Sullivan County had not won more than six games since 2021. It featured a new coach, two players returning after not playing last year and another coming from Spain as an exchange student.

Obviously, there were some challenges. So, coach Taylor Baldwin made sure the team did not get lost in thinking about wins and losses. Focusing upon the little things was the main goal.

Doing so has helped the Griffins produce a big season thus far.

Sullivan has come roaring back and is playoff-bound for the first time in five years. The Griffins (10-9) have won four straight games and moved above .500 for the first time. Sullivan also has ascended to No. 4 in the District 4 Class A playoff standings and would host a first-round playoff game if it stays there.

Either way, it’s been quite a turnaround.

“One thing I keep telling them is take things one game at a time because we can’t be a team that dwells on losses,” Baldwin said after a win at St. John Neumann. “A couple of them didn’t play last year and Eva came from Spain but they are coming together really well.”

They certainly are. Sullivan started the season 0-3, but has gone 10-4 since. Two of its losses are against Class AA Canton (14-4), another against state title contender Lourdes (18-1) and another against Mid-Penn East champion Northwest. So, this team is both battle-tested and has used those experiences, including a heartbreaking three-point defeat at Canton, to keep improving.

The Griffins are heating up at the perfect time, too. That showed Friday when it defeated 2023 Class A district champion Meadowbrook Christian, 28-20 and vaulted it in the district standings. Despite having three players unavailable 18 hours later, Sullivan played swarming defense and defeated CMVT, 35-6.

“At the beginning of the season they were wrapped up in how many wins are we going to get this season? I was like, ‘Listen let’s take baby steps and one step at a time,'” Baldwin said. “We had four wins as a program last year, so we can’t get wrapped up in that. Even the games we haven’t won, the ones that have been close, I think are really boosting their confidence.”

Baldwin coached the team for three seasons prior to last year. His return sparked more interest as point guard Ansley Baldwin and senior leader Lily McCarty returned. Baldwin has excelled as the team’s floor general and McCarty helps set the tone with her relentless hustle, defense and rebounding. Fresno has provided a huge lift, consistently filling up the stat sheet and Alana Olson has proven reliable on the boards.

All the Griffins have embraced their roles and made sure all the moving pieces have fallen into place. Three challenging games remain against Northumberland Christian, Benton and Northwest. Regardless, Sullivan is one of the area’s most improved teams this season and could be dangerous in the postseason. Lourdes is the runaway favorite, but the race for the field’s two other state tournament appearances is up for grabs.

McCarty and Olson are the team’s lone seniors, so both the present and future appear bright. Baldwin has said his big-picture goal is building a program from the bottom up. The process is off to a good start and this year’s team, through the way it plays, is laying a strong foundation.

“They work hard,” Baldwin said. “If I had to describe this team in one way it would be that they remind me of a group that always tries to find a way and fights hard the entire game.”

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Milton coach Gene Bruno gave his players some reading material before Saturday’s game at Montoursville. Bruno asked them look over “The Mental Athlete,” a book which focuses upon positive attitude and visualization.

Milton then turned words into action at Montoursville. Carrie King, Liz Schrock, Hayden Snyder and Jaslene Holder went 8 for 8 at the foul line in the final 77 seconds and sealed a hard-fought 50-41 win which boosted the team’s playoff hopes.

“Our foul shooting hasn’t been the greatest, but coach told us to go home and visualize before we go to bed shooting and making foul shots,” King said after totaling 19 points, 13 rebounds and six steals. “We all went home (Friday) night and were thinking about it and it worked.”

It sure did. Milton erased a four-point fourth quarter deficit and went 11 of 13 at the line during that time.

King, Schrock and Snyder all had double-doubles and Milton (8-8) also kept itself in the hunt to host a first-round game if it qualifies in a crowded field. The Panthers entered the game shooting 50 % at the line, but some light reading could be just the tonic the team needed there.

“I said we’re starting with a clean slate and here we go,” Bruno said. “We got in the locker room (Saturday) and I asked who read it and all their hands went up. That (the improved shooting) makes it seem like I know what I’m talking about.”

THE BELLE TOLLS

Montoursville freshman Trinity Belle was sidelined the past few weeks with an injury but made a big impact in her return against Milton. The versatile athlete provided a lift off the bench, going for six points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Belle had worked her way into the starting lineup before her injury and shook off some early rust to shine a light on her good she is and how much better she may become as she gains more experience. Quick, strong and possessing a large motor, Belle can make things happen in all facets and she provides a team fighting for a playoff berth a nice weapon these final two weeks.

“You see how talented she is and how strong she is. She doesn’t look like a typical freshman,” Montoursville coach Travis Heap said. “I think she’s going to continue to grow and learn the game and learn how to be a point guard. The physical attributes are just going to continue to get better and better. You see what kind of a difference she makes on our team. To have her for the rest of the way is big for us.”

