DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Maddie Smith of Hughesville drives to the basket during the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals against Dunmore at Wilkes Barre High School on Friday evening. Hughesville won 46-40.

One could watch the game film and try deciphering how Hughesville turned around its Class AAA state quarterfinal against Dunmore last Friday.

For the players, though, it’s basically Occam’s razor: That is the principle which states the most straight forward explanation is likely the correct one.

Take it away, Maddie Smith.

“We came together as a team and played Spartan basketball,” Smith said after Hughesville rallied from eight down and defeated Dunmore, 46-40.

There it is. But what exactly is Spartan basketball?

Well, it’s a bit of balance, depth, defense and quality coaching mixed together. But at its core, it’s about a relentless heart which continues pounding strong.

Nothing came easy against Dunmore and nothing ever does at this time of season, but Hughesville fought on, stayed together and took control in the fourth quarter en route to making history. The Spartans (27-3) reached the Final 4 for the first time and will play Holy Redeemer tonight at Hazleton High School.

“It just shows how much hard work we put in. I’m at a loss of words, honestly,” Smith said. “It’s just a great feeling to go do this together with my best friends by my side and just knowing we did it together.”

“Juts to be able to come back, that’s really what Spartan basketball is all about,” fellow guard Kylie Temple said. “What we push as a team is not giving up. We push to keep driving for that next point. We’re not always looking for the long run; you’re looking for that next point. That’s what I think we did (Friday).”

The Spartans did it quite well.

Dunmore started strong and led 10-2 early. The Bucks still led 24-22 at halftime but Hughesville had started changing the game’s complexion as its defense settled in and the tenacity in all facets increased.

Temple banked in a 3-pointer to close the third quarter, putting Hughesville ahead, 31-30. And, while Dunmore continued threatening, Hughesville never trailed again. It was a performance reminiscent of the district championship against Loyalsock when the Spartans turned a six-point second quarter deficit into a 45-38 victory.

“I said at halftime, they (Dunmore) just gave you the best that they could at the beginning of the game, so now you’ve clawed back into the game,” Hughesville coach Dustin King said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. They’re a really good defensive team; well-coached, but the girls kept grinding and grinding.”

They really don’t know any other way to play.

It’s sports, so the execution is not always going to be perfect and not every shot will go in. But what Hughesville knows it can always control is how hard it plays. So, all the players feed off each other, throw their bodies around and go all-out in pursuit of victory.

I keep stats each game, but a new one I should chart is how many times Hughesville players hit the floor going after loose balls and/or fighting to make plays. It certainly has been a lot throughout this season–throughout this meteoric three-year climb, really. Watch a JV game, too, and it’s the same way.

And those seeds are planted at practice. There, the Spartans compete against each other like they do their opponents. Come game time, they are well-prepared to play excellent teams because they have gone against one each day at practice.

“We see the hard work in the offseason and preseason and now we see it in the postseason paying off,” Vivian Draper said following a 42-30 second round win against Notre Dame-Green Pond. “We definitely give each other our all in practice. That shows on the court.”

That’s a big part of Spartan Basketball. Another key element is each player embracing her role and helping the team. Look at all the Hughesville wins this season and it becomes apparent what a strong collective effort it has been.

Nothing changed against Dunmore. All seven players King used made positive impacts, whether scoring, rebounding, passing or defending. Draper made four steals, Anna Easton grabbed nine rebounds, Allyssa King made three steals and Casey Schultz and Kendall Hamm excelled off the bench.

Smith and Temple combined for 13 fourth quarter points as well. Hughesville put all its quality pieces together to complete a Final 4 puzzle, also setting a program record with its 27th win.

“I can’t thank them enough. Everybody has put in the hard work for these moments. To come together as a team and counting on the person next to you, knowing they’re going to play for you by your side is such a good feeling,” Smith said. “Everyone did so good (Friday). Everybody made the right play at the right time, it felt like. Everybody came together and played Spartan basketball.”

Which brings us to another key aspect of Spartan Basketball. It’s always, “We before Me.”

The Spartans don’t focus upon personal stats, just winning. Knowing all share the mindset provides players confidence, trust and belief. They are all on the same page, all driven toward one primary goal.

“It’s such a cool moment to share with the people I’m closest with and I have such good faith in this team,” Temple said. “I know everyone is in it for the long run all season. It’s just such a cool experience.”

Hughesville has created many memorable experiences this season and, over the last three years. The Spartans had never won a district championship or a state tournament game prior to 2024. Now they are two-time district champions with six state tournament victories and a Final 4 appearance the past three seasons.

Hughesville broke through two years ago; graduates passed the baton to the next group and now the current team keeps taking it farther. The Spartans have come a long way, but the goal is reaching that finish line.

Building on Temple’s earlier statement, though, it’s not about the next game. It’s about the next play. The coaches have stressed that throughout the season, players have embraced it and that will be Hughesville’s focus throughout the contest.

Only four teams remain, so obviously, they are all great ones. A year ago, Hughesville and Redeemer played a back-and-forth thriller which Hughesville won in the closing seconds. Both teams have worked, grown and improved since then, so it should be another battle.

Opportunities like these are so fun, so memorable, but also so hard to come by.

Hughesville earned this one by adhering to a simple philosophy no matter the opponent; no matter the situation. And it’s the same mentality Hughesville will stick to tonight.

Above strategy, above everything else, Hughesville wants to do one key thing again:

Play Spartan Basketball.

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