Tucker scored eight fourth quarter points, grabbed four rebounds and hit three go-ahead baskets, including the game-winning free throws with 74 seconds remaining. Central Columbia and Loyalsock generated positives in this riveting Heartland Conference Tournament semifinal with the Lancers coming as close as any team to beating the undefeated Blue Jays and Tucker helping her team erase a five-point fourth quarter deficit.

Jaekairah Harden’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer was just off the mark as Central edged Loyalsock in a riveting 2025 HAC championship rematch, 38-36. Tucker scored 12 points and added eight rebounds and the Lancers (16-7) showed how tough they can be despite Central (23-0) earning the championship appearance Friday against Hughesville.

“I’m super excited to come in and contribute,” Tucker said. “Coach always wants us to do the little things in those situations, so to be that kind of spark for our team and be able to contribute, I was excited and happy for that.”

“The first thing I told the team was, ‘losing sucks.’ You can be proud without being happy,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “I don’t think we should be happy, but we should be super proud of the way we played.”

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against Central Columbia at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That is especially true considering that Central has run roughshod over the opposition this season, outscoring 22 regular season opponents by a 27-point average. That included a 74-50 win at Loyalsock last December. But this is a new Lancer team and through all the ups and downs this season, it appears to be jelling at the perfect time.

The Lancers started hot Wednesday, leading by six in the first quarter before trailing by seven in the third quarter. Unfazed, they stormed back and built a five-point fourth quarter advantage before the lead changed hands five times in the final four minutes as two proud programs went at it like prizefighters.

Alaina Dadzie produced a double-double (13 points, 17 rebounds), Harden played phenomenal defense, Madison Perry (9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals) filled up the stat sheet and Addi Barowy shined off the bench. The Lancers held Central 21 points below their regular-season scoring average and were a few inches from reaching a third straight final.

After Tucker hit two free throws and made it, 37-36 with 1 minute, 14 seconds remaining, Barowy had two 3-pointers go about as far down the basket as shots can without falling through the net. Quinlan Blake hit a free throw which made it, 38-36 with 4.2 seconds remaining and Dadzie grabbed the rebound when the second shot bounced off the rim.

Dadzie immediately spotted Harden breaking toward the 3-point line along the right wing and Harden let her shot go a second before time expired. It looked like it was going in as the shot sailed right target but went just a smidge long and bounced off the rim as Central stayed perfect.

Jaekairah Harden of Loyalsock tries to stop Quilan Black of Central Columbia as she drives up the sideline at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I had the same angle as Jaekairah had and when it left her hand, I said it was going in. It looked so good,” Jacobson said. “Just the competitive nature of our team tonight was great. My question to them yesterday was can you compete with them for four quarters, meaning can you work as hard as they do and we did that.

“We dug deep for four quarters. There wasn’t a lot left in the tank, but they sucked it up and kept battling and I’m super proud of them.”

Had Tucker not stepped up so clutch in the final quarter, Loyalsock likely would have reached another final. A senior who has been a part of three straight district champions again showed her big game chops at a crucial moment.

A player who does all the little things which help teams win but who might not get the headlines a lot, used all the small qualities in her toolbox to help Central secure a big win. Tucker scored six straight points after a Barowy 3-pointer and trio of Dadzie foul shots had given Loyalsock its five-point advantage. She then made the two late Onions free throws and added four of her eight rebounds in that final quarter. All that while shadowing Dadzie most of the night and helping the Central defense stiffen after the strong Lancer start.

“I’ve never been the type of player to go in there and score 20-30 points. I just do what I need to do, get rebounds and box out,” Tucker said. “Alaina is an amazing player. Having that challenge and guarding her all night and still being able to score is an exciting thing.”

Jaekairah Harden of Loyalsock tries to stop the pass by Abby Welkom of Central Columbia at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Playing exciting HAC Tournament games has becoming a Loyalsock-Central thing. The previous two champions went to the wire a year ago with Central winning in the final four seconds and this semifinal rematch proved that sequels can be every bit as dramatic as the original.

Central often goes on runs which can demoralize opponents and rapidly transform games. It felt like it was on the brink of doing so in both the second and third quarters, but Loyalsock fought off the ropes both times and then put the Blue Jays on the ropes in the fourth quarter.

Harden fueled a defense which made Blake, a Division I recruit, earn every one of her 11 points and the Lancers collectively swarmed, rarely giving Blue Jays clean looks. Addie Bastian and Maddie Wertz played key roles there as well and Perry continued her strong sophomore year, draining a 3-pointer and converting a steal into a layup to make it a one-point game entering the fourth quarter.

Barowy picked up where she left off Monday against Jersey Shore and hit a corner 3-pointer before Dadzie hit three free throws and put Loyalsock ahead, 32-27 with 6:08 remaining. After Tucker scored six straight, Dadzie answered inside. A Jude Flick (10 rebounds) putback gave Central the lead back, but Perry’s steal and layup again had Loyalsock ahead, 36-35 with 1:25 left.

“We’re in a tough stretch. We’re playing a lot of games in a short number of days, have had some sickness and we don’t have a lot of kids, but they’re not complaining,” Jacobson said. “They’re coming together in the right way.”

Addie Bastian of Loyalsock makes a pass as she falls out of bounds against Central Columbia at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The same goes for Central. The Blue Jays had won their last 10 games by 16 points or more, including nine by 20+ margins. Loyalsock tested not just Central’s talent and strategy, but also its guts.

In that resiliency department, both teams aced the test and that gives Central a boost entering Friday’s final. Loyalsock will be the No. 3 seed for the District 4 Class AAA playoffs and host the No. 6 squad, likely Line Mountain or Mount Carmel next Friday.

“It’s cool to have this experience and play games like these,” Tucker said. “Loyalsock is amazing. They’re such a well-coached team and they’re great players and great people. It’s cool to have that type of competition and play against people like that.”

“We can take so much from this game and the moments we were in,” Jacobson said. “There were so many good moments for us to build on.”

LOYALSOCK (36)

Madison Perry of Loyalsock puts up a shot against Central Columbia at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie 4 3-4 13, Jaekairah Harden 1 2-2 4, Madison Perry 4 0-0 9, Maddie Wertz 1 0-0 2, Addie Bastian 1 0-0 2, Addi Barowy 2 0-0 6. Totals 13 5-6 36.

CENTRAL (38)

Quinlan Blake 3 5-6 11, Abby Welkom 2 0-0 6, Jude Flick 3 2-2 8, Kayla Poust 0 0-0 0, Jada Tucker 5 2-2 12, Lily Huber 0 1-2 1. Totals 13 10-12 38.

Loyalsock 9 6 11 10–36

Central 5 15 7 11–38

3-pointers: Loyalsock 5 (Dadzie 2, Barowy 2, Perry); Central 2 (Welkom).

Records: Central 23-0. Loyalsock 16-7.

Jaekairah Harden of Loyalsock and Jada Tucker of Central Columbia dive to the floor for a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Madison Perry of Loyalsock drives up the court against Central Columbia at Shikellamy High School. Central won 38-36. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette