Moments like those are ones to savor but also are incredibly hard to achieve.

Hughesville just made it look easy Friday against Columbia, while winning its first round Class AAA state tournament game at Williamsport’s Magic Dome.

Still, it was anything but. It was the result of not just a dedicated week of practice, but a year’s worth of effort creating an excellent performance. Maddie Smith scored 27 points and made six steals, Allyssa King helped set the early tone and post players Vivian Draper, Anna Easton and Casey Schultz formed a three-headed monster inside as Hughesville routed Columbia, 63-32. The Spartans (25-3) reached the tournament’s second round for a third straight year and there they will play Notre Dame-Green Pond Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

“I think in the district championship Loyalsock pushed us and got us ready for this game. We pushed each other at practice all week and we wanted this game really badly,” Smith said after adding seven rebounds and five assists. “We worked the whole week for us, so winning this first game means a lot.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Anna Easton (33) tries to shoot past a Columbia defender during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

“You get really hyped up when you see someone do good,” Schultz said after totaling seven points, six rebounds and two blocks. “It makes you want to do your best.”

Hughesville brought its best from the start and every player coach Dustin King used made a strong impact on both ends. The Spartans, whose 25 wins are the most by a Hughesville team in the 2000s, led by 11 after one quarter and 36-13 at halftime. They forced 18 turnovers through the first three quarters and never let Columbia (17-10) get closer than 20 during the second half.

“The girls lead by example, so when the starting five is in there playing like that, it’s just contagious,” Dustin King said. “Other girls come off the bench do the same thing and it’s fun to watch. It’s something we preach, and the girls just fly all over the place.”

All eight players in the rotation scored and Hughesville both swarmed defensively while effectively working its offense. Four players grabbed at least six rebounds and three made at least three steals. Put it together and Hughesville, backed by a big crowd and boisterous student section, had all its fans roaring from the opening tip on.

As was the case last Saturday when Hughesville captured its second district championship in three years, it was five playing as one which had Hughesville clicking so well. King scored nine points and made four steals; Draper had eight points, seven rebounds and four steals and Easton six points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three steals.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Allyssa King (32) shoots past a pair of Columbia defenders during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

Kylie Temple dealt three assists, Kendall Hamm two more and Tori Morgan provided energy off the bench. Even on occasions where something went wrong, there often was a hustling Spartan there to make it go right either offensively or defensively.

“Coming in we talked about starting fast and they all played for each other tonight,” Dustin King said. “They’re jelling really well and you can see it on the court.”

He could even see it off the court, before the game.

A team which has a lot of big-game experience the last three years staged a dance-off in the locker room beforehand. Yes, the Spartans are intently focused on playing their best, but they also are having fun and that formed a potent combination against Columbia.

“We’re so amped up for the game. Once it gets here, we were really prepared and we came out and showed up,” Smith said. “When you see someone next to you playing for you and hustling, it just makes you want to do it even more. I just appreciate this team so much for pouring its heart out into it. It makes me want it even more.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Maddie Smith (10) moves the ball past a pair of Columbia defenders during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

It was apparent Hughesville wanted Friday’s game seconds into the game. An Easton putback had it up 8-2 less than three minutes in and a King 3-pointer was followed by a Smith steal and layup, pushing the lead to, 13-4. Smith found Draper to make it 16-6 and Hughesville led by double digits from that point on. King scored five first quarter points and Draper used a nifty post move to make it, 20-7 early in the second quarter, totaling six points and five rebounds in the game’s first 10 minutes.

It was different players at different times and Schultz continued making a big impact off the bench, the freshman stopping a brief Columbia third-quarter run with a steal and layup. That ignited a 10-4 spurt and Smith’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer had Hughesville up, 52-26 entering the fourth.

Smith was as dangerous setting up her teammates as she was finishing and hit what felt like two dagger shots to Columbia’s collective heart with her last-second 3-pointers. Smith hit a half-court trey at the buzzer in the district semifinals and preceded her beat-the-clock third quarter trey with a last-second 3-pointer which put Hughesville up, 36-13 at halftime.

“At this point, I just kind of chuck it up and hope. It gives us a boost going into the next quarter, especially going into halftime,” Smith said. “It gives us that boost to play for each other the next half. I think that helps out a lot.”

So does the team defending like it did against Columbia. Coming off a strong district tournament effort, Hughesville players talked as fast as they moved and limited quality looks. When openings appeared, they quickly seemed to disappear as both guards and post players filled the gaps. Draper epitomized that in the fourth quarter when it looked like Columbia might have a layup only for the senior leader to come sprinting into the lane and make a steal.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Maddie Smith (10) reaches for a rebound during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game against Columbia on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

“If you miss a shot or something, you should hustle and get back on d,” Schultz said. “Because you can get a steal or a defensive stand and then get a layup.”

The Spartans limited Columbia to seven or fewer points in three of the four quarters and also held an opponent to fewer than 40 points for a fourth straight game. Defensive intensity translated to offense where Hughesville efficiently set up quality looks inside and outside.

Driving that home, at least four players scored in all four quarters. Morgan imposed the mercy rule with 2 minutes, 5 seconds remaining, draining a free throw. After winning consecutive first-round thrillers the past two years, Hughesville had some time to soak in the moment as the final minutes ticked away.

Hughesville enjoyed that achievement Friday but knows the work continues heading back to practice Monday as another challenge awaits. Everything is earned the hard way no matter what the scoreboard says, and the Spartans are eager to continue embracing the hard.

“They’re just relaxed playing basketball and they’re all focused on getting one more game and we have one more game now,” Dustin King said. “We just continue working toward that goal.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Vivian Draper (34) tries to shoot around a pair of Columbia defenders during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

COLUMBIA (32)

Lexie Droege 2 2-2 6, Marianha Crawley 2 4-6 8, Alivia Crawley 0 2-4 2, Ava Broome 0 3-4 3, Morgan Gamber 3 0-0 6, Raegen Elliott 1 0-0 3. Totals 10 11-16 32.

HUGHESVILLE (63)

Maddie Smith 7 9-12 27, Vivian Draper 3 2-2 8, Allyssa King 4 0-0 9, Kylie Temple 1 0-0 2, Anna Easton 3 0-2 6, Kendall Hamm 1 1-1 3, Casey Schultz 3 1-4 7, Tori Morgan 0 1-2 1. Totals 22 14-23 63.

Columbia 7 6 12 7–32

Hughesville 18 18 16 11–63

3-pointers: Columbia 1 (Elliott); Hughesville 5 (Smith 4, King).

Records: Hughesville 25-3. Columbia 17-10.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Kylie Temple (3) reaches to get a loose ball from a Columbia defender during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Maddie Smith (10) is fouled by Columbia's Lexie Droege during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville head coach Dustin King calls in from the sideline during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game against Columbia on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Kylie Temple (3) shoots over the head of Columbia's Marianha Crawley (24) during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's student section cheers during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game against Columbia on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Vivian Draper (34) looks for a shot around Columbia's Lexie Droege (11) during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville players celebrate their win over Columbia during the first round Class AAA Girls State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Hughesville won 63-32