Isaac Erlandson (4) of Montoursville and Saoj Jones (0) of Loyalsock combat for a rebound at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
It definitely has not touched their hearts.
Shaking off illness, a six-point deficit and a tough opponent, Montoursville produced a comeback Saturday at Ron Insinger Gymasium which was as gutsy because it was spectacular.
Shea Ulmer made a collection of huge fourth quarter pictures; Zack Neill shined off the bench late and each participant fought via adversity as Montoursville completed sturdy and defeated rival Loyalsock, 57-50 within the Pedie McDonald Christmas Tournament semifinals. Ulmer scored a game-high 18 factors, Cam Cintron 12 and the Warriors (6-2) closed on a 17-4 run over the ultimate 4 minutes, 7 seconds, whereas incomes a spot in Monday’s championship in opposition to Selinsgrove.
“You can’t go into a game thinking everything is going to go perfect. So, when you get dug into those situations you have to work together; work with your coaches and work with your teammates,” Ulmer mentioned after scoring eight fourth quarter factors. “Our bench tonight was phenomenal. Every little thing you can do to get back into a game is what we preach every single day.”
Kingston Fisher of Montoursville places up a shot as Saoj Jones of Loyalsock blocks it at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
All these little issues, sprinkled in with a whole lot of willpower, equaled an enormous win as Montoursville gained its second straight thriller in opposition to the Lancers over the past two seasons. The Warriors trailed by six almost halfway via the fourth quarter earlier than altering the whole lot with an 11-0 run which took simply 92 seconds.
Ulmer had a hand within the first 9 factors and Montoursville wanted simply 37 seconds to go forward for good when Neill discovered Ulmer for a 3-pointer which made it, 49-46. The Warriors made all however two of their remaining 12 pictures from the sphere and line throughout that comeback push.
“There were a lot of good things there at the end,” Montoursville coach Mike Mussina mentioned. “You don’t want to put yourself in that position too often, but to fight back and find a way to get the lead and get contributions from different guys was big.”
“That’s everything you play for,” Neill mentioned after scoring 5 factors in the course of the game-clinching flurry. “We have a very good chemistry, especially off the court. We all play hard and trust each other to go make the right play.”
Anything which went improper over the sport’s first 28 minutes, Montoursville made go proper in the course of the remaining 4. The recreation was tied following the primary and second quarters and Loyalsock (6-2) led, 39-38 coming into the fourth earlier than placing Montoursville up in opposition to the ropes within the fourth.
Kingston Fisher of Montoursville places up a shot as Saoj Jones of Loyalsock blocks it at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Defense ignited the offense and Cintron’s steal began flipping the swap. He handed to Ulmer who noticed Neill chopping from the appropriate baseline. The junior guard let it fly from the nook and swished it, pulling Montoursville inside three. Mussina known as timeout, Montoursville went to a press which began giving Loyalsock suits close to midcourt and the whole lot began dramatically altering.
“Me and corner 3s do not go together well,” Neill mentioned. “I’ve been working on it the last year to re-calibrate my shot, so they can’t make fun of me.”
Ulmer was fast to level out that Neill makes these pictures when Montoursville wants them most and this one helped fan the flames which Ulmer would then flip into an inferno. Out of the timeout, Ulmer made a steal close to halfcourt, raced in for a layup, was fouled and capped the game-tying 3-point play.
Neill made it three straight compelled turnovers seconds later with a steal and located Ulmer for the go-ahead 3-pointer.
Montoursville compelled 5 turnovers down the stretch and Neill capped the 11-0 run when he discovered Isaac Erlandson (8 factors, 6 rebounds) for an inside bucket with 2:45 left. The Lancers twice made it a 3-point recreation, however Ulmer and Neill calmly sank free throws, pushing it again to 5. Cintron added a foul shot and Brennen Imbro, an enormous cause Montoursville was within the recreation, made a game-clinching steal and free throw within the remaining seconds.
Kingston Fisher of Montoursville and Jalil Coates (heart) and Saoj Jones of Loyalsock combat for possession of the ball at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“I’m really proud of our guys. They found a way and that’s what you have to do in games like this,” Mussina mentioned. “Changing things up, they took a couple shots they didn’t want to take on the offensive end and we got some rebounds and we hit a 3, and all the sudden they’re playing in the position we were two minutes earlier, so it can change fast.”
