Ballard appears in it for the long haul. He wanted to make a run at the job following Marnon’s departure but was serving as an assistant coach on the boys team and wanted to learn more from head coach Allen Taylor.

When the job opened again, Ballard pounced.

Now he hopes to provide stability for a young program. Earlier indications are good. Look beyond the 4-8 record and understand that Williamsport had few returning varsity contributors while tacking a daunting early-season schedule which included multiple state-ranked teams and one sees a quality foundation being built.

The Millionaires continued taking positive steps forward last week, winning two games in three nights against Athens and Lewisburg.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport head coach Lamar Ballard calls from the sidelines during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

“One of the things I really want to do is build a core of younger kids, but I want to give our older kids the best possible season they can have,” Ballard said following a thrilling 43-38 win at Lewisburg. “They’ve had a lot of different coaches in a few years and I just want to put down roots and tell them that, ‘I’m here to stay; let’s build something.’

“I think they’re starting to buy in; I think they’re starting to believe.”

That showed in the hard-fought wins last week. The Millionaires won those games by 12 combined points and showed some poise, growth and toughness. That was especially true against Lewisburg when the Millionaires did not flinch despite watching an eight-point second half lead becoming a two-point deficit, foul trouble and the clock not running for 15 seconds late in the game after they took a two-possession lead.

It has been a tough opening act from the inexperience, to the schedule but Williamsport players are proving quick learners and there is excitement brewing for the stretch run this year as well as the future. That is exactly the way Ballard wants it.

“I’m a builder. I’m a big fan of teaching,” Ballard said following the Lewisburg win. “I like to teach. I like to teach the game and they’re willing and open to learn it, and you kind of see what happens in a game like that.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Jaelynn Helmrich (14) looks for a shot around Lewisburg's Lauren Schwartz (22) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

Jaelynn Helmrich is the team’s lone senior starter and its only full-time starter back from last year. She collected a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds, four steals) against Lewisburg while junior point guard Laylah Martin made repeated clutch plays late, scoring 14 points, dealing four assists and adding three steals.

Sophomores Zaelana Minor and Kinsley Cannode combined for five steals, freshman Payton Penncyoff hit a key second quarter basket and Makalya Cerami sparked a tenacious defense coming off the bench.

There are a lot of moving parts, including Martin playing point guard for the first time. Bit by bit, Williamsport is putting them together. And the players knowing Ballard intends to stick with them going forward certainly helps that growing process.

“He pushes us. At practice, he makes us go to work,” Martin said. “Not every coach is like that.”

More important than the statistics players are producing; more really than the wins and losses is simply how the team is competing. Game situations shifted against Lewisburg but the team’s competitiveness never did. Keep that going and Williamsport could get where it wants to go now and into the future.

“They play hard and they just battle,” Lewisburg coach Brent Sample said. “They have a new coach and he does some really good things with them.”

ON THE RISE

Injuries have made the future now at Lewisburg and Sample often has used five freshmen during games. All are showing quality growth and India Walker looks like someone who could develop into one of the area’s best players going forward.

Walker has made an impact in all 10 games this season and does a bit of everything to help the Green Dragons. Against Williamsport, that included scoring nine points, making six steals and dealing three assists. A frequent stat stuffer, Walker even shifted from her natural forward position to play point guard at times and did nice work there.

Obviously, there is a big learning curve going from junior high to varsity basketball. Walker, however, is making the grade and gives Lewisburg another player it can build around the next three seasons.

“She can attack the basket, plays good defense and just gets after it. She’s a freshman and she’s going to be something to watch for the next four years,” Sample said. “She’s a really good kid. She comes to practice and works hard every day.”

PUTBACKS

Sullivan County made a statement last Tuesday, defeating South Williamsport for the first time in five years, winning, 40-34. That victory highlighted the massive strides the Griffins (5-7) have made thus far as Ansley Baldwin scored 15 points, Eva Fresno 14 and Alana Olson grabbed 12 rebounds. Baldwin added six assists and five board, while Bethany Eberlin had seven rebounds … South (7-4) bounced back three days later, scoring 45 first half points in a 56-16 win at CMVT. Eleven Mounties scored and Maddie Reidy had a season-high 11 points … Bucktail snapped a two-game losing streak and boosted its opportunity to host a first round playoff game, defeating Millville, 36-22. Eva Sockman dominated the glass with 22 rebounds and Kendall Wagner had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds … Ava Motto scored a career-high 22 points, draining three first quarter 3-pointers as Lewisburg defeated Montoursville, 43-23. Addy Shedleski dealt five assists; Lauren Schwartz grabbed seven rebounds and Kennedy North made six steals. Kayleigh Sheleman had 11 rebounds for Montoursville. North Penn-Mansfield and rival North Penn-Liberty played a thriller last week, the Tigers rallying to win, 56-53 in overtime. Elaina Shaw scored a career-high 17 points for North Penn-Mansfield and Kameron Lightner went over 100 rebounds this season with 16 points and 15 boards. North Penn-Liberty’s Kendall Graham scored a season-high 16 points. North Penn-Mansfield then turned a 12-point halftime deficit into a 55-54 win Saturday against Northern Potter with Lightner erupting for a career-high 27 points and 16 rebounds.

Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Hughesville (10-1): Hughesville upped the difficulty level but thrived under tough circumstances at Loyalsock, erasing a 15-point second quarter deficit and defeating the defending 3A state champions, 48-38 last Friday. The Spartans outscored Loyalsock, 43-18 over the final three quarters and did not allow a field goal over the final 8 ½ minutes. In doing so, they beat the Lancers for the first time during the regular season since 2017 and took a one-game lead in the HAC-III standings. The Spartans received strong efforts from all eight who took the court and have won 10 straight games.

“When we started out, we were too sped up and we just weren’t playing our basketball,” point guard Kendall Hamm said after producing seven points, four assists and four steals at Loyalsock. “Once we settled into the second quarter, third and fourth we were just playing our basketball. That’s what we need to pace ourselves with.”

2. Loyalsock (7-4): The result was not what Loyalsock wanted, but it plays Hughesville again Jan. 28 and both are district title contenders, so it’s about learning from last Friday’s game and growing as a result. That includes on the glass where Hughesville did excellent work throughout the second half, especially during a 12-1 game-ending run.

“It wasn’t that at times we didn’t have decent position, but we didn’t continue getting that position. We got to a stalemate and thought that was good enough because against 90% of teams that is good enough, but against a team that has the athletes they do and height they do that’s not enough,” coach Curtis Jacobson said. “We talk a lot about second and third efforts against a team like that. The first effort is not good enough. It’s maintaining second and third efforts.”

3. Muncy (10-0): Muncy suffered a blow eight nights ago when point guard Rosie Zalonis suffered an ankle injury but kept playing relentless defense to boost its winning streak in her absence. The two-time defending District 4 Class AA champions allowed just 28 points in three victories, letting just one team reach double figures. Emma McCormick, Ava Eyer and Anna Zalonis all had six-steal games and Alexis McKeta grabbed nine rebounds in a 25-12 win at Sullivan County. Hailey Ganoe stepped up off the bench there as well and added six boards.

4. Jersey Shore (7-4): Many thought Jersey Shore might take a step back after graduating four seniors from the most successful class in program history but a young group continues carrying the torch forward. The Bulldogs have won three straight games and are tied atop the HAC-I standings. They played their best offensive game this season in a 59-49 win against Central Mountain before showing off their defensive prowess in a 38-29 comeback victory against Danville. Jersey Shore allowed just eight second half points in that game. Freshman Marlee Lehman scored a career-high 18 points at Central Mountain, Kylie Schall 13, freshman Sadie Schall 12 and Avery DePasqua 11. DePasqua is the lone senior among the group, highlighting the team’s potential now and going forward.

5. Canton (8-3): Canton snapped a two-game losing streak in impressive fashion last Friday as three players reached double figures in a 57-32 win against North Penn-Liberty. The Mounties had lost two previous close games against Canton but that balance proved too much this time. Cailyn Van Noy led the way with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Lydia Roupp added 12 points and Stella Rockwell 11. Canton’s 8-3 start is the program’s best since 2000.

Players of the Week

Liz Schrock, Milton and Maddy McNamara, North Penn-Mansfield: Schrock is having a strong junior season and keeps improving as the season continues. She has collected consecutive double-doubles and has 24 points and 25 rebounds in those games, while helping spark a defense which has allowed just 54 points. McNamara is putting together a quality sophomore season and continues filling up the stat sheet. In four games last week, the point guard produced 48 points, 21 rebounds, 19 assists and 16 steals. She had a season-high 18 points against Wyalusing and generated eight rebounds and seven assists in the North Penn-Liberty win.

Game of the Week

Central Columbia at Hughesville: Five days after playing the reigning District 4 Class AAA champions, Hughesville hosts the five-time defending 4A champions Wednesday. Central is a runaway favorite to make it six straight district crowns and both teams play a similar relentless style of basketball. They split two games last year and have crossed paths in consecutive Heartland Conference Tournaments. This is a game which likely will help both teams win or lose.