RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Essex Taylor (1) looks for a shot around Williamsport's Caden Holt (2) and George Whaley (10) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

MILL HALL–Allen Taylor provided his players quite a pregame spark Tuesday night. And the Williamsport coach need not even open his mouth.

All Taylor had to do was point. He simply showed his team the Sun-Gazette and WNEP boys basketball rankings which had Central Mountain at No. 1 and Williamsport ranked below. Doing so revved up high-powered motors which never slowed down over the next 32 minutes.

Williamsport dominated all facets, played one of its most complete games and overwhelmed Central Mountain, defeating it, 78-52. The Millionaires (17-4) won their 10th straight game, handed Central Mountain (20-2) its only home loss this season and snapped its 10-game winning streak. When Chris White sprinted downcourt and swatted away a last-second shot, it also made something else abundantly clear:

Williamsport now holds the Sun-Gazette’s top ranking.

“We’re No. 1,” White said. “Williamsport is No. 1.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Hayden Pardoe (3) tries for a shot around Williamsport's Jakiha Kline (4) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

It certainly is.

Williamsport ascended to the top of the Sun-Gazette rankings by again playing outstanding team basketball on both ends. The Millionaires also imposed their will and broke open a close game during the second half, turning a tenuous five-point halftime advantage into a 30-point blowout midway through the fourth quarter. Every player produced strong performances, five scored at least eight points and the defense took over throughout the final two quarters.

Obviously, Williamsport’s primary goal goes far beyond local rankings. This selfless team is focused on seeing how far it can extend this season. Still, it sure is proving others wrong, excelling against an excellent opponent and quieting a raucous student section.

“We don’t play for rankings, but the kids saw that, and it motivated them,” Taylor said. “They played well, and they played hard. I’m happy for them.”

“Over the summer, we went to team camps, and we got closer. We just seem more like a family,” guard George Whaley said. “We all have one goal and that’s to go far.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Hayden Pardoe (3) looks for a shot around Williamsport's Jamaire Harden (0) and Thomas Takach (11) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

Play as it did against Central Mountain and/or keep building off that performance and Williamsport could have a shot at doing so. The Millionaires allowed just 25 second-half points, forced 20 turnovers and efficiently worked the offense, producing 19 assists. Williamsport also made 55.7 of its shots and put on a marvelous display over the second half’s first 12 minutes when it connected on 16 of 21 shots.

Whaley scored a game-high 22 points, while adding four assists, four rebounds and four steals. The senior twice ignited game-changing runs, the first one helping Williamsport erase an early four-point deficit and then next pointing the way toward a blowout. The game was tied 19-19 after the first quarter, but Whaley had a hand in 11 straight Millionaire points to start the second as Williamsport went up, 37-32 at halftime.

Whaley picked up where he left off in the third quarter. He either scored or assisted on possessions which produced 10 straight Williamsport points with his assist to Jamaire Harden, making it 55-38 midway through the third. He scored 12 of his 22 points during those spurts and when Central Mountain focused on him, Whaley simply facilitated and let the team’s other weapons inflict the damage.

“I got hot and once I usually get hot, I try and keep shooting, but if the shots aren’t there, I’m feeding my teammates because I know they’ll come through,” Whaley said. “It doesn’t have to be one person all the time. Everyone is a threat.”

That is what has made Williamsport so dangerous. All eight players in the main rotation have produced double-digit performances this season. And even if those players are not scoring, they consistently are doing so many other things which help alter games.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Hunter Hoy (2) moves the ball past Williamsport's Zach Lake (1) and George Whaley (10) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

Tuesday’s performance proved that point once again. Caden Holt (14 points) and Jakiha Kline (10 and 7 rebounds) scored in double figures, while Zach Lake produced nine points, six assists and three steals. What really started dictating the game, though, was Williamsport’s depth, relentless pressure and pace. A team which often played zone defense out of necessity earlier this season has picked up the man-to-man exceedingly better and eventually wore down a potent Central Mountain team which leads the area in scoring.

White, Jamaire Harden and Thomas Takach all shined off the bench and played key roles in forcing the Central Mountain offense out of rhythm. The Millionaires constantly hounded ball-handlers, communicated well and closed of passing lanes. Kline and Takach held the area’s second-leading scorer Hayden Pardoe to 10 points, 12 below his average. He and dynamic point guard Jack Hanna (17 points) average nearly 40 points per game and limiting that duo to 27, including just seven in the second half, played a major role in the game’s outcome.

“We put that pressure on for 90 feet and that changed the game. They had trouble getting into their offense, they couldn’t get what they wanted, and they weren’t able to get going the whole second half,” Taylor said. “I was very happy with the effort and the energy and enthusiasm of playing hard the entire game. There was no let up at any point. Early in the year we would get up and there would be some let up. Now we’re starting to be more mature. With a veteran team you’d expect that. They’re starting to get it and they’re doing it at the right time.”

Every Millionaire played well Tuesday, but White may have been the X-factor. The hustling guard seemingly was everywhere. As soon as he entered in the first quarter, the Millionaire defense’s intensity rose a notch. White swarmed guards as soon as they caught the entry pass, making five steals and helping force several other turnovers with his relentless pressure.

White also gave the offense a boost, scoring five of his seven points in the second quarter. He added six rebounds and four assists, highlighting the qualities which have made Williamsport’s bench one of the best throughout District 4.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Zach Lake (1) looses his balance while claiming a rebound during a high school boy's basketball game against Central Mountain on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

“I was feeling good,” White said. “I like defense. I take pride in defense for sure.”

“When he came in, his energy on the ball, full court and making whoever he was guarding have to work just to bring it up the floor lifted the team,” Taylor said. “He was that kind of gnat, just constantly bothering them and that’s what we need out of him. He can knock down the 3 and he made some nice passes and played a really strong all-around floor game.”

Williamsport led 61-44 entering the fourth quickly. Like a shark sensing blood in the water, Williamsport quickly finished off the Wildcats. Excelling in both transition and the half-court, while effectively and quickly moving the ball, Williamsport made its first six shots of the quarter. Holt’s assist to Takach capped the blistering flurry and put the Millionaires up, 76-46. The starters exited shortly thereafter.

Another big challenge comes Friday against state title contender Executive Education. The Millionaires have earned the top seed for districts and will then host a semifinal on Monday, Feb. 27. The work continues, but the Millionaires sure enjoyed making a statement Tuesday.

“We all trust each other, and go out there and play together,” White said. “We play as a team and get the job done.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Levi Schlesinger (30) reaches in to block a shot by Williamsport's George Whaley (10) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

WILLIAMSPORT (78)

George Whaley 11 0-1 22, Jakiha Kline 4 2-3 10, Caleb Fausnaught 0 0-0 0, Zach Lake 4 0-0 9, Caden Holt 5 1-1 14, Jamaire Harden 3 2-2 8, Thomas Takach 3 0-0 6, Chris White 3 0-0 7, Naamir Lowe 1 0-0 2. Totals 34 5-7 78.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (52)

Hayden Pardoe 3 4-5 10, Jack Hanna 7 2-3 17, Essex Taylor 4 0-0 9, Hunter Hoy 5 0-0 10, Levi Schlesinger 0 1-4 1, Jeremy Reese 0 2-4 2, Matthew Myers 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 9-16 52.

Williamsport 19 18 24 17-78

C. Mountain 19 13 12 8-52

3-pointers: Williamsport 5 (Holt 3, Lake, White); Central Mountain 3 (Hanna, Taylor, Myers).

Records: Williamsport 17-4. Central Mountain 20-2.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Jakiha Kline (4) looks for a shot while Central Mountain's Levi Schlesinger (30) and Hunter Hoy (2) try to block during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Jakiha Kline (4) looks for a shot while Central Mountain's Xavier Persun (14) tries to block during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at Central Mountain. Williamsport won 78-52.