“Tonight, everything kind of flowed together,” mentioned Ulmer, who added 4 assists. “People started to know their role; people started to know their place and everything flowed into one state. We were all feeling good.”
Loyalsock was feeling good after beginning to achieve some separation within the fourth quarter after the rivals swapped the lead 4 occasions within the third quarter. A Brecken Gusick 3-pointer put Loyalsock up, 39-38 coming into the fourth and a 3-pointer by Braydon Cioffi and putback from Isaac Blackwell pushed the benefit to 6, the largest lead both staff had held at that time.
Montoursville, nonetheless, managed the ultimate 4 minutes, snapping Loyalsock’s six-game profitable streak. Still, the Lancers, who will play Bellefonte within the third place recreation, have already got matched final 12 months’s win complete and may use this expertise to enhance because the season progresses.
“It was a good adjustment by them, and we need to be able to adjust a little better off those things,” Loyalsock coach Ryan Cioffi mentioned. “It’s a learning experience and winning against really good teams–and they’re a really good, really well-coached team–takes playing four quarters.”
Cam Cintron of Montoursville places up a floating shot in opposition to Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Gusick had an enormous third quarter, scoring 10 of his 17 factors. He twice hit 3-pointers which erased Montoursville leads, answering Jay Houseknecht’s go-ahead trey with one among his personal within the closing seconds. Braydon Cioffi scored 12 factors, Blackwell 9 and Saoj Jones was an enormous defensive difference-maker, ending with 11 rebounds and three assists.
Jalil Coates is the staff’s lone senior and needed to sit out the second quarter in foul bother. It says so much about Loyalsock’s development that it didn’t lose any floor throughout that point. Obviously, the loss stings, however the Lancers know there are positives they will construct on.
“The kids want to win and they have the will to win. That’s two different things, the want and the will, and they have it,” Ryan Cioffi mentioned. “The locker room is not happy, but the message was we’ll watch the tape and learn from it and get better.”
That is Montoursville’s aim, too, whatever the consequence. Both Ulmer and Neill talked about not taking the, ‘rat poison,’ that means as thrilling because the win was, the Warriors perceive it’s on to the following problem when it faces a Selinsgrove staff which edged it a 12 months in the past for the championship.
It doubtless can be one other robust recreation, however Montoursville confirmed Saturday it’s a fairly robust staff.
Kingston Fisher of Montoursville places up a shot as Saoj Jones of Loyalsock tries to dam it at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
“There’s a lot of stuff going on; it’s that time of year,” Mussina mentioned. “You need guys to step up and make a contribution, and that’s what happened.”
MONTOURSVILLE (57)
Cam Cintron 5 1-2 12, Kingston Fisher 1 0-0 2, Shea Ulmer 6 3-3 18, Elijah Eck 1 1-2 3, Brennen Imbro 3 1-4 7, Isaac Erlandson 4 0-1 8, Jay Houseknecht 1 0-0 2, Zack Neill 1 2-2 5. Totals 22 8-14 57.
LOYALSOCK (50)
Jalil Coates 3 2-2 8, Brecken Gusick 7 0-0 17, Braydon Cioffi 4 2-2 12, Isaac Blackwell 4 1-2 9, Saoj Jones 2 0-0 4, Ronnie Emery 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 5-6 50.
Montoursville 13 11 14 19–57
Loyalsock 13 11 15 11–50
3-pointers: Montoursville 5 (Ulmer 3, Cintron, Neill); Loyalsock 5 (Gusick 3, Cioffi 2).
Records: Montoursville 6-2. Loyalsock 6-2.
Brennen Imbro of Montoursville places up a shot in opposition to Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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Brennen Imbro of Montoursville and Saoj Jones of Loyalsock combat for a free ball at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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Saoj Jones of Loyalsock slam dunks the ball in opposition to Montoursville at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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Isaac Erlandson of Montoursville passes out of the steal try by Jalil Coates of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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Shea Ulmer of Montoursville blocks the shot of Brecken Gusick of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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Shea Ulmer and Isaac Erlandson of Montoursville put stress on Ronnie Emery of Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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Montoursville head coach Mike Mussina talks together with his staff throughout a trip with 1:01 to go within the recreation in opposition to Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Montoursville head coach Mike Mussina claps for his staff as they have fun a win over Loyalsock at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville gained 57-50.
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