Loyalsock’s freshman center certainly could not ease her way into this debut season. But all that work against strong competition is bringing the best out of Dadzie at the perfect time. And she came up huge at the most opportune time during Saturday’s showdown against co-HAC-I champion Jersey Shore.

Dadzie scored 16 of her team-high 20 points in the second half, made five steals and proved a difference-maker on both ends as Loyalsock came roaring back on its home court. Julie Ellis added 14 points and Izzy Dadzie 12 as the Lancers (16-6) turned a 13-point third-quarter deficit into a thrilling 57-53 win.

“The first couple of games it was a matter of getting into things,” Alaina Dadzie said. “Now I feel more comfortable, and I can try and make an impact.”

What an impact she is making.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Loyalsock's coaches react during a high school girl's basketball game against Jersey Shore on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

Dadzie opened the year strong but experienced some growing pains in the middle. Now, she is surging toward the finish line. Dadzie has produced three double-doubles in her last four games and took over at times against Jersey Shore (17-15) two nights after going for 18 points and 18 rebounds against 20-win Central Columbia.

Throughout junior high, the 6-foot center could rely on her tremendous talent to help her overwhelm the opposition. It’s a different game, though, in high school. Now Dadzie is complementing those skills with quality post moves and a better understanding of how to attack opponents, almost all who are older than she.

“She just has to understand that she’s physically bigger and stronger than a lot of players and just take your time before you start shooting the ball and attack the rim and she started doing that,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “Her confidence is increasing over the past couple of weeks, and she’s put good set of games together. She’s heating up at the right time.”

Dadzie blending talent, determination and experience produces results like Saturday’s. After a quiet first half, Dadzie dominated the second half, scoring at will in the paint and also hitting a clutch jumper in the game’s final minute to make it 55-50. She went 7 for 10 from the field in that second half, blocked three shots, including a critical one with 15 seconds remaining, and also hit some key free throws as Loyalsock went from 13 down early in the third quarter to up nine with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left.

Maybe fittingly, Dadzie clinched the win after Jersey Shore staged its own furious rally, connecting on a free throw to make it 57-53 with two seconds left.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Peyton Dincher looks for a shot around Loyalsock's Julianna Ellis and Izzy Dadzie during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

“I was looking for my shots. I was getting the shots I wanted by doing post moves,” Dadzie said. “That was important because I wasn’t just putting it right up too quickly or turning the ball over.”

“She’s just getting started. It’s fun to coach a girl like her and see the development and great to see the desire she has,” Jacobson said. “She wants it. She’s a fiery competitor and that’s fun to see.”

Saturday’s game featuring district title contenders who have combined for 33 wins showcased intense competitors all around. Together, Loyalsock and Jersey Shore produced one of the year’s most exciting area games. Jersey Shore opened the game on a 13-0 run, led by as many as 15 late in the first half and Loyalsock did not flinch. Neither did the Bulldogs after Loyalsock seemingly took control and went up nine late in the game.

Two nights after winning a share of its first league championship since 1996, Jersey Shore made another statement about its development, especially since it starts all underclassmen.

“It meant a lot to the girls. Loyalsock has set the standard in this area, and we wanted to come down and compete and show them what we have,” Jersey Shore coach Darrin Bischof said. “They battled and played a great game and our kids battled back. We gave ourselves a chance there and it just didn’t fall our way.”

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Peyton Dincher (1) reaches for a shot around Loyalsock's Julianna Ellis (2) during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

Peyton Dincher dazzled for Jersey Shore, scoring a career and area season-high 33 points, while making 13 of 17 shots. The Bulldogs masterfully ran their offense throughout the first half, dealing seven first-quarter assists and going up 13-0 less than five minutes into the game. Dincher’s movement without the basketball conjured up memories of Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller befuddling defenses in the 1990s and her teammates frequently found her as Dincher scored 20 first-half points, including 14 in the opening quarter.

