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MILTON―Muncy authored quite a script last season, avenging two defeats during the postseason, capturing a district championship and reaching the state tournament’s second round.
After four starters graduated from that team, it felt like the curtain was closed. Turns out the sequel is equally impressive.
Written off by many, these new-look Indians continue producing similar results and have worked themselves back into the District 4 Class AA final. Playing tremendous defense and using its trademark balance, Muncy thumped Line Mountain, 51-36 Saturday in the semifinals, clinching both a third consecutive state tournament berth and second straight district championship shot.
"It’s a pretty special feeling. A lot of people doubted us but going against those guys every day in practice prepared us," senior guard Patrick Zalonis said after scoring 12 points. "We came out this year with a chip on our shoulder and we’ve brought it back to the same spot those guys were last year."
"There’s no way anyone would have thought we’d win as many games as we have and get another shot at a district title," Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. "Three straight trips to states is pretty impressive. It’s been a good run here."
The run continues next week when Muncy faces rival St. John Neumann in a championship rematch. That Muncy would earn this chance seemed like a long shot when the season started. Muncy graduated its leading scorer, as well as a two-time all-state selection and two 1,000-point scorers.
What was overlooked, however, was how well the incoming starters played against those former starters each day at practice last season. Freshmen like Nate Rogers and Kyran Lisembee joined the group which already was close-knit after four starters also started together as JV players last season.
All this team needed was a chance to show what it could do. Given that shot, Muncy has embraced it and continued enhancing the program’s tradition.
"It feels good because when we came into the season we were really doubted and really young. It feels nice to play the way we have," point guard Stiles Eyer said after again stuffing the stat sheet. "We have a lot of chemistry. That carried over from JV, and all the summer ball we played added to the chemistry with Noah (Confer), and we were able to put it all together."
Confer is the lone starter back from last year’s team and scored a game-high 14 points while grabbing six rebounds. Again, however, it was everyone on the court being a threat which made Muncy so dangerous. Zalonis joined Confer in double figures, while Rogers and Konnor Shearer (7 rebounds) each scored eight.
Eyer helped fuel the defense and also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, while dealing five assists. He and Confer often gave Line Mountain guards fits with their traps, while all five players on the court communicated, switched and called out screens well all afternoon. Put all that together and Muncy forced 18 turnovers while never letting the Eagles feel comfortable.
"Defense is our main thing. If we can get it started defensively and jump them and make them feel like they’re being chaotic, then we feel like we have the advantage," Eyer said. "If we can prevent them from getting into a set offensively, we feel like they’re going to have problems."
That certainly was the case in the first quarter when Muncy overcame a slow start by turning stifling defense into quick offense. Despite not scoring the game’s first points until midway through the first quarter, Muncy’s quick-strike attack piled up 17 points by quarter’s end and led 17-5.
Line Mountain never was able to pull within single digits and Muncy went up 26-9 when Rogers sank two free throws with 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the first half.
"We executed well, and we were dog solid on defense. Everything they tried to run, we did well against," Gresh said. "We hedged well; we didn’t let them get anything open. If the offense isn’t there on a certain night the defense will at least allow us to stay in the game."
Anytime Line Mountain threatened to rally in the second half, Muncy quickly answered. Rogers scored inside and Confer made a steal and layup, pushing the lead back to 17 early in the third quarter. The Eagles crept within 14 early in the fourth but Muncy took over from there and answered with a game-clinching 10-4 run highlighted by a Lisembee drive and Confer dish to Ken Hampe for a layup.
Muncy led by 20 late in the game and executed especially well down the stretch, producing high-percentage shots.
After South Williamsport pushed Muncy to the brink in the quarterfinals, the Indians played with a sense of urgency for all 32 minutes. And when they took that early lead, they kept the foot on the gas, speeding right back to the district final.
"We knew that we can’t come out and play like we did against South and expect to win. We had to step on their throats and put them on the ground early," Zalonis said. "There are certain things each person is good at, so we like to take advantage of that when we can."
After missing its first eight shots, Muncy took over the game in the first quarter by making eight of its next 10. Four players scoring during that run and five scored in the second as Line Mountain could not zero in on one or two players.
"We all know each other’s skill sets pretty well, so if we see a match-up we think someone can score on then we’re going to tell them to iso them," Eyer said. "We watch film, and we know our opponent’s skill set and we know our skill sets. We feel like everyone can score on our team."
LINE MOUNTAIN (36)
Nick Snyder 3 0-0 8, Aidan Tressler 3 4-4 11, Bryce Smeltz 4 0-2 8, Chase Shutt 3 2-2 9, Joe Spang 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 6-8 36.
MUNCY (51)
Noah Confer 7 0-3 14, Patrick Zalonis 3 5-6 12, Nate Rogers 3 2-3 8, Stiles Eyer 2 1-4 5, Konnor Shearer 3 2-2 8, Kyran Lisembee 1 0-0 2, Ken Hampe 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 10-18 51.
L Mountain 5 11 9 11―36
Muncy 17 12 12 10―51
3-pointers: Line Mountain 4 (Snyder 2, Tressler, Shutt); Muncy 1 (Zalonis).
Records: Muncy 19-6. Line Mountain 12-12.