This was all about hustle and determination.

Patterson relentlessly attacked the glass, grabbed repeated offensive rebounds and created ample scoring opportunities at crucial times. The Loyalsock forward was the smallest post player on the court much of the night, but she stood tallest and helped the Lancers pull away from their pesky rivals.

Patterson recorded a double-double in the second half alone and finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds as Loyalsock defeated Williamsport, 66-44. Patterson produced 12 points and 12 rebounds in the second half while also igniting a game-ending 16-0 run after Williamsport had pulled within six early in the fourth quarter as Loyalsock remained undefeated.

“I just focus on doing what the team needs at the moment,” Patterson said. “Our whole starting five and even the girls off the bench can all score, so just adding that extra piece in rebounding, it may be something that we need at the time so I’m going to try and do that as much as possible.”

She did it time after time in the second half. All-state guard Summer McNulty scored 19 points and Cassie Gee added 16, but it was Patterson’s second-half surge which made the difference. Williamsport (1-4) never backed down after falling behind 22-8 entering the second quarter, pulling within four and staying within striking distance until later in the fourth. Loyalsock (5-0) led 34-23 at halftime, but Alexandria Chilson hit a jumper which pulled Williamsport within five midway through the third quarter.

And then Patterson went into overdrive.

She scored eight of Loyalsock’s next 13 points, put standout Millionaire forward Jessica Robinson in foul trouble and pushed the lead back to 10 by quarter’s end. Patterson pulled down seven rebounds in the third quarter and four were offensive.

“If I need a rebound I know I can count on Mia,” Loyalsock coach Curtis Jacobson said. “She’s probably my feistiest person on the glass. She’s tough, she’s physical. She just has a knack for getting the ball.”

Williamsport scored the fourth quarter’s first four points, but Patterson again dropped the hammer. She first scored inside, then another offensive rebound set up Sophia Gardner for a basket before Patterson worked inside, drew a foul and made two free throws. The Lancers pushed the lead to 22 and, fittingly, Patterson was the one holding the ball as she dribbled away the final seconds.

“Just playing good defense, rebounding and making hustle plays is just as good as scoring in my opinion,” Patterson said. “We’re kind of a smaller team, having only me and Allyia (Kennedy) inside. I think I just need sometimes to pick up some slack on that. Even though I’m a smaller big I just need to be more aggressive.”

“That’s a big night, obviously, but it’s the type of night she can have more than once. It’s not that we’re expecting it from her but I’m not surprised it happened,” Jacobson said. “I personally think it was a pretty quiet night for her. She just did it within. She never did anything she wasn’t expected to do. She didn’t do anything special. She just played her game.”

Loyalsock needed that since Williamsport kept fighting back. The Millionaires start just one senior, but showed their promise by giving Loyalsock its toughest game and never backing down. A 16-0 Loyalsock run to close the first quarter had Williamsport in a 14-point hole, but it nearly climbed out several times. The Millionaires were disappointed they did not win, but the positives will outweigh that negative if they build on this performance.

“I told them not to put their heads down because they competed hard against one of the best teams in the state,” Williamsport coach Terrill Seward-Buxton said. “They played with a lot of energy and I think in the fourth quarter some of youth showed but I think this will help us in the long run.”

The Millionaires made 17 of 31 shots through the first three quarters and spread the scoring around. Chilson scored 10 points, freshman Payton Baney (9 rebounds) produced nine and Robinson and Kailee Helmrich combined for 13.

Helmrich gave Loyalsock problems on both ends at times and dealt a game-high six assists. Still working her way back from a foot injury, the junior point guard ran the offense well, grabbed five rebounds and made four steals.

“She’s a warrior. She will play through anything,” Seward-Buxton said. “She’s always a good passer, always looks for the open person and once she gets more comfortable can be dangerous in the post game.”

McNulty and Gee answered when Loyalsock needed a second-quarter lift. The Millionaires opened on a 10-0 run, quickly cutting the deficit to four. But the two senior combined for 27 first-half points and Gee’s four first-half 3-pointers helped Loyalsock rebuild an 11-point halftime lead.

Patterson and Kennedy (7 rebounds) helped Loyalsock keep Williamsport from going ahead with their nine second-half offensive rebounds and McNulty and Sophia Gardner helped Loyalsock close it out, scoring 12 points during the final 16-0 run.

“It wasn’t the game we drew up, but you’re not always going to be at your best. If you can lose by winning that’s a positive,” Jacobson said “We’re not near the team we expect to be yet. We just have to continue to work hard”

LOYALSOCK (66)

Summer McNulty 8 1-2 19, Cassie Gee 5 2-2 16, Mia Patterson 6 5-9 17, Allyia Kennedy 2 1-3 5, Sophia Gardner 3 2-6 9, Natayah Abdul-Hakim 0 0-0 0, Jocelyn Cruz 0 0-0 0, Grace Baylor 0 0-0 0, Rhandie Jessell 0 0-0 0, Rylie French 0 0-0 0, Ashlee Andrews 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 11-22 66.

WILLIAMSPORT (44)

Jessica Robinson 3 0-0 6, Kailee Helmrich 2 3-4 7, Sarina Beiter 2 1-1 5, Alexandria Chilson 5 0-0 10, Danyse Washington 1 0-0 3, Peyton Baney 4 1-3 9, Mia Nieto 2 0-1 4. Totals 19 5-9 44.

Loyalsock 22 12 16 16-66

Williamsport 8 15 17 4-44

3-pointers: Loyalsock 7 (Gee 4, McNulty 2, Gardner); Williamsport 1 (Washington).

JV Score: Loyalsock, 38-33.

Records: Loyalsock (5-0), Williamsport (1-4).