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Jersey Shore pummels Midd-West 72-14

JERSEY SHORE–It entered Friday’s game against Midd-West a heavy favorite, so Jersey Shore winning was expected. Indeed, the Bulldogs won big.

It was how they played, however, which could hold the key to future success as the Bulldogs pursue league and district championships in rugged fields. Jersey Shore was in a giving mood, and every player produced, generating 23 assists on 29 field goals while routing the Mustangs, 72-14.

Peyton Dincher scored 30 points and dealt five assists. Cailyn Schall (12 points, 7 assists) and Avery DePasqua (10 points, six assists) frequently set up teammates and Jersey Shore (10-3, 4-1) won its fourth straight game while remaining tied for first in the HAC-I with Selinsgrove and Shikellamy. That complete performance provides the surging Bulldogs more momentum as the playoffs start looming closer.

“I love setting people up and getting them theirs,” Schall said. “It’s fun to be aggressive, and play defense and get those steals and opportunities, and kind of fly up the court and pitch ahead to see what we can get.”

Jersey Shore flying around helped it produce just about everything it wanted.

The Bulldogs forced 24 first half turnovers and excelled in both transition and halfcourt. The ball moved as quick as the players did and Jersey Shore generated a strong inside-outside game. A Schall steal and quick dish to DePasqua at the buzzer had Jersey Shore ahead 24-6 entering the second quarter.

DePasqua helped set the early tone, scoring five quick points before consistently finding the open player for good shots.

“It (the 3-pointer) really sets up the mood of the game. It helps us get more excited,” DePasqua said. “I feel very confident out there. I like setting up my teammates to get points.”

DePasqua has gone from valuable reserve last season to key starter this year. She continues settling in and helps extend the defense while also gaining valuable experience each game. She also uses her length to cause defensive headaches and is one of several players who hustles all over the court.

Put it all together and DePasqua is giving opponents another player to keep an eye on as the second half of the season unfolds.

“It’s been great so far, starting instead of coming off the bench,” DePaqua said. “I have great teammates, and they’ve helped me feel so good out there.”

Schall had Midd-West feeling bad throughout the second quarter. The four-year starter is one of the area’s premier point guards and impacts the game in seemingly every way. She unloaded that entire arsenal during a game-breaking 18-0 run after Midd-West had closed within 14 points early in the second quarter.

Schall had a hand in 13 of those points, scoring nine and dishing two assists. She drained a 3-pointer, made two steals and beat defenders down the court after creating those turnovers, converting two layups. Schall scored all 12 of her points in the first half and produced five of her assists then, while adding five steals.

That production played a major role in Jersey Shore landing the early knockout blow and building a 46-12 halftime lead. But one must look toward the offseason to see where the seeds for that success were planted.

“Playing AAU has helped me. Golf is heavy in the summer, too, so it’s kind of a happy balance with that, but as a team, we’re building chemistry better,” Schall said. “We each kind of want it a little more this year than what we have in the past.”

That showed in how Jersey Shore played because no matter who was in or what the score was, all the Bulldogs continued playing hard. The Bulldogs did not allow a second-half point until three minutes remained and Dincher delivered three second-half assists, in addition to making all but one of her six second half shots.

Sophia Stover disrupted Midd-West early and often, making five steals, while scoring seven points. Hannah Heaton scored four quick second-half points and Kylie Schall dealt four assists. Coach Mike Schall was able to use all his players in the first quarter and the young Bulldogs also made nice impacts.

Gracelyn Frantz and Jess Millbrand each grabbed six rebounds, Azelyn Dincher hit a fourth quarter jumper and Lily Bowers made two steals. Nine players scored and every Bulldog either collected points and/or assists.

“That helped,” DePasqua said. “It was nice to see all the younger players improve throughout the game.”

Jersey Shore has improved a lot since losing twice in a row around the new year. Instead of sulking, the Bulldogs learned from those defeats, grew from them and have come back stronger. The Bulldogs handed Shikellamy its first league loss last Tuesday and have won each of their last four games by double-digit margins.

Jersey Shore has a rematch coming against Selinsgrove, the last team to beat it, next week, so the work continues. But following that bump in the road, Jersey Shore has steered itself back on course and all its goals remain out there. The work continues.

“We definitely used them as a learning experience. It didn’t feel good but we kind of took it to heart,” Cailyn Schall said. “We kind of took our pill and kept moving on. We knew we had to work hard at practice. That’s where it all starts, and we said we have to push harder to play championship basketball and we’re still working for it.

“It’s about the bounce-back and knowing what you have. It’s about recovering and working hard to get where you want to be.”

MIDD-WEST (14)

Emma Wagner 5 0-2 10, Izzy Walter 2 0-0 4, Lauren Nesbit 0 0-0 0, Carli Sauer 0 0-0 0, Nora DeLong 0 0-0 0. Totals 7 0-2 14.

JERSEY SHORE (72)

Peyton Dincher 12 2-2 30, Cailyn Schall 4 3-4 12, Sophia Stover 3 1-2 7, Avery Depasqua 4 0-0 10, Hannah Heaton 2 0-0 4, Kylie Schall 0 1-2 1, Gracelyn Frantz 2 0-0 4, Azelyn Dincher 1 0-0 2, Jess Millbrand 1 0-0 2, Lily Bowers 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 7-10 72.

Midd-West   6 6 0 2–14

Jersey Shore      24 22 12 14–72

3-pointers: Jersey Shore 7 (Dincher 4, DePasqua 2, Schall).

Records: Jersey Shore 10-3, 4-1 HAC-I

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