Relentless practices are why Muncy is in states in girls basketball
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Family members often compete against each other at Muncy practices. Sisters Addi and Ava Eyer are either split up or paired opposite their cousins Anna and Rosie Zalonis when playing two-on-two. Whatever the match-ups, whatever the relationships, no one wants to lose.
Muncy coach Craig Weaver Sr. looks for similar match-ups throughout his roster, trying to create the most intense practices he can. It's about creating challenge environments for all the players and pushing them all hard.
"We go at it at practice," Addi Eyer said. "He makes us go two-on-two and we just kill each other. "
From relentless practices come relentless game performances. And from those practices came another District 4 Class AA championship.
Muncy has taken all the lessons learned through rigorous practices to the court and repeated as district champions, defeating Northeast Bradford, 48-37 last Thursday. The Indians (20-5) are the first team in program history to win consecutive district crowns and host Elk Lake in Friday's state tournament.
"These girls work their butts off. They work so hard and we try to make every practice harder than any game could be," Weaver said. "You have to give these kids credit because they respond to it."
They often respond by playing their best when it matters most. Muncy vanquished Northwest in the semifinals before defeating NEB in the final for a second straight season. Both teams had beaten Muncy the previous times they had played this season but in the rematch, the Indians won by double-digit margins.
Games are hard and the opponents are tough. But the way Muncy competes at practices creates a greater comfort level. What better way to get ready for challenges than by district championship players constantly pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves?
"We work really hard at practice and it shows in the game," point guard Addi Eyer said. "It shows in those crucial moments."
It certainly did against Northwest and Northeast Bradford.
Muncy dominated the second half against Northwest eight nights after losing against it in the Mid-Penn Conference championship. The Indians played smothering defense, the offense came to life and they won, 29-15.
In a rematch against NEB, Muncy led from start to finish. It built a 14-point halftime lead but did not crack when the Panthers rallied in the second half. Different players kept responding in key situations and Muncy allowed just four points over the final four minutes to close strong and win, 48-37.
Many of these players also started or had key roles on last year's team which reached the state quarterfinals. Ava Eyer hit a last-second, go-ahead shot against NEB in the championship before Rosie Zalonis hit the game-clinching free throws. The Indians then excelled under pressure against Sacred Heart in the second round of states, making the right plays to reach the Elite 8 for the first time.
Fans have seen the finished products in these games the last two seasons. They have not witnessed, however, what makes those moments possible and that is all the behind the scenes grinding which happens at practice each day.
"They don't say anything. They just go do it and they work harder and harder every day in practice," Weaver said. "If something goes haywire in the beginning, we know we have the mentality that if we keep working hard, good things are going to happen later in the game and (against NEB) they did."
To prepare for the postseason, Muncy had one of its toughest practices all year. Eyer estimates that the players ran more there than they had all season. Hall of Fame NFL coach Dick Vermeil often said, 'There's no easing into a street fight.' The playoffs essentially are just that, so Muncy entered them with the will to match their skill.
There's a price to pay for winning and Muncy handsomely pays it at its practices. Digging deep there has helped the Indians smoothly navigate all the ups and downs a season can bring.
"There are bumps during the regular season obviously, but we turned it on and find that deep desire," Anna Zalonis said. "We go out and play hard and let it all out there."
Zalonis was talking about the games there, but she easily could have been talking about practices. Going so hard there, makes it a lot easy to go so hard during games.
Each practice has not been perfect but the effort almost always has been near that standard. The reward is two district championship trophies and another shot at the state tournament. The work continues but how Muncy has attained its success sends a powerful message to future squads which try emulating these two-time district champions.
"We want to leave a legacy," Addi Eyer said. "It's so exhilarating. It's something memorable we create. I still look back at the district championship pictures from last year. It motivates me more to make it far."