Perry played a vital role off the bench a year ago as a freshman, helping Loyalsock become Lycoming County’s first girls’ state champion. Like so many Lancers before her the past 10 years, Perry has continued evolving and looks poised to play a massive role this season. And she personifies what Jacobson has instilled in his players, a belief that as good as one is now, she can always improve.

Perry continued doing so at Ron Insinger Gymnasium, nearly producing a double-double in less than three quarters.

Perry scored 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dealt seven assists and made four steals, helping Loyalsock win, 61-32 and give Jacobson his 200th career win in the first game of his 10th season.

“I feel like I put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Perry said. “I was in the gym a lot, but I feel like us, as a team, we’re all in the gym a lot and worked together to build up the confidence together.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Dahlia Campbell (22) snags a loose ball away from a pair of Loyalsock defenders during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

Jacobson and his staff which includes wife Kerri, Jake Sekel, Jason Perry and Jeff Everett, have instilled confidence throughout the roster, helping Loyalsock reach new heights. The Lancers (1-0) have reached states in all nine of Jacobson’s completed seasons and have won 19 or more games in seven straight, only the condensed 2021 season preventing it from being seven consecutive 20-win campaigns.

Loyalsock also has captured four district championships, reached two Final 4s and won last year’s state championship. All this while averaging a whopping 22.1 wins per year when the regular season is just 22 games long.

“He does a really good job. He pushes us. I’m glad I have him and the whole staff to help me,” Perry said. “They all do a good job. Everyone plays their own part and helps push us to be better. That’s why we did well last year because they kept pushing us.”

Jacobson and his assistants have done so since taking over in 2016. It has never been about just molding one specific grade, one group or one player. It has been about both the present and future, bringing out the best in all the players.

Names change, but the results have not with Loyalsock emerging as a 3A power and reaching seven straight district championships. Nothing has come easy with the Lancers encountering injuries and consistently playing a daunting schedule, but success has followed.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Jaekairah Harden (22) looks for a shot around a number of Montoursville defenders during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

“We preached from the beginning that I don’t want to be a coach that relies on a class and then moves on. We want to build a program that can withstand anything,” Jacobson said. “To get to 200, it takes an army. It takes the kids putting in a lot of time; it takes the staff putting in a lot of time.”

It will take that kind of commitment again, especially since Loyalsock was dealt a potentially devastating blow Friday. Jillian Kennedy, who already had scored 18 points, suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury while fighting for a loose ball midway through the third quarter. Kennedy missed her sophomore season with a torn ACL before coming back strong and having a tremendous junior year as a starter for last year’s state champion.

Perry already had worked her way into the starting lineup following a terrific offseason and now may play an even bigger role going forward. She looks like a player eager to embrace whatever challenges come her way, too.

Perry did a bit of everything against Montoursville, shooting, handling the ball and rebounding well while playing swarming defense. Her length, work ethic talent and provide a potent mix and Perry already had 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals by halftime as Loyalsock built a 44-17 lead.

“I think having a year under you definitely helps,” Perry said. “It helps knowing what the next year is going to look like instead of having no experience.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Samantha Howell (21) looks for a shot around a number of Montoursville defenders during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

“She came into preseason practice and kind of turned some heads real fast. We saw glimpses last year, and she puts in some time,” Jacobson said. “She took on a leadership role for herself, she developed a shot, she changed some things. Her length is uncoachable. She just deflects and kind of gets in the way and helps us on the defensive side. She’s gaining confidence on the offensive side and is an integral part of how we like to play.”

Perry provides Loyalsock another weapon and helps force defenses away from reigning 3A Player of the Year Alaina Dadzie. The Bucknell-bound senior recorded a double-double, going for 12 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and three assists. Still, Perry heated up early and it was an encouraging sign for Loyalsock that every starter had scored less than four minutes into the game with Dadzie having just two of those during a 15-2 start.

Perry made good passes and was a big part of helping Kennedy get free for 3-point attempts which she consistently knocked down, draining four before her injury. Perry found Kennedy for a trey10 seconds into the third quarter which invoked the mercy rule with Loyalsock going up, 47-17.

“We say you’re a year older and you have to play like you’re a year older. That’s important because just because you get a year older does mean you don’t step up your game,” Jacobson said. “Some people get a year older and they don’t put in the time and regress. She’s somebody who has gotten more mature as she’s gotten older and wants to have a big role for us.”

Kennedy picked up where she left off during last year’s breakout season, scoring 15 points by halftime and adding two steals and two assists. Jaekairah Harden continued playing game-changing defense and had four steals to go along with her eight points. Addie Bastian also continued excelling off the bench as she did during states, scoring five points and dishing three assists.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Madalyne McGarr (44) reaches for a rebound during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

Montoursville did its best to hang around and pulled within 24-13 early in the second quarter before the Lancers started breaking things open. Sophomore Marleigh Bainbridge scored 11 points and drained three 3-pointers, while Emily George had eight points with six rebounds and Kayleigh Sheleman added five boards.

Loyalsock turned defense into offense and forced 25 turnovers through three quarters. And it seemed fitting that on a night Jacobson won his 200th game, Loyalsock honored him with a strong team effort.

“Last year we worked really hard and I feel like everyone is doing that now,” Perry said. “Everyone coming into this year knew it was going to be tough, so I feel like we all stepped up as a team and work well together.”

MONTOURSVILLE (32)

Emily George 2 2-4 8, Kayleigh Sheleman 1 0-0 2, Marleigh Bainbridge 4 0-0 11, Raegan Tucker 2 0-1 4, Dahlia Campbell 1 0-0 2, Sydney Kuntz 1 0-0 2, Trinity Belle 0 1-2 1, Marissa Sweeley 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 3-7 32.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Kayleigh Sheleman (42) looks for a shot around Loyalsock's Adelyn Bastian (15) during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

LOYALSOCK (61)

Alaina Dadzie 5 0-0 12, Jaekairah Harden 4 0-0 8, Jillian Kennedy 6 2-2 18, Maddie Wertz 2 0-2 4, Madison Perry 5 1-2 11, Addie Bastian 2 0-0 5, Addi Barowy 0 2-2 2, Stella Smith 0 1-2 1. Totals 24 6-14 61.

Montoursville 5 12 6 9–32

Loyalsock 21 23 16 1–61

3-pointers: Montoursville 5 (Bainbridge 3, George 2); Loyalsock 7 (Kennedy 4, Dadzie 2, Bastian).

Records: Loyalsock 1-0. Montoursville 1-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Kayleigh Sheleman (42) reaches for a loose ball during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Dahlia Campbell (22) tries to control the ball around Loyalsock's Samantha Howell (21) during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock Township on Friday.