It was more about seeing what happened when she was not on the court. Williamsport struggled when the junior point guard sat a few times with foul trouble and Lewisburg took advantage every time. But when there was no margin for error, Martin played the entire fourth quarter and created a seismic shift.

Martin had a hand in 12 of Williamsport’s final 17 points, hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put the Millionaires ahead entering the fourth quarter and provided instant energy while helping Williamsport fight off Lewisburg, 43-38.

“I was good for us. It was nice because we stuck together even though some of the calls didn’t go our way,” Martin said. “We just kept playing hard.”

Jaelynn Helmrich (15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals) produced a double-double, Zaelana Minor made three steals and a young, battle-tested team kept making progress, winning its second straight game in three nights. Williamsport (4-7) never flinched after Lewisburg turned an eight-point third quarter deficit into a two-point lead and used a blend of strong defense, poise and toughness to survive an intense fourth quarter against an equally tenacious team.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Jaelynn Helmrich (14) reaches in to block Lewisburg's Lauren Schwartz (25) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

As terrific as Helmrich played, Martin helped make everything go. A natural wing player, Martin has moved to point guard out of necessity since Williamsport is such a young squad. Thursday’s performance revealed how far Martin has come being the floor general for the first time in her basketball life.

In addition to scoring 14 points, Martin dealt four assists, grabbed four rebounds and made three steals. More impressive than the numbers was when she produced them, scoring eight points and dealing three assists in the game’s final 9 1/2 minutes. That included a go-ahead drive after an Ava Motto 3-pointer put Lewisburg up 27-26 and that buzzer-beater trey from the corner after another Motto triple had Lewisburg ahead, 30-28.

“In the beginning of the season I was a little questionable. I was a little nervous,” Martin said. “Now I feel like it’s getting a little easier. I’m learning the plays and working together with my team well.”

“I’m really hard on her in practice, but I think because I’m hard on her and so demanding that she kind of sets the tone and has become a leader even though she didn’t play a lot of varsity minutes last year,” first year Williamsport coach Lamar Ballard said. “She’s handled it well. Being hard on her and her slowly understanding and getting it has helped make the team so much better.”

The lead changed hands four times in the third quarter’s final two minutes, including twice in the last 15 seconds. Martin found Clara Fabian for the fourth quarter’s opening basket, but Lewisburg (4-5) tied it, 36-36 when Lauren Schwartz connected with Addy Barner for an inside shot.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kinsley Cannode (4) reaches to block a pass by Lewisburg's Addy Barner (11) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

Martin then made her biggest shot of the night, banking in a runner after Helmrich found her cutting into the lane. When not scoring, Martin was facilitating and spotted Helmrich on the wing as the senior leader drained a clutch long jumper which made it, 40-36. From there, Martin and Helmrich helped seal victory with three foul shots in the last 19.8 seconds.

All that despite Martin playing nearly the entire fourth quarter with four fouls. All that despite two clock errors which led to Lewisburg gaining 15 extra seconds late. Nothing came easy, but Martin and Williamsport embracing the hard helped them take another step forward.

“Everyone is sticking together. We’re settled more,” Martin said. “We’re more comfortable.”

“One of the things I’ve kept telling them all season is we’re playing so many good teams,” Ballard said. “I told them you’re going through the ringer and when we get to this local schedule and start playing some of these teams that I know we’re even with; we’re matched up well with, we’re going to do well because we’ve gone through so much.”

Lewisburg certainly can relate.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kinsley Cannode (4) reaches tries to get the ball from Lewisburg's Addy Barner (11) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

The Green Dragons reached last year’s 4A state tournament for a third straight year and had high hopes for 2026 with all-state candidate Maddy Moyers and three other strong starters returning. Unfortunately, Moyers tore her ACL last summer and three-year standout Teagan Osunde missed the first four games before returning but aggravating an ankle injury and missing last night’s game.

