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HUGHESVILLE--Landon Henry experienced a homecoming Tuesday, coaching Towanda at the Bill Babcock Christmas Tournament.
Another homecoming awaited when Towanda exited the bus upon returning following a 70-33 win against Montgomery. Essentially, Henry has two homes now: where he grew up and where he continues making a positive impact at a new location.
The 2017 Hughesville graduate is in his fifth season teaching match and coaching basketball at Towanda. His team improved to 7-1 with its third-place win and highlighted a night in which Mount Carmel romped to the championship, defeating host Hughesville, 77-34 in the final.
"You grow up here and you take pride in the tradition built up here at Hughesville, but I’m obviously down a different path now," Henry said. "I’m trying to chase my own goals in a different area and one thing that I pride myself on is loyalty, so I’m going to give these guys now.
"But it’s always great seeing the people who invested in you and helped me become the person I am now."
Henry helped Hughesville twice reach states and capture the 2017 District 4 Class AAA championship as its senior point guard. He played for coach Nick Tagliaferri who also was hired fresh out of college and gradually built up Hughesville into one of District 4’s best programs, winning five championships from 2006-17.
It’s a familiar early trajectory at Towanda as Henry is laying bricks in his foundation at the high school, junior high and elementary levels. The Black Knights made a big leap forward last year, reaching districts and are off to their best start this decade, winning six straight games before Mount Carmel defeated it in the semifinals.
Equally encouraging, Towanda has just two seniors, so both the present and future look bright.
"I think these guys are building that belief system within themselves. They enjoy playing together," Henry said. "We played a lot over the summer, and it wasn’t just this year. These guys got a lot of varsity experience when they were younger. They kind of got beat up but you learn and you grow from that."
That growth was evident against Montgomery as Towanda led from start to finish. Montgomery (2-6) hung tough for a quarter and was down 19-11 before the Knights erupted in the second quarter and pushed the lead to 28. Montgomery closed the first half strong, and a Parker Bennett 3-pointer had it within 20 before Towanda again turned up the pressure and went on a 19-2 run, invoking the mercy rule.
Henry preaches defense first and Towanda excelled on that end, forcing 30 turnovers, including 18 in the first half. Point guard Boom Thompson plays a lot like Henry did at Hughesville and made six of his seven steals in the opening three minutes of the second quarter, finishing with 12 points and four assists. Forward Markel Griner is tough inside and had 12 points with eight rebounds, Landon Clark scored 13 points with four steals, and versatile forward Lucas Vincent had 12 points.
Towanda is a work in progress, but work is what Henry and his players enjoy doing. They enter the new year on a high and are excited about trying to continue climbing that ladder.
"We’ve definitely been investing time in them," Henry said. "We just need to continue to understand that there is another level for us to get to if we want to be a threat."
Bennett continues being a threat for Montgomery and earned all-tournament honors. The senior 1,000-point scorer produced a game-high 21 points, 4 steals and four rebounds. Chase Bennett added seven rebounds.
The championship played out a lot like the consolation game with Hughesville hanging around early before Mount Carmel started landing haymakers and building an 18-point halftime advantage. And before many could settle back in following trips to the concession stand at halftime, the game was over.
Mount Carmel blitzed Hughesville in the first two minutes of the third quarter, scoring 15 points, forcing six turnovers and going up, 56-25 while imposing the mercy rule.
Getting outplayed was one thing against a District 4 Class AAAA title contender. What really upset Hughesville’s coaches was how often Mount Carmel (6-3) outhustled it. The Tornadoes out-rebounded Hughesville, 32-18 and forced 20 turnovers over the final three quarters.
"They wanted it more than we did," Hughesville coach Cam St. James said. "They simply outworked us tonight."
Tournament MVP Jude Lazicki led the charge, scoring 26 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, making four steals and adding three assists. Lazicki had a double-double by halfway through the second quarter and he and Jaylen Delaney fanned the flames which became an inferno after halftime.
Delaney finished with 18 points, five steals and six assists. He and Lazicki each made three steals in the opening two minutes of the second half and scored 13 of the 15 points. Collectively, Mount Carmel produced 17 assists and every player both scored and grabbed a rebound.
"It all started with Jude. He’s got an old-school work ethic. That kid can work," St. James said. "It’s really refreshing when you have that kind of leadership that not only walks it but talks it. He’s a workhorse. He’s everything they say and more. He’s really smooth."
Hughesville (4-5) has exceeded its win total from last year, but Mount Carmel dealt it a harsh lesson. The question now is how the Spartans respond. The Tornadoes are a fast, physical team, but it was the way they ferociously competed which made the biggest difference.
St. James is as curious as anyone to see if Hughesville vows to not let something similar happen again.
"I told them, ‘You guys just got a Grade A example of what it takes to work hard. If you don’t like being on the other side of it, 2026 is going to be a new year for you," St. James said. "One of the most influential people in my life told me the strongest thing in the world is a decision and I’m really interested to see what ours is. It’s a decision to work hard; that’s it."
Gavin Knarr provided a positive for Hughesville, continuing his excellent junior season. Knarr earned all-tournament honors after scoring 15 points, pulling down five rebounds and dealing four assists. No other Spartan, however, generated more than six points or three rebounds.
Championship
Mount Carmel 77, Hughesville 34
MOUNT CARMEL (77)
Jude Lazicki 11 4-5 26, Jaylen Delaney 9 0-0 18, Elijah Rempel 0 2-4 2, Michael Kaleta 3 1-3 7, Daniel Snyder 3 2-2 10, Logan Pizzoli 3 0-0 6, Josiah Renno 1 0-0 2, Zandr Lukoskie 1 0-0 2, Seth Spears 1 0-0 2, Marshall Marachi 1 0-0 2. Totals 33 9-14 77.
HUGHESVILLE (34)
Gavin Knarr 4 4-5 15, Alex Schultz 3 0-0 6, Evan Mackenzie 1 0-0 2, Jonah Heiney 1 0-0 3, Malachi Flowers 0 0-0 0, Gage Webb 2 0-0 4, Carson Stackhouse 0 0-0 0, Everett Shaner 0 0-0 0, Tyson Harrington 0 1-2 1, Michael Fuller 1 0-0 3. Totals 12 5-7 34.
Mount Carmel 21 16 25 15--77
Hughesville 10 9 7 8--34
3-pointers: Mount Carmel 2 (Snyder 2); Hughesville 5 (Knarr 3, Heiney, Fuller).
Records: Mount Carmel 6-3. Hughesville 4-5.
Consolation
Towanda 70, Montgomery 33
MONTGOMERY (33)
Parker Bennett 7 5-5 21, Damaj Stewart-Williams 1 2-3 4, Jace Hanford 1 0-2 2, Dillon Johnson 1 0-0 2, James Godley 1 0-0 3, Chase Bennett 0 1-2 1, Cam Wilver 0 0-0 0, Cody Sechrist 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 8-12 33.
TOWANDA (70)
Darrius Farrell 4 0-0 8, Boom Thompson 5 1-1 12, Markell Garner 6 0-2 12, Lucas Vincent 5 0-2 12, Graham Welles 2 0-0 6, Keegan Stroud 1 0-0 3, Landon Clark 6 1-2 13, Josh Maye 2 0-0 4. Totals 31 2-7 70.
Montgomery 11 11 5 6--33
Towanda 19 26 19 6--70
3-pointers: Montgomery 3 (Bennett 2, Godley); Towanda 6 (Vincent 2, Welles 2, Thompson, Stroud).
Records: Towanda 7-1. Montgomery 2-6.