LIBERTY–Derek Litzelman talks a lot. And that’s a good thing because the North Penn-Liberty senior always is teaching while doing so.

As he gains more experience, Daniel Sherant keeps scoring a lot. And all the other first-time starters and/or contributors keep on progressing.

Put it all together and a new look North Penn-Liberty team continues its winning ways despite having four new starters for a second straight season. That latest victory came Thursday as the Mounties (9-7) overcame a slow start, locked in defensively throughout the second half and defeated rival Cowanesque Valley, 57-41.

Sherant scored a game-high 20 points while grabbing nine rebounds and Litzelman provided both versatility and steady leadership. The three-year starting point guard scored 15 points, pulled down eight rebounds, made six steals and dealt four assists. Jackson Brion added five rebounds and Adynn Wheeland and Blake Oakley shined off the bench as North Penn-Liberty stayed in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in District 4 Class A after reaching the championship the previous two seasons.

“I try and help with the younger kids on the team that are getting more minutes,” Litzelman said. “I try and help them learn the game as well as I did when I was in their position.”

Litzelman is the team’s lone returning starter for a second straight year. He has become an expert on leading and stuffing the stat sheet. Litzelman is among the area’s top five scorers, but also facilitates the offense, has produced multiple double-doubles in different ways and is the glue which holds this young team together.

He is basically a coach on the floor and having a leader like that has helped North Penn-Liberty as much as Litzelman’s production has. It certainly played a role against CV (7-10) as Litzelman again did a bit of everything to help the Mounties pull away after briefly trailing in the second quarter.

“He really talks to the guys on the court, at practice and when we’re not on the court trying to help them become better players,” Litzelmanás father and North Penn-Liberty coach Brian Litzelman said. “He’s trying to share his knowledge that he has as a three-year starter onto these younger guys and trying to help them not only improve in games but in practices, too.”

It’s working.

If not for the 2021 season being condensed, North Penn-Liberty would be building on a run which includes four straight state tournament appearances. Regardless, the torch continues being passed and Mounties who did not play much varsity last season are helping continue to carry it.

Sherant has especially run strong since starting to break late last month. The senior forward is flourishing as a first-time starter and has been one of the NTL’s top scorers over the last month. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder is strong but also has good moves and is learning to put all his attributes together. He did so repeatedly against CV, scoring at least five points in each of the first three quarters.

“I feel a lot better,” Sherant said. “I played JV as a junior, but I think that really helped me to step up this year.”

CV did its best to slow North Penn-Liberty with its zone defense but when the Mounties effectively worked the ball inside, Sherant frequently had his way. He went 6 for 11 from the field and also muscled his way to 11 free throw opportunities while helping North Penn-Liberty outscore CV, 23-14 in the second half.

Sherant finished well around the basket and also hit a baseline jumper which put North Penn-Liberty up, 51-37 midway through the fourth quarter. His presence inside also opened up the perimeter and driving lanes as players like Litzelman, Wheeland and Oakley all pounced.

“I think the last few years helped prepare me. Another thing that helped me get better is helping with our elementary school basketball program,” Sherant said. “Helping kids do fundamentals helps me become better with the fundamentals. Working out all the time you make yourself better.”

“Our best games are when both of us and another guy can score all night long. If he disappears, we struggle. If I disappear, we struggle,” Derek Litzelman said. “We work together all the time. When he plays his game, he can dominate.”

North Penn-Liberty started dominating defensively in the second half. The game went back and forth for much of the first half until the Mounties went up 34-27 at halftime. They squeezed the life from CV’s offense, however, over the final two quarters and allowed just four more field goals.

Playing an effective and active zone defense, North Penn-Liberty cut off the inside game and had CV nearly exclusively relying on the outside shot. The Indians struggled from there and North Penn-Liberty harassed it into a 4 for 28 second half shooting performance.

“Once we figure it out on the defensive end, I think our offense comes together,” Derek Litzelman said. “Our defense can help us push the ball and try to get some easy baskets.”

Wheeland and Oakley especially were effective in that capacity. Together, the sophomores helped change the game’s complexion in the second quarter when they combined for 12 points and helped the Mounties turn a one-point deficit into a seven-point halftime advantage. Oakley scored seven points that quarter and Wheeland was as effective scoring as he was passing.

Wheeland produced four assists and if he did not finish on his forays to the basket, he frequently set up others for good shots. It was another step in what has been a season-long progression for these young Mounties.

“A couple younger kids have really picked up their game. They’re learning more and more,” Brian Litzelman said. “Tonight, I saw some things out there that we really haven’t seen all year and that was encouraging.”

Despite the loss, CV controls its own destiny as far as hosting a District 4 Class A quarterfinal. The Indians are in fourth and will host if they hold that position. They also feature a young roster but have eclipsed last year’s win total.

Cayden Moon led the way for CV, scoring 11 points and making six steals. Fletcher Good had 10 points and eight rebounds and Jordan Vargeson dealt five assists.

CV (41)

Fletcher Good 3 4-4 10, Cayden Moon 3 2-2 11, Jordan Vargeson 2 1-2 6, Julien Francis 1 1-1 3, Larson Swimley 1 2-4 4, Kaden Cole 1 0-0 3, Coen Kemp 1 0-0 2, Ean Bump 1 0-2 2. Totals 13 10-15 41.

NPL (57)

Derek Litzelman 6 2-5 15, Daniel Sherant 6 8-11 20, Adynn Wheeland 2 3-3 7, Bryce Boyer 1 1-2 3, Brody Stetter 0 0-0 0, Jackson Brion 1 2-2 5, Glenn Oakley 0 0-0 0, Blake Oakley 3 0-1 7. Totals 19 16-24 57.

CV 13 14 9 5ä41

NPL 12 22 10 13ä57

3-pointers: CV 5 (Moon 3, Vargeson, Cole); NPL 3 (Litzelman, Brion, B. Oakley).

Records: North Penn-Liberty 9-7. Cowanesque Valley 7-10.