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Poised Parlante helps spark Neumann to first win against Muncy since 2018

By Chris Masse 6 min read

Gigi Parlante looked like a different player Wednesday night. She was as productive as ever, again stuffing the stat sheet, producing a double-double less than a minute into the third quarter and helping St. John Neumann win a key Mid-Penn game.

The difference went beyond those constants. Most importantly, Parlante was poised, in control and played all 32 minutes. The senior forward constantly battled foul issues last season during Neumann’s historic run to the Class A state quarterfinals, but with two starters having graduated from that team, the four-year starter understood how important it was she remain on the court this season.

What a factor she is there. Parlante scored a game-high 18 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and dealt six assists, keying a well-rounded Neumann performance as the Knights defeated Muncy, 49-37 in their league opener at Frank Lupacchino Court. The Knights (2-2, 1-0) defeated Muncy for the first time since current assistant coach Shayna McNamee’s senior year of 2018, led from early on and built a 22-point third quarter lead before holding off a determined Muncy comeback.

"I know my role this year. I have to be in the game as much as I can and be active as much as I can. I’m just trying to do that every game," Parlante said. "Last year, I had to be taken out a lot, but this year I know I have a big role because I’ve played a lot more than some of the other girls who are starting now. My part is to take all those fouls away and get and-ones. I’m just trying do my job, then everyone else will do theirs."

They certainly did against Muncy. Niyah Tutler scored six of her 11 points at crucial times in the fourth quarter and Lizzie Weller produced nine points, four rebounds and three assists. Bre Nixon and Sophie Reid combined for seven steals and Kallee Johnson and Emma Gallew played well off the bench.

Partlante was a calming influence the entire time. A fierce competitor, the four-year starter is channeling that fire in a positive way and used it to help burn down Muncy for the first time in her high school career. A player who has totaled more than 600 career points and 700 rebounds was outstanding in all facets and helped Neumann seize control by halftime after totaling 13 points and nine rebounds.

Equally important, Parlante picked up just two fouls. She remains as relentless as ever, but Parlante has learned when and when not to use that aggressiveness. That has spread to her teammates and a team which continues a tough early-season schedule Thursday at Hughesville, is making nice strides despite a new coaching staff taking over just two days before official practices opened last month.

"She’s realized that she has to take leadership of this team because last year they had (four-year starters) Sheiana (Tutler) and Lily (Reid). This year it’s completely different," Neumann coach Jaiden Cioffi said. "She knows she has to be that girl to step up and it’s Lizzie as well. Both those girls have been taking over this team and showing a lot of leadership ability and that’s great for the team."

Parlante, Weller and Tutler all are multi-year starters who helped Neumann reach states in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Now they are setting the tone for the first-time contributors as the team and coaches start growing closer together.

Neumann’s first two losses were against 4A Danville and 3A Warrior Run, but it has won two games by 47 combined points. Everyone had their fingerprints on the Muncy victory. While Parlante and Weller helped set the tone and scored 11 first quarter points, four players scored in the second quarter when Neumann built a 26-11 halftime lead.

Nixon scored seven points, Reid was all over defensively and Johnson and Gallew provided excellent post defense off the bench. That was especially critical when Weller was in foul trouble in the second half. With the coaching staff just taking over before preseason practices started, there are a lot of moving parts, but they are starting to fall into place.

"They definitely are stepping up. They know the expectations, they were on our team last year and they saw everything we had to do at practice and how much heart we put in, in and out of the gym," Parlante said. "They’re really meshing. Our whole bench did well. Everyone is playing their role and that’s what we have to do the rest of the season."

"Emma came in and played great defense and rebounded and got some important defensive possession time. Bre and Sophie have been stepping up big-time, too," Cioffi said. "They got a little bit of varsity action last year but are going to be playing a lot more this year, and I’m really proud of those two girls for how they’re showing their skills off and that competitiveness and taking it one day at a time."

Muncy is taking a similar approach. Like Neumann, the Indians are breaking in several new starters/contributors. This is a young team but one which is competing hard, and which kept fighting no matter the score at Neumann.

The Knights twice went up by 22 in the third quarter, but Muncy closed within 17 entering the fourth. The Indians made another run, cutting the deficit to 12 three times, but Tutler scored off a drive and with a running floater to help Neumann seal victory.

Sisters Addi Eyer (11 points) and Ava Eyer made quite a defensive impact, combining for 13 steals, Addi totaling seven and Ava six. Nolah Moyer grabbed 13 rebounds and Kaylyn Rice scored eight first-half points, making all four of her shots from 3-point range and the foul line, while adding two steals.

"We haven’t beaten them any year that I’ve been in high school, so it feels really good," Parlante said. "They have really good players. They have good girls, so I think we competed really well, and we did a lot of things right tonight."

MUNCY (37)

Addi Eyer 4 2-3 11, Nolah Moyer 2 2-4 6, Anna Zalonis 0 4-4 4, Kaylyn Rice 2 2-2 8, Addison Gresh 1 0-0 2, Ava Eyer 1 2-2 5, Rosie Zalonis 0 0-0 0, Emma McCormick 0 0-0 0, Zoe Kunkle 0 1-2 1. Totals 10 13-17 37.

NEUMANN (49)

Gigi Parlante 8 2-4 18, Lizzie Weller 4 1-2 9, Niyah Tutler 5 1-2 11, Sophie Reid 0 0-0 0, Bre Nixon 3 0-0 7, Kallee Johnson 2 0-0 4, Emma Gallew 0 0-2 0. Totals 22 4-10 49.

Muncy 4 7 12 14--37

Neumann 11 15 14 9--49

3-pointers: Neumann 1 (Nixon); Muncy 4 (Rice 2, Ad. Eyer, Av. Eyer).

Records: Neumann 2-2, 1-0 Mid-Penn. Muncy 1-4, 0-1.

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