MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Maddie Smith (10) shoots over Loyalsock's Alaina Dadzie (30) in the fourth quarter.

They competed against each other as rivals but postseason awards have linked them. First, Loyalsock center Alaina Dadzie and Hughesville guard Maddie Smith shared Heartland Conference Division III MVP honors.

So, the voting committee here figured if that was good enough for the HAC-III, it’s good enough for us. Plus, it saves us from making a brutally hard decision.

Turns out Dadzie and Smith were both the Sun-Gazette’s best girls’ basketball players this past season. As such, they become the first duo in the 27 years we have run the awards to be named Co-Sun-Gazette Players of the Year. Some may the committee took the easy way out but who can blame us?

Dadzie and Smith both have established themselves as two of the best players in their program’s respective histories and Smith has a year remaining.

Dadzie closed out her remarkable high school career with a flourish, averaging career-highs of 19.6 and 12.6 rebounds per game and is now a three-time Sun-Gazette Player of the Year. A season after helping Loyalsock capture its first state championship, Dadzie led a team beset by injuries back to both an eighth straight district final and 10th straight state tournament. Along the way and against constant double, sometimes triple, teams, she averaged 3.6 steals, 2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 4.7 deflections per game.

A three-time HAC-III MVP, Dadzie is one of the only players in area history to top both 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds, going for 2,008 and 1,063. She never missed a game these last four years and produced 19 double-doubles last winter. Dadzie often was at her best in the biggest games and this year was no different with the Bucknell-bound senior going for 28 points and 18 rebounds against state finalist Holy Redeemer.

Dadzie makes a strong case to be placed on the area girls basketball Mount Rushmore of the 2000s. She helped Loyalsock reach new heights, will soon likely be a three-time all-state selection and put together one of the most impressive high school resumes any area player ever has.

Smith still has her senior year ahead, but her resume also already is the stuff of legend at Hughesville. The junior guard shattered a set of program records this year and already is the school’s all-time basketball scoring leader.

A fiercely competitive and versatile guard, Smith has helped transform Hughesville since arriving as a freshman three years ago. She was the MVP for a team which captured a district championship and reached its first State Final 4 last winter, averaging career-best totals of 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 2.2 assists per game.

Explosive and reliable, Smith also has never missed a game and has excelled in pressure moments, helping a team which never before had won districts or a state tournament game, pile up two district titles and six state playoff wins these last three years. Like Dadzie, Smith is equally as strong defensively as offensively and closed her season with 14 rebounds against Redeemer.

Smith set a program record with 39 points against Shikellamy, also making a record eight 3-pointers that night. She enters her senior year having produced a record 1,450 points, 554 rebounds, 282 steals, 176 assists, 220 deflections and 125 3-pointers.

The individual stats Dadzie and Smith totaled stand out. But the best way they can be described is simply as winners. Dadzie helped Loyalsock win 93 games the past four seasons and Hughesville has won 75 games during Smith’s three seasons.

As individuals, they are among the state’s best. Together, Dadzie and Smith make a dynamic duo.

The following is a look at who join Dadzie and Smith on the all-star team as well as who takes home honors in other categories.

Sun-Gazette

All-Star Team

Teagan Osunde, Lewisburg

Despite a preseason injury costing her six games, Osunde turned her senior year into a memorable one, helping a young Lewisburg team reach states again, something it achieved every season Osunde was there. That’s not a coincidence. The forward has been one of the district’s premier post players the past three years and averaged a double-double, going for 10.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. A first team HAC-II all-star, Osunde also was an excellent passer and defender. She produced 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Osunde was at her best in a state qualifiying win against Jersey Shore, generating 18 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.

Ava Eyer, Muncy

This reporter believes Eyer should have been named Mid-Penn Player of the Year, but winning is Eyer’s main focus and she helped Muncy capture a third straight District 4 Class AA championship. Highlighting how strong Eyer was this past season, she scored 22 points and drained the game-winning free throw in a 44-43 district championship win against state semifinalist Southern Columbia. Eyer scored 22 points that night and collected a double-double for a second straight year in states, totaling 20 points and 10 rebounds against Wyoming Seminary. Eyer had eight double-doubles, averaging 12.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 steals and two assists per game. A ferocious competitor, Eyer has speed, strength and versatility, playing nearly every position for a team which set a 2000s-best mark with 22 wins.

Carrie King, Milton

There is not much King cannot do on the court and the first team HAC-II all-star proved it again this season, nearly averaging a double-double of 13.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. She could play in the post, run the offense or slide in at two-guard. Either way, King was highly effective, also leading the team with 3.9 assists and 3.2 steals per game, while adding 1.6 blocks. King collected seven double-doubles and her ability to consistently fill up the stat sheet at Northumberland Christian and Milton defined her. These past four years, King totaled 1,303 points, 917 rebounds, 348 assists, 319 steals and 241 blocks, helping her team reach the playoffs each time.