After Loyalsock went up 49-40, Dincher went off again. Loyalsock swarmed her every time she touched the ball, but Dincher still made two clutch 3-pointers with defenders in her face, quickly pulling the Bulldogs within 49-46. Following Dadzie’s jumper, Dincher attacked the basket, converted a 3-point play with 7.5 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 55-53. Dadzie countered with a free throw before Jocelyn McCracken (four steals) grabbed the rebound on the following miss. The Bulldogs had one last shot to tie the game but turned the ball over and Dadzie clinched victory at the line.

Despite the loss, Jersey Shore produced plenty of positives as it enters Thursday’s HAC Tournament against Mount Carmel. One of the biggest was point guard Cailyn Schall carving up Loyalsock’s defense and dealing 10 assists. Celia Shemory added eight points and Rayne Herritt provided a defensive spark off the bench.

“For a sophomore to kind of take control was big,” Bischof said. “The first half she (Schall) did a great job recognizing what was going on and then we were getting the ball to the high post and scoring.”

Buzzer-beating baskets to close the first and second quarters by Izzy Dadzie (12 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Natayah Abdul-Hakim kept Loyalsock within striking distance, trailing 29-19 at halftime. There, the Lancers collected themselves and looked like a new team over the last two quarters.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Peyton Dincher grabs a loose ball away from Loyalsock's Anna Luxenberger (12) during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

Loyalsock modified its press some, but there were no big adjustments other than simply executing a lot better on both ends. The Lancers picked up the pressure, forced several costly turnovers and turned defense into offense. Izzy Dadzie found her younger sister Alaina for a buzzer-beater to close the third quarter as Loyalsock went up, 37-36. Dincher opened the fourth with a go-ahead basket, but Alaina Dadzie scored the next four points and the Lancers never trailed again.

“We just wanted to play like we usually play. We weren’t really in it at the beginning, and we just focused on passing to the open people and getting good shots instead of just throwing up shots because you’re open,” Alaina Dadzie said. “We worked hard and took it slow and we came together.”

Despite having four new starters this season, including just one senior starter, Loyalsock concluded its regular season with 16 wins while tackling a brutal schedule. The two-time defending District 4 Class AAA champions earned the No. 3 seed for this year’s district tournament and will await to find out who their opponent it is while having this upcoming week off.

“We sucked it up a little tonight and all season,” Jacobson said. “It’s been a roller coaster at times, but my coaches deserve a lot of credit; my players deserve all the credit. It’s a grind, but they’ve accomplished a lot.”

JERSEY SHORE (53)

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Celia Shemory (24) looks for a shot around Loyalsock's Julianna Ellis (2) during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

Peyton Dincher 13 5-5 33, Jocelyn McCracken 1 1-2 3, Cailyn Schall 1 0-0 3, Sophia Stover 1 0-0 3, Celia Shemory 4 0-0 8, Rachel Lorson 1 0-0 2, Rayne Herritt 0 1-2 1, Jaymison Stellfox 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 7-9 53.

LOYALSOCK (57)

Alaina Dadzie 8 4-6 20, Izzy Dadzie 5 2-4 12, Julie Ellis 3 7-9 14, Katie Ryder 1 5-6 7, Natayah Abdul-Hakim 2 0-2 4, Chloe Kennedy 0 0-0 0, Bella Mileto 0 0-0 0, Anna Luxenberger 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 18-27 57.

Jersey Shore 20 9 7 17-53

Loyalsock 9 10 18 20-57

3-pointers: Jersey Shore 4 (Dincher 2, Schall, Stover); Loyalsock 1 (Ellis).

Records: Loyalsock 16-6. Jersey Shore 17-5.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Loyalsock's Alaina Dadzie reaches for a rebound during a high school girl's basketball game against Jersey Shore on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Loyalsock's Julianna Ellis tries to shoot over the head of Jersey Shore's Celia Shemory (24) during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Loyalsock's Natayah Abdul-hakim looks for room around Jersey Shore's Sophie Stover (2) and Celia Shemory (24) during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Loyalsock's Izzy Dadzie (23) looks for a shot as Jersey Shore's Celia Shemory (24) blocks during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Loyalsock's Alaina Dadzie (30) reaches in to deflect a rebound away from Jersey Shore's Jocelyn McCracken (22) during a high school girl's basketball game on Saturday at Loyalsock. Sock won 57-53.