No wonder both the present and future look so bright at Lewisburg.

Tucker scored a career-high 24 points and Michaels dealt eight assists Monday at Jersey Shore, helping the Green Dragons earn an impressive 64-42 win in an early-season showdown between 4A teams who both entered 2-0. Nazir Meredith (10 points, 9 rebounds) just missed a double-double, Jaylen Walker (10 points) shined off the bench and Lewisburg (3-0) won its third straight game against a tough opponent to open its season.

“In upcoming years we’re going to be really good. We have a lot of strengths coming off the bench, too,” Michaels said. “The potential is up there.”

“We showed our potential tonight,” Tucker said. “Not everyone was on, but everyone stepped up in a big way.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg's Lj Tucker (3) tries to shoot over Jersey Shore's (23) in the second quarter.

They certainly did. Rebira Jemana scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds, Cooper Mowry hit a key buzzer-beating 3-pointer before halftime which stretched the lead to nine and Lewisburg brilliantly moved the basketball, generating 19 assists on 23 field goals.

Tucker helped Lewisburg lead from early in the first quarter on and scored eight second quarter points, while showing both his range and versatility. After playing well off the bench last season, Tucker worked hard throughout the offseason and can beat defenders with his outside shot, driving ability and passing.

He did all of the above against Jersey Shore, producing 15 points in those middle quarters when Lewisburg built a 24-point lead at one point. Tucker hit three 3-pointers, pulled down six rebounds, made two steals and added two assists.

“I felt like I had the hot hand. Cooper had an off-night shooting, so I knew I had to step up,” Tucker said. “It was tough but we got it done.”

Michaels has toughened himself by playing against intense competition for his AAU team in Harrisburg as well as his teammates throughout a busy offseason. He looks mature beyond his years thus far and effectively carved up a swarming defense all night. Michaels also was a big part of a 6-0 run which gave Lewisburg a 16-9 lead entering the second quarter, drilling a 3-pointer before finding Walker who converted an old-school 3-point play.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's (23) drives around Lewisburg's Nazir Meredith (23) in the second quarter.

Throughout the second half, Jersey Shore threw different defenses at Michaels but the point guard often was a step ahead, beating defenders off the dribble and finding the open man or waiting for the double team to come before whipping off a pass to set up a high-percentage shot.

“I know I’m not going to be the scorer on the team,” Michaels said. “I have scorers all around me, so I want to set them up and put them up for success.”

Tucker and Michaels are effectively doing that and Lewisburg has done a nice job navigating a demanding early-season schedule which includes upcoming games this week at Selinsgrove and Mifflin County. What’s especially exciting for coach Leon Tucker and his staff is knowing that both players really have only scratched the surface of what they may do as they gain more experience.

“As good a game as LJ and Cortland had, I still think there were some things they could do better. It’s part of growing. As they go on and play more and get a feel for each other, that stuff will correct itself,” Coach Tucker said. “It was exciting to see them put it together on the same night and have themselves a good game. As we go on, I feel like we’re only going to get better.”

That essentially is what Jersey Shore coach Jon Bobb was telling his team afterward. Sure, the Bulldogs wanted to win, but the big picture must also remain in perspective. The Bulldogs came light years a year ago, making an 11-win turnaround and it’s not where they are now that matters as much as where they could go.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg's Cortland Michaels (33) shoots over Jersey Shore's Jacob Lorson (23) and Tucker Hanna (34) in the second quarter.

Jersey Shore did not play a bad game but it lost some turnovers at key times and struggled to finish shots despite working for good ones. Those are all fixable issues, so while Boob is happy that his players care so much that they were upset following the game, he also wants them to stay focused on improving regardless of what their record is as the season continues.

“I told them we absolutely are not putting our heads down. We’re still above where we were at this time last year, so I’m not concerned,” Boob said. “We’re just not over the hump yet. We’re a good team; that’s a great team. That’s where we want to get, but we’re not there yet. But we have plenty of time.”

Effort certainly was not an issue Monday either. Jersey Shore tenaciously fought all night, frequently battling inside for rebounds and/or hitting the floor while pursuing loose balls.

Breylan Guerrero best personified Jersey Shore’s grit during the third quarter when he literally flew a few feet after a loose ball and saved it, helping set up a Jacob Lorson basket. Lorson grabbed eight rebounds and Tucker Hanna nine, while Ty McDermit scored 10 points and Khani McCray seven off the bench.

“The one thing I take away from it is the guys fight,” Boob said. “They fight so hard.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg's Cortland Michaels (0) drives the ball down court in front of Jersey Shore's Khani McCray (2) in the second quarter.

Lewisburg did as well and it took its battle to the paint early with Meredith asserting himself inside and producing four points, two rebounds and an assist while helping Lewisburg grab an 8-5 lead. Walker then started his big night when he made a massive impact off the bench, finding Michaels for the 3-pointer before converting his 3-point play.

Walker was a difference-maker all night, adding five rebounds and three steals to go along with his 10 points. He and Meredith helped open up the perimeter and Mowry closed the first half with his 3-pointer off a Michaels assist before Tucker’s 3-pointer early in the third made it, 34-24 and ignited a 14-2 run which stretched the lead 22 points.

It was the second straight game Lewisburg produced three double-digit scorers and third time it had at least three players score eight or more points. The bonus is that that production can seemingly came from anyone, anywhere on the court.

“We have a lot of depth on our bench. I think that’s our biggest strength,” LJ Tucker said. “Not many teams can go nine guys deep as often as we can.”

“You can’t focus on one guy because you’re so worried about Nazir on the inside or Cooper or LJ on outside or Rebria slashing,” Coach Tucker said. “We’re so balanced that defenses have to kind of keep it honest. You can’t really focus on one or two guys. You kind of have to play us straight up.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Ty McDermit(33) shoots over Lewisburg's (23) in the first quarter.

LEWISBURG (64)

Cortland Michaels 1 0-0 3, Cooper Mowry 2 0-0 5, Jaylen Walker 4 2-2 10, LJ Tucker 9 3-4 24, Jack Siegel 0 2-2 2, Hayden Heid 0 2-4 2, Nazir Meredith 4 2-2 10, Rebira Jemana 3 2-2 8. Totals 23 13-16 64.

JERSEY SHORE (42)

Carson Watkins 0 0-0 0, Khani McCray 2 2-2 7, Orrin Pennycoff 0 0-0 0, Landon Lanthan 2 1-4 5, Jacob Lorson 4 0-0 8, Braylon Guerrero 2 0-0 4, Ty McDermit 4 1-4 10, Tucker Hanna 3 0-0 6, Kaihl Harlan 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 4-11 42.

Lewisburg 16 15 19 14–64

Jersey Shore 9 13 9 11–42

3-pointers: Lewisburg 5 (Tucker 3, Mowry, Michaels); Jersey Shore 2 (McDermit, McCray).

Records: Lewisburg 3-0. Jersey Shore 2-1.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Breylan Guerrero (31) shoots over Lewisburg's (23) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Khani McCray (2) shoots over Lewisburg's (23) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Breylan Guerrero (31) recovers a lose ball and looks for a team mate to throw to in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg's (0) throws the ball back in bounds as Jersey Shore's Khani McCray(2) forces him out of bounds in the first quarter.