Haley Litzelman,

North Penn-Liberty

The Sun-Gazette Player of the Year runner-up, Litzelman can lay claim to being North Penn-Liberty’s GOAT. Like her soon-to-be Bucknell softball teammate Smith, Litzelman is her school’s all-time leading scorer and has what feels like an iron-clad all-state resume. Litzelman was the focus of every North Penn-Liberty opponent but no one ever stopped her … in any area. The senior guard won the area scoring title, averaging 22.4 points per game, and also was one of its leaders in rebounds (13.2), assists (4.5), steals (3.7) and blocks (2.6). Litzelman manufactured 19 double-doubles in 23 games and helped a young team again reach the postseason. A model of consistency, Litzelman will graduate with 1,400 career points, 979 rebounds, 347 assists, 318 steals and 176 blocks.

Second Team

Cailyn Van Noy, Canton (16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 4.7 spg, 936 career points); Jaelynn Helmrich, Williamsport ( 12.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.1 apg); Kameron Lightner, North Penn-Mansfield (12.6 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.8 spg, 1.0 bpg, 15 double-doubles, area-high 355 rebounds); Vivian Draper, Hughesville (7.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.3 bpg, nearly 800 career rebounds); Jaekairah Harden, Loyalsock; Camdyn Weaver, Central Mountain (12.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2 spg, 1st team HAC-I)

Third Team

Kendall Wagner, Bucktail (14.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.9 spg); Marlee Lehman, Jersey Shore (10.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.3 spg, 2.0 apg); Rosie Zalonis, Muncy (10.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.0 apg, 3.5 spg); Kayleigh Sheleman, Montoursville (11.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Ella Moore, South Williamsport (8.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 4.2 spg); Eva Sockman, Bucktail (9.4 ppg, 17.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.8 bpg, 329 rebounds)

Sun-Gazette Defensive All-Stars

Avery DePasqua,

Jersey Shore

A hard-working senior who set the tone for Jersey Shore’s success, DePasqua could make life miserable for opponents. A speed, length and desire formed a potent mix and DePasqua was at the center of Jersey Shore’s defensive success. It was not the 1.8 steals which stood out as much as the disruption DePasqua caused. She also provided 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Kylie Temple, Hughesville

Again, it’s not the numbers which reveal the story when looking at Temple’s defensive success. It’s more the way she fanned the flames for a team which was a defensive inferno at times, stifling opponents all season. Temple’s ability to harass ball-handlers, fly around the court and wreak havoc helped Hughesville hold all seven playoff opponents to 39 or fewer points. She also came up huge offensively in the district final against Loyalsock and state quarterfinals against Dunmore.

Anna Zalonis, Muncy

A two-time Mid-Penn Defensive Player of the Year, Zalonis set the standard for the district’s best defensive team. The senior guard stuck to opponents like glue, whether they had the ball or not. Another clutch shooter who hit a series of key 3-pointers throughout the playoffs, Zalonis was the catalyst for a defense which held opponents to fewer than 30 points per game.

Anna Easton, Hughesville

What Temple meant to Hughesville’s backcourt defense, Easton meant to the interior. Combining with Vivian Draper and Casey Schultz, Easton often made the paint a no-score zone. A smart and tenacious defender, Easton had a knack for blocking shots and making steals. So effective was Easton that she helped Hughesville hold Dadzie to her only two single-digit scoring games.

Emily George, Montoursville

Combining with Kayleigh Sheleman to help guide a young team, George led the area in steals, producing a whopping 5.1 per game. Those steals often led to transition opportunities. Speed and relentlessness were the foundation George built her success upon as she closed her high school career, averaging 8.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Sun-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year

Jaekairah Harden,

Loyalsock

Harden repeats as Defensive Player of the Year again being the team’s defensive motor. Harden’s defense was critical to Loyalsock winning the state championship a year ago and paid huge dividends down the stretch when Loyalsock heated up and made its district final push. Fast and smart, Harden averaged 3.4 steals and 4.5 deflections per game, often locking down opponents. She also scored a career-best 9.6 points per game, while adding 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Second Team

India Walker, Lewisburg; Liz Schrock, Milton; Emma McCormick, Muncy; Carly Quimby, South; Lily McCarty, Sullivan County; Allyssa King, Hughesville

Sun-Gazette

Breakthrough

Player of the Year

Second runners-up–Trinity Belle, Montoursville and Kelsie Wagner, Bucktail: Both players currently are flourishing on the softball field after playing vital roles in their debut basketball season. Belle provided a constant spark off the bench, averaging 4.7 rebounds, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Wagner helped Bucktail make a four-win improvement, settling in at point guard and going for a team-high 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Both seemed poised for big things.

First runner-up–Sadie Schall, Jersey Shore: Speaking of, Schall immediately made an impact, combining with Marlee Lehman to give Jersey Shore an excellent backcourt now and into the future. Schall averaged 7.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Possessing speed, length and a nice shot, Schall helped Jersey Shore continue excelling as it nearly won a fourth straight league title.

And the winner is …Madison Perry, Loyalsock: Here’s a player who competed through a fractured ankle in both the district final and state tournament. That pretty much reveals what kind of player Perry is and the kind of toughness she displays. The sophomore guard delivered in some crucial moments during the team’s state championship run but came up huge this season, especially after Jillian Kennedy tore her ACL in the season opener. Loyalsock would not have had the success it did without Perry stepping into a starring role. While doing so, she averaged 8.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 steals, 3.3 assists and 4.5 deflections per game.

Sun-Gazette

Coach of the Year

Second runners-up–Curtis Jacobson, Loyalsock; Mike Schall, Jersey Shore; Brent Sample, Lewisburg: Hey, it was a super tough field, so we had to cram three into this spot since all were deserving. Jacobson won his 200th career game in the season opener, then helped his team again surge at the perfect time while reaching another district final. Loyalsock has reached states in each of Jacobson’s 10 years there.

Schall and Sample both faced potential rebuilding projects but instead helped their programs reload. Jersey Shore graduated four starters from the most successful class in program history, but Schall helped it win 14 games and come within a victory of a fourth straight state tournament appearance. Jersey Shore looks strong going forward, returning all but two players next winter. Sample lost all-state candidate Maddy Moyers to a preseason injury and was playing five freshmen at times early in the year, but the Dragons were playing as well as any District 4 Class AAAA team not named Central Columbia down the stretch. Sample’s teams have reached states in four straight years and this may have been his best coaching job yet.

First runner-up–Craig Weaver Sr., Muncy: Weaver only enhanced his storybook career, leading Muncy to a third straight district title. Before 2024, Muncy had gone 23 years without a title and now Weaver has brought out the players’ best and helped them win 63 games during this title run. Like the previous season, Muncy clicked when it mattered most, avenging a loss against Northwest in the district semifinals before winning the thrilling title against Southern. Weaver won his 600th career game at midseason and has led Montgomery and Muncy to seven district crowns.

And the winner is … Dustin King, Hughesville: King pushed all the right buttons and helped Hughesville make history … again. The Spartans have actually done so the past three seasons, but this was their best season ever as they reached a first Final 4 and set a record with 27 wins. It’s been a fantastic run for Hughesville and King’s teams have gone 75-13 the past three seasons. This year, the Spartans swept three games from Loyalsock won both district and league championships in the same season for the first time, finishing 13-0 against a rugged HAC-III field.

Game of the Year

Second runner-up– Jersey Shore 61, Shikellamy 49: Jersey Shore made a statement late in the regular season when it handed HAC-I champion Shikellamy its lone league loss. The Bulldogs rallied to do so, dominating the second half and draining eight 3-pointers. They reached a season-high in points and Lehman scored 20 as Jersey Shore avenged a previous 16-point loss.

First runner-up–Hughesville 45, Loyalsock 38: Round III in what has been an awesome district final trilogy was every bit as exciting as the first two. Hughesville overcame a six-point second quarter deficit and went up 11 in the third. Like the past two seasons, however, Loyalsock thundered back, closing within two midway through the fourth quarter. A year after the Lancers came all the way back and took the crown, Hughesville flipped the script and reclaimed the throne. Temple hit the shot of her life, a corner 3-pointer to swing the momentum and the defense did not allow a field goal over the final 3 ½ minutes as Hughesville celebrated its second championship in three years.

And the winner is … Muncy 44, Southern Columbia 43: Three nights earlier at Montoursville, Muncy and Southern staged a classic battle which would make Rocky and Apollo smile. Muncy was down seven early but went off in the third quarter and held an 11-point lead midway through the fourth. Then Southern stormed back and tied the game with 25 seconds left. A few seconds later, Eyer hit the free throw, the defense held its ground, Emma McCormick made a last second steal and Muncy celebrated a victory its players, coaches and fans will never forget. It was the third straight year, Muncy defeated the top seed for the championship and the second time it did so in the final seconds. Heck, I didn’t even play in the game and I needed oxygen afterward.