The injuries have forced Lewisburg to go super young and coach Brent Sample played five freshmen against Williamsport, a regular occurrence this season. Through it all, those exciting freshmen continue meshing well with the veterans and Lewisburg showed its potential, as well as its grit against Williamsport.

Trailing by eight at halftime, Lewisburg stormed back in the third quarter, took the lead twice and still was within one possession of taking a lead or tying the game in the final minute.

“The first half we kind of were throwing the ball all over the place and we dug ourselves a hole and it was good to see us respond the last 16 minutes,” Sample said. “We battled and took the lead and, to their credit they made some big shots, but we pushed them all the way to the end and it was a really good team effort.”

Highlighting the team’s exciting senior-freshman mix, senior Schwartz scored a career-high 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and made four steals. Freshman India Walker looks like a future star and did a bit of everything, fueling a relentless defense, scoring nine points, making six steals and dealing three assists.

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.

Senior Addy Shedleski and freshman Barner combined for 12 rebounds and six assists, while freshman Adele McNamara scored inside to make it a two-point game midway through the third quarter. So, while Lewisburg did not earn the win, it offered a look at both the present and future and both could be exciting.

“This season has been a lot scenarios that we just didn’t play out and every game is different. We have some freshmen stepping up, and Lauren really stepped up tonight,” Sample said. “I think Lauren has another gear and I think she realizes she can hit it and it was a good team effort all the way around. They all realize they can contribute offensively and defensively.”

Williamsport, also low on experience, is understanding that as well. That really shined through during the first half when it built a 24-16 advantage. Four players scored in the first quarter and freshman Payton Pennycoff made it five early in the second when her steal and short jumper provided another boost.

Mayala Cerami was strong off the bench, scoring five points and adding a spark to an already ferocious defense. Minor scored five first-half points and added seven rebounds, while Kinsley Cannode made three steals. Like Lewisburg, Williamsport is building each game and it put down another strong layer to that foundation Thursday.

“I love our schedule,” Ballard said. “I might spread some of those (early-season) games out but I wouldn’t change it for the world because I feel like it gets our kids so prepared for the rest of the season and that showed tonight.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Laylah Martin (15) is blocked by Lewisburg's Addyson Shedleski (25) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

WILLIAMSPORT (43)

Jaeylnn Helmrich 6 3-5 15, Laylah Martin 6 1-3 14, Zaelana Minor 2 1-2 5, Makayla Cerami 2 1-2 5, Kinsley Cannode 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Solomon 0 0-0 0, Antonella Erby 0 0-0 0, Clara Fabian 1 0-0 2, Payton Pennycoff 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 6-12 43.

LEWISBURG (38)

Ava Motto 3 0-0 8, Addy Shedleski 1 0-0 3, Lauren Schwartz 5 3-4 13, Kennedy North 0 0-0 0, India Walker 4 0-4 9, Addy Barner 1 0-4 2, Adelle McNamara 1 1-2 3, Lauren Asche 0 0-0 0, Elliana Rupert 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 4-14 38.

Williamsport 16 8 7 12–43

Lewisburg 10 6 14 8–38

3-pointers: Williamsport 1 (Martin); Lewisburg 4 (Motto, Shedleski, Walker).

Records: Williamsport 4-7. Lewisburg 4-5.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Zaelana Minor (5) and Layah Martin (15) try to gain possession of the ball from Lewisburg's Addyson Shedleski (25) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Jaelynn Helmrich (14) brings the ball downcourt around Lewisburg's Addyson Shedleski (25) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Laylah Martin (15) looks to pass around Lewisburg's defense during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

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.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Laylah Martin (15) looks to pass around Lewisburg's Kennedy North (13) and Lauren Schwartz (22) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kinsley Cannode (4) tries to control a loose ball around Lewisburg's Ava Motto (12) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Laylah Martin (14) comes up with a loose ball around Lewisburg's Ava Motto (12) and Addy Barner (11) during a high school girls basketball game at Lewisburg on Thursday.