RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Avery Depasqua (10) shoots around Loyalsock's Madison Wertz (34) during a high school girls basketball game at Loyalsock on Monday.

When the light shines through, Jersey Shore preaches soaking it in.

That message starts from a young age and figured to be tested this season with four decorated senior starters graduating. Jersey Shore starts two freshmen as well but the Bulldogs have not run from the light. They want it and doing so has turned a light on what this new-look team can do.

Jersey Shore (13-7) entered Monday’s assembly game at Loyalsock, holding a firm grip on District 4 Class AAAA’s No. 2 seed. Before running into small school juggernaut St. Joseph’s last Thursday, the Bulldogs won five straight games and finished second in the HAC-I.

It says a lot, too, that had Jersey Shore beaten Loyalsock Monday, it would have qualified for a fourth straight Heartland Conference Tournament.

The work continues and big goals remain out there, but Jersey Shore is showing no fear and that provides a strong foundation for a team which will graduate just two players.

“We want to build young athletes to where when the light shines on them they want it. They’re doing better with that,” Jersey Shore coach Mike Schall said following a 51-27 win against Midd-West last Tuesday. “Defensively, we really haven’t struggled with that but offensively at times we had, but now they are confident in their ability to attack and when the light shines on them, they’re ready for it.”

Freshmen Marlee Lehman and Sadie Schall have been the team’s leading scorers, highlighting that. But Jersey Shore has become a well-rounded unit with six players in the rotation all scoring at least eight points in a game last week. Guard Kylie Schall and senior Avery DePasqua have had some big games, while forwards Gracelyn Frantz and Leena Loomis both continued breakout seasons last week.

The best example of Jersey Shore’s progress came 10 days ago when it defeated HAC-I champion Shikellamy, 61-49. The Bulldogs avenged a previous 16-point deficit, nearly doubling their scoring output. Equally impressive, four players scored at least nine points.

“That was one of the best games we played. Everyone scored in high digits,” DePasqua said. “When we all play together as a team, I think we get what we work for.”

“That was a building block game,” Mike Schall said. “We conquered several building blocks before that, but they’ve progressed the entire season in simple ways that we’re asking for them to progress.”

Jersey Shore has done so while tackling a demanding schedule. Five of its seven losses entering the week came against teams which have won 15 or more games. Those challenges helped toughen up the Bulldogs and they have performed well in close games, rallying from fourth quarter deficits to win thrillers against Mifflinburg and Central Mountain, while erasing an early nine-point deficit in an exciting victory at Montoursville.

Like past Jersey Shore teams, this is a squad as tenacious as it is good. The Bulldogs have lost some games, but they have not gone down without fighting. So, instead of taking a step back this season, Jersey Shore has continued surging forward.

Right into the light.

“They know that with our group this year, we have to earn every victory. We have to earn every quarter,” Mike Schall said. “They’ve done a good job building toward that.”