There was no way Loyalsock held a team as good as Jersey Shore to three first half points? The scoreboard must be malfunctioning or something. Right?

Wrong.

Loyalsock turned the highly improbable into reality and put on a defensive clinic, surrendering just three first half points, building a 26-point halftime advantage and cruising to a 40-19 Heartland Conference Tournament semifinal win. The defending champions allowed just one first half field goal and earned a spot in Friday’s championship against Central Columbia, a rematch of last year’s final.

“At halftime you try and encourage them and don’t want them to get too high but then at the end of the game you go back and tell them how impressive a first half it was,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “Nothing was easy; nothing was free.”

Addi Barowy of Loyalsock has the ball stolen by Kylie Schall of Jersey Shore at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Alaina Dadzie scored a game-high 13 points and made eight steals; Lacey Kriebel produced 10 points and six steals and Loyalsock won its 14th straight game.

One would have been a fool wagering money that Loyalsock would allow just three first-half points. Not only did Jersey Shore (15-7) capture a share of a third straight HAC-I championship, but it also features the area’s leading scorer in Peyton Dincher and has played in the last two District 4 Class AAAA finals.

And this was the same Jersey Shore team which twice lost thrillers against Loyalsock earlier this season, the most recent coming just three days prior when the Lancers rallied for a 56-51 victory. This was a performance as shocking as it was impressive, simply based on the strength of the opposition.

“Everyone on our team is able to step in when they need to,” Loyalsock guard Jaekairah Harden said after making five steals. “Everyone on the team can do something to help us win.”

That was especially important on a night Loyalsock played without three-year starter Julie Ellis who was injured. Freshman Madison Perry took Ellis’s place in the lineup and Loyalsock put all the defensive pieces together while creating a masterpiece, the basketball equivalent of the Eagles Super Bowl performance against the Chiefs.

Jaekairah Harden of Loyalsock tries to block a pass by Avery DePasqua of Jersey Shore at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Jersey Shore witnessed storm clouds early when Loyalsock forced turnovers on its first three possessions and four on its first five. Still, the Lancers led just 9-1 after the first quarter and Jersey Shore had dominated the seconds quarters in the two previous meetings.

But this time, those clouds burst as Loyalsock poured out points and forced more turnovers. The Lancers scored 20 second quarter points, created 17 turnovers by halftime and went into the locker room ahead, 29-3.

“We learned (the first two games) that we need to make sure we’re talking on defense and on screens,” Harden said. “It was about making sure we play like we usually play.”

“We preached before the game just dig in, get spots and keep the girl in front. If you keep the girl in front, good things are going to happen,” Jacobson said. “They hit a lot of 3s in those first two games. Some of that is result of us leaving somebody. We said we’re not going to leave anyone. We’re going to rely on guarding people 1-on-1 a little bit and the girls did it.”

They did it so well that Jersey Shore finished the half making just 1 of 14 shots, and nearly every one was contested well. Loyalsock picked up where it left off in the third quarter and Dadzie found Jillian Kennedy (8 points) for a layup which made it 33-3 and imposed the mercy rule. The starters did not play the fourth quarter and Loyalsock led 37-11 after three.

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock pulls in a rebound as she’s guarded by Peyton Dincher of Jersey Shore at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Dadzie, Kriebel (3 assists) and Harden all collected at least four steals by halftime. Kennedy and Perry handled their assignments well and the reserves kept the defensive intensity going, helping Loyalsock hold Jersey Shore to its lowest point total in two years.

“It was just kids tonight who knew when to leave, when to stay home. We practice it but I’m not taking any credit for that. That’s just the girls doing instinctive stuff,” Jacobson said. “It’s game No. 23 of the season and if you’re not doing the instinctive stuff now, you’re not going to be doing the instinctive stuff. We to give them some freedom to play where they rely on their instincts; rely on their athletic ability and good things can happen when we do that.”

Super defense fueled an offense which flourished in the second quarter. Whether in transition or in halfcourt, Loyalsock excelled and made 9 of 14 shots. Peyton Dincher (8 points, 5 rebounds) scored 30 seconds into the second quarter, but Loyalsock went on a 20-0 run from there and Harden sparked it when she made a steal and layup.

“I feel like if we’re able to play defense the entire game we should be pretty solid,” Harden said. “Defense is where we’re strong at. If we’re strong on defense, we’re usually pretty solid on offense.”

That showed throughout the second quarter as Loyalsock brilliantly executed its inside-outside game. Kriebel hit consecutive 3-pointers which made it 19-3, drilling the second off a nice dish from reserve Addi Barowy. Loyalsock scored going inside, kicking it outside and by turning defense into offense while breaking the game wide open.

Jaekairah Harden of Loyalsock and Cailyn Schall of Jersey Shore fight for position on a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Loyalsock started the previous two games against Jersey Shore strong before the Bulldogs thundered back and took leads. This time when the Lancers put Jersey Shore on the ropes it went for the knockout and emphatically landed it.

“(Assistant coach) Jeff (Everett) said at halftime, ‘Maintain being the player you are.’ Don’t try to be a different player because the defense is trying to force you to be a different player,” Jacobson said. “Be you and be good at being you. If that’s as a shooter, driver, or whatever, stick to what you’re good at. We really try and preach that. It was a credit to our depth and kids being ready to go.”

JERSEY SHORE (19)

Peyton Dincher 3 2-3 8, Cailyn Schall 0 0-0 0, Sophia Stover 0 0-0 0, Avery DePasqua 0 0-0 0, Hannah Heaton 1 0-0 2, Gracelyn Frantz 0 2-4 2, Lily Bowers 1 0-0 2, Kylie Schall 1 1-2 3, Jessica Millbrand 1 0-0 2, Azelyn Dincher 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 5-9 19.

LOYALSOCK (40)

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock steals the ball from Peyton Dincher of Jersey Shore at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Alaina Dadzie 6 0-0 13, Lacey Kriebel 3 2-2 10, Jaekairah Harden 2 0-0 4, Jillian Kennedy 4 0-0 8, Madison Perry 0 0-0 0, Maddie Wertz 2 1-1 5, Addi Barowy 0 0-0 0, Hazel Zajack 0 0-0 0, Addie Bastian 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 3-3 40.

Jersey Shore 1 2 8 8–19

Loyalsock 9 20 8 3–40

3-point goals: Loyalsock 3 (Kriebel 2, Dadzie).

Records: Loyalsock (22-1), Jersey Shore (15-7).

Peyton Dincher of Jersey Shore drives to the basket against Loyalsock at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock and Peyton Dincher of Jersey Shore race after a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Alaina Dadzie of Loyalsock blocks the shot of Peyton Dincher of Jersey Shore at Shikellamy High School. Loyalsock won, 40-19. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express