PUTBACKS

North Penn-Mansfield (11-7) is playoff-bound, after defeating Williamson and rival Wellsboro by 62 combined points last week. The Tigers have won four of their last five games and Kameron Lightner had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the 40-10 win against Wellsboro. Elaina Shaw, Maddy McNamara and Julia Kaczynski combined for 22 rebounds for a team which has made a three-win improvement since last year … South Williamsport (10-8) entered Central Mountain last night in a game which ended after press time, trying to secure a District 4 Class AA playoff berth. The Mounties bolstered their chances with wins at St. John Neumann and Montgomery. They had to dig deep against Neumann, rallying for a 46-42 win. Abigail Holbrook, Ivy Minier and Carly Quimby all reached double figures there and Maddie Reidy did so at Montgomery. What’s especially exciting for South is that all four will return next season … Central Mountain gathered steam entering that South game after defeating Midd-West, 52-32. Camdyn Weaver scored a career-high 24 points and has 42 in her last two contests … Lewisburg (8-9) is heating up, winning three straight games in impressive fashion. The Green Dragons downed Shamokin, 40-22 Saturday with Teagan Osunde generating eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Freshman India Walker had five steals, Addy Shedleski nine rebounds and Lauren Schwartz eight … Jaelynn Helmrich scored a career-high 25 points for Williamsport in Saturday’s 60-45 loss at North Schuylkill. Freshman Clara Fabian added two 3-pointers.

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

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Hughesville (17-2): Hughesville captured its first outright league championship of the 2000s, going through defending 3A state champion Loyalsock to secure it and defeating it, 35-29 last Wednesday. The Spartans made quick work of Warrior Run Saturday, building a 45-point halftime lead while building momentum for tonight’s showdown at surging Mount Carmel (14-5). After the team defense took center stage against Loyalsock, Hughesville showcased its explosiveness with a 51 point first half at Warrior Run, Maddie Smith scored 28 points there and sophomore reserve Tori Morgan produced 10. The Spartans have secured a third straight HAC Tournament berth as the Division III champion and likely will play Shikellamy or the Wildcard entry there.

2. Muncy (16-1): Muncy had to wait six days before playing last week and defeating Neumann, 53-7 on Senior Night. The Indians will be much busier this week, playing three games in four nights. The Indians have secured a second straight Mid-Penn West Division championship and will finish unbeaten in division play for a second straight season if they win against Bucktail and Montgomery this week. Muncy has yet to allow 40 points in a game this season, holding opponents to a district-best 19.9 points per game. The Indians allowed just one field goal Friday and seven players scored, including reserve Hailey Ganoe who grabbed six rebounds.

3. Loyalsock (12-6): Lighting a fire under Loyalsock has been difficult at times this season, but maybe the Hughesville loss did it. The Lancers showed how dangerous they can be three nights later, routing Southern Columbia, 77-42. Alaina Dadzie scored a career-high 41 points; Madison Perry went for a triple-double (15 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) and Jillian Kennedy scored 10 points. The Lancers made 10 3-pointers in that game and Dadzie a career-best six. When fully engaged, Loyalsock looks strong and it will need that focus down the stretch with four games against playoff teams and/or teams fighting for postseason berths. That includes a battle against perennial District 11 title contender North Schuylkill.

4. Canton (14-4): Canton gets a second chance against Northeast Bradford tonight, hitting the road to play the only NTL-II team to defeat it this season. The Warriors have won seven of eight games since then and have not allowed more than 19 points during a three-game winning streak. Cailyn Van Noy and Lydia Roupp combined for 30 points in a 51-19 win against Cowanesque Valley with Van Noy making nine steals and Roupp grabbing nine rebounds. Alexis McRoberts helps fuel the defense, averaging 3.2 steals and 7.4 rebounds per game.

5. Jersey Shore (12-6): Jersey Shore made a statement Saturday, handing HAC-I leader Shikellamy its first league loss in nine games and winning, 61-49. It highlighted the team’s season-long improvement after the Braves had won the first game by 16 points a few weeks ago. Freshman Marlee Lehman scored a career-high 20 points, Kylie Schall 14, Sadie Schall 10, Avery DePasqua nine and Gracelyn Frantz eight in a win which was as well-rounded as it was impressive. Jersey Shore has won four straight games and is closing in on potentially earning District 4 Class AAAA’s No. 2 seed a year after graduating four starters.

Players of the Week

Eva Sockman, Bucktail and Haley Litzelman, North Penn-Liberty: Sockman put on a rebounding clinic in a 53-20 win at Montgomery, producing an area-best 27 boards. The senior leader has been all over the glass this season, averaging a ridiculous 15.5 rebounds per game while helping the Bucks (10-7) win six of their last 10 games. Sockman also scored 17 points at Montgomery and added four blocks. Speaking of double-double players, Litzelman is tied with Lightner for an area-best 14. She continued her fantastic senior season last week, giving NTL-I and II leaders Troy and Northeast Bradford fits. Litzelman totaled 52 points, 30 rebounds and seven assists. Against NEB, Litzelman produced 30 points, 16 rebounds and five assists.

Game of the Week

Williamsport at Montoursville: It’s a big of a Backyard Brawl type day-night Saturday. The girls start it off with this 1:30 p.m. showdown before Loyalsock heads to the Magic Dome for a boys’ game against Loyalsock at 7:30. Williamsport and Montoursville both possess some exciting, young players, so this game could be one which is a showcase the next few years. Each squad has made strides this season, regardless of the records and the winner here gets some local bragging rights for their efforts.