Wright and Moy returned by providing big sparks off the bench. They hustled, they fiercely competed, and they did all the little things which help produce big wins. Wright and Moy also helped fuel a key third-quarter surge as St. John Neumann defeated NEB, 56-42 in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals at Frank Lupacchino Court.

Davion Hill scored a game-high 33 points while breaking Jim Nolan’s 37-year Lycoming County boys single-season scoring record. Hill also had six rebounds and now has 812 points this year, besting Nolan’s 802 set in 1986. The main thing, however, was winning this debut at the Class AA level after winning the last three Class A championships and having Wright and Moy back sure helped in that regard.

Next up is Round III in a compelling series with rival South Williamsport in Saturday’s semifinals at Montoursville.

“Those plays are huge. That’s what the games comes down to is those 50-50 balls and those hustle plays,” Wright said after also scoring eight points and making three steals. “Me and Tyrick coming off injuries and both playing the way we did today, that has to show something.”

Kane Wright of St. John Neumann scores against Northeast Bradford Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 56-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

It certainly did. It showed just how hard both those players work.

Their numbers might not have looked gaudy against a determined NEB team but take Wright and Moy away and this game would have looked a lot different. Moy pulled down nine rebounds, several on the offensive end, and both repeatedly helped Neumann extend possessions which ultimately led to points.

Neumann and NEB exchanged seven first quarter leads before the Knights (20-4) took a 16-13 lead into the second. The Knights never trailed again but NEB never backed down and was behind just 27-21 at halftime. The Panthers looked to pull even closer when Wright made a steal and layup to open the second-half scoring. He then hit a 3-pointer and Wright’s steal led to a Hill 3-pointer as Neumann went up, 39-27.

That run eventually reached eight straight points and Neumann took its biggest lead, 44-27, late in the third quarter. Moy did his part to keep the surge going with his hard work inside. NEB played tough defense but Moy’s ability to either secure the offensive rebounds and/or get his hands on the ball to give Neumann a shot at keeping possession loomed large.

“Having them off the bench is a huge plus because they do those little things. Tyrick has been doing it all and year and it’s the same thing with Kane,” Neumann coach Louis Roskowski said. “They know their roles. They know when to take the shot and when to go back up with it. Tyrick is a huge addition for us because he’s a grinder and he’s a hustler and it’s the same with Kane.”

Davion Hill of St. John Neumann scores against Northeast Bradford Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 56-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Moy injured his ankle late in the season and Wright bruised his hip, while also straining his oblique. Both players, though, threw caution to the win against NEB and went all out, all the time. On a night when Neumann did not appear to be operating at peak capacity, that was a major factor.

Both players have started throughout the season, but with them just coming back, Roskowski gradually worked them in throughout the game. Each time he did, Wright and Moy made a difference.

“I didn’t even know if I was going to play today. I had it wrapped and crossing my fingers and praying to God that I didn’t reinjure it during the game,” Wright said. “I had to help my team. By the second half it kind of went away and I was in my own little groove.”

NEB did its best to keep Neumann from finding its groove. The Panthers did not secure their playoff spot until last Wednesday but never flinched in a game few gave them a chance to win. They methodically and effectively worked their offense, defended hard and were never intimidated.

Even after it looked like Neumann was poised to land the knockout blow late in the third quarter, NEB collected itself. The Panthers pulled as close as 10 twice late in the game before a Hill putback and two Joe Savage free throws sealed Neumann’s 20th victory. Brayden Miller scored 18 points for NEB and Cayden McPherson added 12.

Jozef Savage of St. John Neumann puts up a shot against Northeast Bradford Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 56-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“They hung in there. We’ve had a bunch of games this year where we’ve been in it against real good teams and then all of the sudden it’s a bad stretch and that snowballs,” NEB coach Paul Burgert said. “That didn’t tonight. We fought through that. I was really proud of them.”

Neumann was as frustrated at halftime as NEB was optimistic. The Knights had gone up 10 early in the second quarter but NEB surged late in the half and was within six by halftime.

“We said this team is tough. It doesn’t matter if they’re the 8 seed or not, if we lose, you’re handing in your jerseys,” Roskowski said. “At halftime we reminded them again. It’s 16 more minutes and it’s a two-possession game and I think that fired them up a little bit.”

NEB made Hill work hard for his points, but the three-time all-stater produced them at important times. That included in the third quarter when Hill heated up and scored 10 points to help fuel the game’s pivotal run. His second 3-pointer of the quarter broke Nolan’s single-season county boys record and Hill put an exclamation point on his performance with a last-minute, highlight reel dunk.

Savage carried Neumann early, scoring the team’s first seven points. The junior forward also had nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Davion Hill of St. John Neumann scores against Northeast Bradford Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 56-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Neumann did what it had to in order to win Thursday, but players and coaches know they need to play better against South. The Knights won both regular-season games, but both were close and fiercely contested. South also has won 11 of its last 12 games, so Neumann knows it is in for another 12-round fight.

“We know they’re coming for blood,” Wright said. “We know they’re coming for our necks, so we have to play hard for four quarters.”

NEB (42)

Joe Stanton 2 0-0 4, Josh Stanton 3 0-0 6, Brayden Miller 8 2-3 18, Dillon Donnelly 6 0-0 12, Eli Stanton 1 0-1 2. Totals 20 2-3 42.

NEUMANN (56)

Tyrick Moy of St. John Neumann pulls in a rebound against Northeast Bradford Thursday evening in Williamsport, Feb. 23, 2023. Neumann won, 56-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Davion Hill 14 2-4 33, Joe Savage 3 2-2 9, Daiton Thompson 3 0-0 6, Tyrick Moy 0 0-0 0, Kane Wright 3 0-0 8, Chase Wright 0 0-0 0, Andrew Walter 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 4-6 56.

NEB 13 8 8 13-42

Neumann 16 11 17 12-56

3-pointers: Neumann 6 (Hill 3, K. Wright 2, Savage).

Records: Neumann 20-4. NEB 9-13.