But when the pressure was highest, Loyalsock found its groove. The Lancers produced a fourth quarter symphony and seemingly every beat was perfect. That performance helped Loyalsock dance its way back to the Class AAA state quarterfinals. It also allowed the hard-working players to receive a curtain call from families and students who made the two-hour drive and kept applause going all night.

Alaina Dadzie scored a career-high 36 points, Jillian Kennedy dealt six assists and Loyalsock overpowered West Catholic in the fourth quarter, pulling away and winning the second-round showdown, 54-35. The Lancers (27-2) tied the program record for wins, broke things open with a 19-2 run and reached the Elite 8 for a second straight year as well as for the third time since 2021. There, they will meet Dunmore Friday in a battle of district champions at a time and place to be determined.

“We just wanted to lock in. We were still a little sleepy; a little anxious,” Dadzie said after setting a new area-high for points by a player this season. “That fourth quarter we wanted to put it to them and show them who we were.”

They did so in emphatic fashion.

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock puts up a shot against West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

After struggling all night but still finding a way to lead 35-31 after three quarters, Loyalsock saved its best for last. Focusing on what could be, instead of what was, the Lancers dominated all facets, made 8 of 9 shots from the field and played fabulous defense. Loyalsock completely flipped the script from the first three quarters, putting everything together at the perfect time.

Wins don’t come with style points, especially in the playoffs. Through it all, Loyalsock found a way to survive and advance.

“Especially with how rough the first three quarters were, picking ourselves up that fourth quarter showed a lot of character,” Kennedy said. “All the motivation on the court and off the court, it was necessary, and it really got us to that big lead there.”

“There are a lots and lots of teams that get into a game like that, and they fold. The girls came together,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “You could see them come together on the court. You could see the communication pick up, you could see the pace pick up, the efficiency pick up. We tell them if you can do that for 32 minutes, you’re a scary bunch. It’s learning in every moment.”

Loyalsock learned a lot those first three quarters. It learned what not to do, but just important learned that it could fight through the tough times. Instead of breaking, players rallied around each other and played one of their best quarters this season against a team from one of the country’s premier leagues.

Julie Ellis of Loyalsock and Nyla Coleman (23) of West Catholic reach for a rebound at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Doing so helped Loyalsock defeat West Catholic for the first time in three state playoff meetings since 2019. It also made this Lancers team the first in program history to reach the state quarterfinals in consecutive years.

“That builds confidence in the whole team. It feeds the fire of going onto the next round,” Kennedy said. “We’re just excited to play again.”

Loyalsock started strong and lead 13-4 early in the second quarter but encountered rough waters from there and led just 17-15 at halftime. The Lancers made uncharacteristic mistakes and lost 22 turnovers through three quarters. Still, they also never lost the lead or their will, so even though a lot had gone wrong, the bottom line was Loyalsock still held a four-point advantage entering the final quarter.

And there, Loyalsock put together a virtuoso performance. Dadzie was a force, scoring 15 of her 36 points and her teammates piled up assists, including Kennedy who had four in the fourth quarter. Loyalsock opened the quarter on a rapid 10-0 run and allowed only one field goal before both teams emptied the benches late.

“We got after them pretty good at halftime, challenging them,” Jacobson said. “And we went back to my pregame message being that you don’t want to have regrets. As long as if after the game you can’t say, ‘What if I would have done something different?’ than you can live with that. I think for three quarters we could have probably made those statements but credit the girls because they found that gear in the fourth quarter.”

Jillian Kennedy (10) of Loyalsock tries to steal the ball from Kiajah Henry of West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dadzie took a physical pounding but never let it faze her. She simply grew stronger as the game progressed and made 10 of 12 second half shots. The junior center also grabbed seven rebounds, deal three assists and made two steals. She wanted the ball; her teammates delivered her the ball and Dadzie wore down West Catholic.

Kriebel, who totaled nine rebounds for a second straight game, found Dadzie inside early in the fourth, and Dadzie went coast-to-coast off a rebound before taking another pass from Kriebel for a score. She then made a steal and found Jaekairah Harden (6 points, 7 rebounds) who scored inside before Addie Bastian hit a free throw to cap the 10-0 run. Kennedy repeatedly carved up the defense from there and Dadzie finished strong as Loyalsock vanquished a team which twice before ended its season.

“My teammates are great. It’s me getting the points but they’re getting the assists and they’re always giving me the ball in the right spots for me to score,” Dadzie said. “It’s super nice to have teammates who can find me and who can contribute to the scoring.”

Kennedy missed last season with a torn ACL. She continues making up for lost time and repeatedly made crucial hustle plays which especially loomed large in the first three quarters. Harden followed suit, Ellis played a well-rounded game and Kriebel dealt four assists.

Dadzie may have taken center stage, but this again was a strong ensemble performance with Bastian and fellow reserve Madison Perry also helping the Lancers produce another hit. This one sounded shaky at the performance but hit some harmonious chords throughout the fourth quarter.

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock falls to the floor as Kiajah Hentry of West Catholic pushes Dadzie from behind at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“People made big plays,” Jacobson said. “We just got more downhill. We told them you have to get downhill; you have to want to attack, and I don’t think we did in the first half. We settled too much in the first half.”

Ultimately, Loyalsock made sure it did not settle for defeat. Not every game in a long season is going to be a masterpiece, especially in the playoffs, but the Lancers persevered, pulled together and worked their way back to the state’s Elite 8.

“When we came out of the locker room it was like, ‘We don’t have to go down to this team. We can beat them, and we can come through,'” Kennedy said. “That really showed in the fourth quarter. We fought through the adversity.”

WEST CATHOLIC (35)

Nyla Coleman 2 3-4 7, Milan Trusty 5 0-0 12, Ciana Blake 1 0-4 3, Ciani Scott 3 0-0 6, Ny’la Haynesworth 1 0-0 3, Kiajah Henry 1 0-2 2, Cionni Bell 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 3-10 35.

Jillian Kennedy (10) of Loyalsock tries to steal the ball from Kiajah Henry of West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

LOYALSOCK (54)

Alaina Dadzie 14 8-9 36, Lacy Kriebel 1 1-2 4, Julie Ellis 0 3-4 3, Jaekairah Harden 3 0-0 6, Jillian Kennedy 2 0-2 4, Addi Bastian 0 1-2 1, Madison Perry 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 13-19 54.

W. Catholic 4 13 14 4–35

Loyalsock 11 8 16 19–54

3-pointers: West Catholic 4 (Trust 2, Blake, Haynesworth); Loyalsock 1 (Kriebel).

Records: Loyalsock 27-2. West Catholic 13-14.

Jaekairah Harden of Loyalsock puts up a shot against West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Jillian Kennedy (10) and Julie Ellis (2) of Loyalsock try to steal the ball from Kiajah Henry of West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock leads the fast break against West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Jillian Kennedy passes the ball to team mate Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock as they play West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock celebrates scoring against West Catholic in the final minute of the game at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Loyalsock players and fans cheer after their team scored against West Catholic at Pleasant Valley High School. Loyalsock defeated West Catholic 54-35. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette