsock in the second quarter, and a lightning-quick Central squad were devastating in transition. By the time Lily Huber received a dazzling no-look pass from Blake for an easy layup with just under two minutes remaining in the first half, Loyalsock trailed 35-18 and the rout was on.

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock steals the ball from Kayla Poust of Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Lancer offense got going in the third quarter, but they simply could not get stops on the defensive end. The Blue Jays scored 20 points in the quarter, and got the lead up to 27 at one point before the Lancers rallied behind a strong stretch from Alaina Dadzie to bring it back to a 21-point deficit. Central put the game away for good in the final moments of the quarter, however, and extended their lead back to 24 at 57-33 before a 17-17 final quarter.

“Yeah, we’re dealing with adversity. We have players out. I mean, it is what it is, but the reality is, if you’re on the court, you need to produce. You need to perform. And we expect every player on our roster to be able to do that,” Jacobson said. “We knew before the season, we’re going through a stretch of games here against really good teams, with experience coming back. We’re dealing with adversity, and it’s fine, that’s life. It’s just talking to them about looking in the mirror, ‘what can I do better? What can I change, and how can I go about practice better? How can I go about the game better? How can I go about preparation better?’

“We’ll come in the gym tomorrow and do it again and see who responds, and how we can find a way to meet them better,” Jacobson continued.

Things don’t get easier for Loyalsock. They host a quality North Pocono team on Saturday.

Central Columbia 74, Loyalsock 50

Julisa Martin of Loyalsock pushes the ball up the floor against Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

CENTRAL COLUMBIA (74)

Jada Tucker 4 4-5 12, Jude Flick, 3 4-5 10, Quinlan Blake 10 1-2 24, Abby Welkom 1 1-2 4, Kayla Poust 5 1-2 12, Lily Huber 2 3-4 7, Grace Prezioso 1 0-0 2, Brianna Kishbaugh 1 0-0 3. Totals 27 14-20 74.

LOYALSOCK (50)

Madison Perry 6 1-2 14, Stella Smith 1 2-3 4, Addie Bastion 1 2-2 4, Sam Howell 0 1-2 1, Alaina Dadzie 7 5-5 19, Maddie Wertz 2 1-2 3, Madaylne McGarr 1 0-0 2, Zaryah Hawkins-Pegues 1 0-0 3 totals: 19 12-18 50

(Score by quarter not available).

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

3-point goals: CC 6 (Blake 3, Welkom 1, Kishbaugh 1, Poust 1), Loyalsock 2 (Perry 1, Hawkins-Pegues 1).

Madison Wertz of Loyalsock puts up a shot under heavy pressure from Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Madison Perry of Loyalsock passes the ball to a team mate as they play Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Molly Boyer of Loyalsock has her shot blocked by Jada Tucker of Central Columbia at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock goes up for a rebound as Quinlan Blake (22) of Central Columbia tries to steal the ball at Loyalsock Twp. High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette