Towanda’s Kennedy Haier reaches for the Montgomery ball and Royal Zook’s Jekaila Harden jumps onto the floor. Loyalsock won 52-20. Dave Kennedy/Sun Gazette
When he coached the San Francisco 49ers, legendary coach Bill Walsh posted a sign on the wall, each player signed and pledged to never hit during the game.
Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson felt a similar vibe when he became Loyalsock coach in 2016. No signs or signatures are required, but the message is the same every season. Loyalsock continues to promise that he will never be defeated.
Its determined work ethic and unrelenting desire established the Royal Sock as one of the best programs in the Class AAA. And these qualities, which surpass the statistics, have once again won the final four appearances. The Lancers (28-2) will play Imhotep in Friday’s state semi-finals after hitting Dunmore 60-36 in last Friday’s quarterfinals.
“I’ve always said that no one should play harder than a royal sock. That’s something you can control.” Jacobson said. “When you started seeing teams like Dunmore and Mount Carmel beat us years ago. You try to try out the teams that were there. Why did you schedule Dunmore five years ago?
There are aspects of the game that players and teams can’t control. Effort is something each player can always control. Loyalsock may not win every game, but it’s best to make sure it never gets defeated.
It is just as much about emptying their collective tanks in pursuit of victory as it is to win in itself. Loyalsock has bumps and bruises to show he’s making his fourth energetic effort throughout the season. Whether they fight through injuries, illnesses, or harsh enemies, the Royal Socks continue to move forward.
It takes not only great talent but also a lot of heart to reach this point. Loyalsock has revealed that his heart has been beating very hard over the past nine years, reaching the state every time, especially this season. Along the way, the Lancers won the district championship and set a program record for victory.
“It’s really tough. Practice helps all your teammates push each other and get better.” Point guard Jaekiarah Harden said. “They give us the motivation to continue.”
“The courage of their mentality stands out. They care about each other and do it for each other.” Jacobson said. “They don’t want anything in the final game. They want to come to practice. They want to continue. There were so many really great teams, but this is the bravest team I’ve ever had.”
That says a lot as Jacobson and his staff have had some great teams, including those who have won at least 18 games in the last nine seasons. Each of these teams has more bricks on the foundation, and the Royal Socks continue to be stronger, and the house adds more levels almost every year.
It is set in the same way as standard and examples. They are built on sacrifice and toughness. That includes offseason, practice and the game itself. Loyalsock passed these tests this season, reaching 5A state semifinals as 19 people followed, tied the game late before losing at the buzzer.
The Lancers overcame a 7-point second-half deficit on the Jersey Shore, with Julie Ellis injury. Royal Sock then beat Hughesville for the district championship by thundering from the 11-point third-quarter hole, smoothly navigating the turbulence against West Catholicism and Dunmore, winning the final two state tournament games in an impressive way.
“We talk a lot about being mentally tough. Honestly, we physically know that we can handle the game. We played 30 this season.” Senior Jury Ellis said. “We’ve been doing this all season, and what these games are actually, is mentally, they’re trapped through turnovers and mistakes, they’re just staying in the game.”
Following last season’s run, the Royal Socks had strong potential this year. But that was it. Success is not based on past results. Once one season is over, each team comes back from the bottom and proceeds with that method.
Therefore, while Royal Socks retained experience, quality players were not guaranteed. Everything had to acquire the hard way, and Royal Socks once again turned that difficult task into a tremendous outcome. Each player has been fighting some kind of obstacle this season, but you can see the Royal Socks play.
Loyalsock is successful based on its will as much as its skill. Work continues until Friday, and the fight continues. It’s another game, and another time for Loyalsock to showcase its drive.
“It’s their toughness. I can see them win in pain, limp the court, then they go and jump into the court and get a loose ball or rebound.” Jacobson said. “They don’t prevent them from making any decisions. It’s a real joy to coach them. You can talk about how good they are and how talented they are, but it’s a real joy to coach a girl who wants to get it afterwards.”
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