Breaking News
Late Sports

Branson Eyer and Avery Bigelow shine, but Northwest girls and boys sweep doubleheader at Muncy

By Chris Masse 7 min read

MUNCY–Branson Eyer did not directly produce the first nine fourth quarter Muncy points Friday, but he was involved each time. Whether scoring, passing or defending, Eyer provided a lift as Muncy took its first second half lead and built a four-point advantage against fellow District 4 Class AA title contender Northwest.

The lead did not last, and Northwest thundered back. The Rangers hit four consecutive fourth quarter 3-pointers to take a six-point lead they would never relinquish. Eyer helped Muncy pull as close as two, but Taylor Yaple’s five late free throws clinched a hard-fought 50-43 Northwest victory which gave it a one-game lead over Sullivan County in the Mid-Penn’s East Division.

Although Muncy did not earn the win, Eyer delivered another strong all-around performance which personified what he brings Muncy. He scored seven points, grabbed eight rebounds, dealt seven assists and added three steals. Follow his effort moving forward and Muncy knows that despite Friday’s setback it could still go where it hopes.

“He leads by example. He’s not a vocal guy or a yeller or screamer, but he will just go out and work and work and work,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “He’s been a model of consistency over a four-year period. You look at what he’s done and it’s just consistent work, consistent defense and consistency in every area.”

One can say the same about Avery Bigelow who also produced a fabulous performance in defeat. Bigelow scored 18 points and made seven steals in the night’s first game as the Northwest girls defeated Muncy, 40-33.

Neither Muncy team generated the result it wanted Friday, but they also understand they could see Northwest again come playoff time. If both teams learn from mistakes made Friday, they could grow better because of it.

Eyer has made Muncy a better team throughout his scholastic career, doing so in football and baseball as well. He did his best to spark Muncy (12-4) throughout the game and especially in the fourth quarter when he found his cousin Ross Eyer for a jumper before scoring off a putback. Those plays put Muncy up 34-30 before Northwest (13-3) heated up and changed the game’s complexion with its 3-point barrage.

Eyer found Ross for a 3-point play to stop a 9-0 run and his steal and dish to Ross made it 45-41. Ross (15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists) then hit two foul shots and made it a two-point game, but Muncy could not complete the comeback.

“That’s Branson. You can’t ask more from a kid than what you get out of him,” Gresh said. “What he does in practice; what he does in a game, that’s what all these younger kids should strive to be like.”

Northwest features similar players and the Rangers and Indians basically are mirror images. Both teams are balanced, feature multiple shooters, are well-coached, experienced and play similar styles. No wonder their games are often so entertaining.

Muncy won a last-second thriller at Northwest a year ago before winning a hard-fought district semifinal against it. It felt like this one again would be decided late from the opening tip, but this time Northwest flipped the 2022 script.

“It’s almost like a playoff game atmosphere because it’s a loud crowd, it’s a lot of people, and from here on out you’re going to have crowds like this,” Northwest coach Sean Miller said. “It’s good for us to experience that. We really responded and played with a lot of poise.”

Neither team led by more than four during the first three quarters. Just when it looked like Muncy might be taking control, Northwest played its best basketball. Ryan Miner hit two 3-pointers, Josh Miner another and Yaple another as the Rangers produced good shots at and then buried them at a crucial time, going up 42-36 with five minutes remaining.

Like Muncy, Northwest makes guarding it a dilemma. Every starter is a threat, and it was reflected again Friday. Josh Miner scored 17 points, Ryan Miner 14 and Yaple 11, while adding eight rebounds and five assists. Landon Hufford fueled the tenacious defense and Zac O’Day did a lot of dirty work which helped Northwest pull ahead.

Ross Eyer just missed on a potential game-tying 3-point attempt with 25 seconds remaining and Yaple sealed the win at the line, hitting four consecutive foul shots.

“We got that stretch going with four in a row and got the lead to six. That gave us some confidence,” Miller said. “We’re trying to get them to play with an edge and when we play with an edge we play better. We were able to hit some shots and get a lot of guys involved, so that was good for us.”

Hidden Northwest heroes were reserves Brady Shea and Tucker Crawford. Northwest led by one at halftime and, though, it never lost that lead in the third quarter, it never grew to more than four. And when Hufford and O’Day both picked up their fourth fouls late in the third with the Rangers up two, it seemed like Muncy might take over.

Instead, Shea and Crawford came up big and provided excellent minutes until the starters returned in the fourth quarter. Neither scored, but they did all the little things necessary to keep Northwest in front. Their mastery of those small details proved vital in Northwest earning a big win.

“Brady and Tucker are primarily two JV guys who get some minutes here and they really came through when we needed them to,” Miller said. “I joked with their parents that I thought they would be scared but they came through and played well for us.”

Muncy executed well throughout the game, but it struggled to finish quality looks, especially throughout the first half. The Indians shot just 30 percent in those opening two quarters, missing several shots around the basket and they trailed 25-24 at halftime.

“I thought we played pretty well tonight, we just couldn’t hit our shots,” Gresh said. “When the offense is working, you have to take advantage of it.”

The Muncy girls can relate. The Indians (9-4) produced 16 first quarter shots, but only four went in. They led 8-6 after that opening quarter but Northwest (12-4) clamped down and gave up looks at a premium from there, while forcing 18 turnovers over the last three quarters.

Charleigh Miner scored a game-high 27 points and took advantage of a defense slow to rotate toward her, draining her last four 3-point attempts and 8 of 9 shots overall. Her second 3-pointer gave Northwest a two-point halftime lead and after Muncy took its last lead, Miner scored seven straight points to put the Rangers ahead for good. A Bigelow steal and layup pulled Muncy within 28-26 early in the fourth quarter, but Miner countered with a 3-pointer before beating her defender off the dribble to ignite a game-clinching run. Counting her three assists, Miner had a hand in 33 of Northwest’s 40 points.

Bigelow was honored for grabbing her 500th career rebound before the game and shined again. In addition to her 18 points and seven steals, Bigelow also pulled down seven rebounds and blocked two shots. Nolah Moyer made a run at a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds. Addi Eyer and Mia Edkin combined for five steals.

Boys Game

Northwest 50, Muncy 43

NORTHWEST (50)

Taylor Yaple 2 6-7 11, Josh Miner 6 1-1 17, Landon Hufford 1 0-2 2, Ryan Miner 5 0-0 14, Zac OáDay 3 0-0 6, Brady Shea 0 0-0 0, Tucker Crawford 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 7-10 50.

MUNCY (43)

Ross Eyer 5 5-5 15, Branson Eyer 2 3-6 7, Mike Fry 2 0-2 4, Noah Confer 4 1-1 9, Eli Weikle 4 0-0 8, Brady Ryder 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 9-14 43.

Northwest 13 12 5 20-50

Muncy 13 11 6 13-43

3-pointers: Northwest 9 (J. Miner 4, R. Miner 4, Yaple).

Records: Northwest 13-3. Muncy 12-4.

Girls Game

Northwest 40, Muncy 33

NORTHWEST (40)

Charleigh Miner 9 4-8 27, Morgan Hermanofski 1 0-1 2, Jordin Bowman 1 0-0 2, Kamryn Miner 3 1-2 7, Taylor Noss 0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Hermanofski 1 0-2 2. Totals 15 5-13 40.

MUNCY (33)

Avery Bigelow 5 8-9 18, Mia Edkin 1 0-1 2, Nolah Moyer 4 0-0 8, Addi Eyer 1 0-0 2, Cierra Charles 1 0-0 2, Anna Zalonis 0 1-2 1, Addison Gresh 0 0-0 0, Emma McCormick 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 9-12 33.

Northwest 6 12 10 12-40

Muncy 8 8 7 10-33

3-pointers: Northwest; Muncy

Records: Northwest 12-4. Muncy 9-4.

Starting at /week.