In capping off its month-long road stint, the team began each quarter as if it was in front of its home crowd, with aggressive defense fueling early offense and confidence creating consistent scoring from there. With 35 field goals, 12 three-pointers and four double-figure scorers, the Wildcats kicked off the new year on a high note, defeating the Golden Knights in a fast-paced, offensive battle by a score of 89-69.

“I thought the energy tonight was good right from the get-go,” said Central Mountain head coach Tyler Bardo on the win. “That showed from how aggressive we were at both ends. We picked some early fouls defensively but that speaks to how aggressive we were and then from there, we adapted to that.”

The biggest examples of that came at the start of the game and fresh out the break.

With seven first-quarter steals, the Wildcats were able to quickly establish easy offense and build up considerable momentum, as they built up a 9-0 lead in the first two minutes and steadily added on from there. A mildly contested fastbreak three from Hunter Hoy (17 points, 6 assists, 5 steals) would give them their biggest lead of the quarter at 15, with Hoy finishing the period with 8 points, 4 assists and 3 steals.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Hunter Hoy (2) splits the Neumann defense to shoot in the second quarter.

“Hunter was very good at being aggressive early,” said Bardo on Hoy. “I think that makes the game a lot easier for other guys and it actually gets them involved a little bit when he’s aggressive early. He has an ability to adapt to what the defensive changes are, our guys stay ready and, in that situation, I thought we did a good job.”

Though Neumann was able to respond, closing out the quarter on an 8-4 run and logging 19 in the second, that cushion coupled with 23 of their own – 14 combined from Hoy and sharpshooter Darius Slay – kept them in control. Then in the third, Central Mountain played its most complete quarter of the night.

Max Verrelli started the period with a triple, jump-starting a quick 10-3 run that helped the Wildcats’ lead breach 20 points and a three-point onslaught that allowed them to put the game away. And through an 11-2 run to cap the quarter, Shade (17 points, 3 steals) nailed two open threes off the fast break and Jeremy Reese (10 points) hit a step-back, contested three at the buzzer, as Central Mountain went into the fourth up 73-45.

Through that period, the Wildcats scored a game-high 26 points and converted on six threes, with Noah Wells (18 points, 3 assists) rounding out that explosion from behind the arc.

“It’s something we continue to work on,” said Bardo when discussing the team’s success from behind the arc and in general. “We always talk about hunting good opportunities. If we hunt good opportunities, the shooting should take care of itself. If we can get the right ones, I’m confident in the guys that we have that can knock them down. It’s just about creating the right ones.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Hunter Hoy (2) drives around Neumann's Jager Woodring(4) in the second quarter.

Though they finished their road stretch 2-5, two of those wins came in its final three games, a point of assurance following a tough four-game skid. The hope is that the team can use its recent momentum to prosper in both its return its home court and its conference opener against Shamokin.

“It’s coming. I think we have every reason to be confident,” said Bardo when discussing the team’s recent success. “Hopefully, we can continue to climb that mountain.”

Despite a tough outing based on the final result, the Golden Knights also produced some positives on Thursday night.

After struggling to score through the first few minutes, they’d shake off a slow start, posting a season-high in scoring alongside Central Mountain by the end of the night. Andrew Walter led the team with 17, hitting a tough buzzer-beater three to help the team get within 11 at the end of the first. Daiton Thompson (11) and freshman Legend Dillard (10) also finished in double figures and the team as a whole shot well from the free throw line, going 14-of-19.

“I don’t think it was terrible. We just need to come out better and come out with more intensity,” said Walter on the team’s performance. “When we realize we need to go, it’s too late.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Caleb Mahoney (3) drives around Neumann's Lajon Dizzaro (42) in the second quarter.

The loss marks the seventh in their first eight games, but there’s still time to turn things around with more than half its regular season schedule set to take place. Their next chance to do so will come in their Mid-Penn opener against South Williamsport on Saturday.

I think we’ll be alright; we’ve played some tough teams,” said Walter. “If we play good defense and play together, we can easily have a non-terrible season.”

Central Mountain 89, St. John Neumann 69

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (89)

Blake Walker 3 0-0 6; Max Verrelli 2 0-0 6 (two threes); Hunter Hoy 7 1-1 17 (two threes); Caleb Mahoney 2 1-1 5; Jeremy Reese 3 2-3 10 (two threes); Noah Wells 7 2-4 18 (two threes); Isah Dorman 2 0-0 5; Darius Shade 7 0-0 17 (three threes); Jared Bischof 1 0-0 3; Blake King 1 0-0 2. Totals 35 6-9 89.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Isah Dorman (11) shoots over Neumann's Daiton Thompsoni (1) in the second quarter.

NEUMANN (69)

Daiton Thompson 5 1-3 11; Jager Woodring 2 1-2 6; Andrew Walter 7 1-2 17; Angelo Birch 2 1-1 5; Kane Miexel 1 0-0 2; Connor Haswell 1 1-1 3; Gino Birch 1 3-3 5; Jacob Brocious 1 0-0 2; Lajon Dizzard 1 4-4 6; Legend Dillard 4 2-3 10. Totals 25 14-19 69.

CM – 23 24 26 16 – 89

SJN – 12 19 14 24 – 69

Three-pointers: Central Mountain 12 (Shade 3, Verrelli 2, Hoy 2, Reese 2, Wells 2, Bischof 1); St. John Neumann 5 (Walter 3, Thompson 1, Woodring 1).

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Darius Shade (13) drives around St. John Neumann's Daiton Thompson (1) in the second quarter.

Record: Central Mountain 3-5; St. John Neumann 1-7.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Jager Woodring (4) shoots under pressure from Central Mountain's Hunter Hoy (2) in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Max Verelli (1) shoots against St. John Neumann in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann basketball head coach Louis Roskowski

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Hunter Hoy drives the ball down court ahead of St. John Neumann's Lajon Dizzard (42) in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Neuamnn's Lajon Dizzard (42) tries to drive around Central Mountain's Isah Dorman (11) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain's Caleb Hahoney shoots against St. John Neumann in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Cenral Mountain's Hunter Hoy (2) gets a hand on the ball as Neumann's Gino Birch (22) shoots in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain head coach Tyler Bardo

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Diaton Thompson (1) shoots over Central Mountain's Noah Wells (5) and Blake Walker (0) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Neumann's Gino Birch (22) tries to drive around Central Mountain's Hunter Hoy (2) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Gino Birch (22) tries to drive the ball down court around Central Mountain's Max Verelli (1) in the first quarter.