What many did not see is how the Mountie junior planted the seeds which bloomed so large there. They would have had to be at all the offseason workouts to see that.

From relentless work when few were observing came a fabulous game when so many were. Regan scored a career-high 21 points, grabbed five rebounds, dealt four assists and added two steals, helping South win an exciting 66-56 Mid-Penn rivalry showdown against St. John Neumann. Regan was one of many Mounties who shined and he changed the game’s complexion with a scintillating 10 points in 75 seconds third-quarter eruption which put South up six.

“I can’t even explain the feeling,” Regan said after happy friends surrounded him following the game. “You feel your teammates hyping you up; you hear the crowd cheering and you keep sinking them.”

Regan lit the spark and his teammates fanned the flames throughout the second half. Neeko Bowen scored 13 points, Andrew Walter collected a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) against his former team and Samir Moy shined off the bench.

Daiton Thompson (1) of St. John Neumann races after a loose ball against South Williamsport at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Still, it was Regan stepping into a starring role which grabbed the biggest headline. The lead changed hands five times in the first half and was tied, 31-31 in third when Regan heated up like a microwave. After scoring inside, Regan pulled down a rebound, raced down the court and sank a pull-up 3-pointer.

Chance Quimby found Regan cutting to the basket moments later and Regan capped his 10-point flurry with another pull-up 3-pointer. Those 10 points in 75 seconds brought a large student section to its collective feet and gave South a 41-35 advantage.

“I was flowing; my shots were staying in rhythm,” Regan said. “I had two open shots and sank them. I was not getting down and was just keeping my head.”

Neumann (1-2, 1-1) fought back and tied the game early in the fourth on a Daiton Thompson drive, but Regan showed off his passing skills and found Bowen for consecutive baskets which put South ahead to stay. They were two of three assists Regan dealt in the final quarter before another pull-up 3-pointer and reverse layup put the dagger in as South went ahead, 62-51.

After showing flashes in his first three games this season, Regan, one of three first-time Mountie starters, unleashed his whole arsenal and it was quite a sight. But that package was not developed overnight. It came via embracing the grind throughout the offseason.

Legend Dillard of St. John Neumann makes an outlet pass at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“That’s an example of a kid who decided to put in the work this summer. Every open gym we had, in the summer and fall and Sundays in the season, the kid’s there,” South coach Joe Simon said. “He made a commitment last year and said this was one of his goals, to be on varsity as a starter and main player. He put in the work and tonight was a prime example of him showing that.”

“I’m learning a lot about myself,” Regan said. “I didn’t play a lot of varsity last year and I’m trying to take a big step and be a mentor for my younger teammates.”

Regan doing so earned rave reviews, but so many Mounties took turns in starring roles Friday. Five players grabbed at least five rebounds and Quimby and Levi Butler combined for 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Walter was strong on the boards and hit some key second-half shots, while Moy’s defense played a pivotal role in South gaining some fourth quarter separation.

“South really stepped up. Their whole team came to play. They got great minutes out of everyone,” Neumann coach Lou Roskowski said. “They beat us in transition and, offensively, we didn’t click when we needed to.”

Thompson was swarmed all night, but still scored a game-high 23 points, 18 coming in the second half. He added five rebounds and three steals. Jahki Brister gave South problems early and finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. Sophomore Legend Dillard scored eight of his 12 points in the third quarter and added six rebounds.

Jahki Brister of St. John Neumann leads the fast break at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Dillard helped Neumann withstand Regan’s 75-second explosion, but Regan finding Bowen on consecutive fourth quarter possessions started South’s game-winning push.

Bowen continued coming on strong as a first-time starting forward. A night after reaching a career-high in points at Muncy, he topped that and added five rebounds. Bowen went 4 for 4 from the field in the fourth quarter and his final two baskets helped blunt Neumann from building momentum.

“I was feeling it. I was hot,” Bowen said. “I was feeling like everything was going to drop for me. If I had a shot, I was going to take it.”

South consistently did damage in transition that final quarter and went 12 of 17 from the field there. Six different players scored as well, highlighting the balance this young squad is starting to build. Equally impressive was how well the Mounties moved the ball throughout the second half.

“It’s always been a good rivalry game and this was great for us,” Bowen said. “We had to match their intensity and keep building on the good things we were doing.”

Samir Moy of South Williamsport celebrates scoring with team mate Bobby Regan against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That included Moy offering some exciting coming attractions. The freshman guard has made a nice impact in his first four games and may have played his best game against Neumann, sparking the defense, scoring six points and adding six rebounds.

Moy came up especially big with South in foul trouble during long stretches. He operated the offense well when called upon and his defense played a massive role in slowing down Neumann after it had started heating up in the third quarter. Moy also went coast-to-coast after securing a rebound and his drive made it a nine-point game with a little more than a minute remaining.

“We’ve been kind of waiting for that so far this year, Samir to kind of present himself and enter himself into the game and this was a perfect game to put in him in with early foul troubles,” Simon said. “You saw that when he was in the game tonight, playing defense and scoring offensively as well on the fast breaks. He was a great addition, especially as a freshman to be able to jump into a game like that and contribute.”

Neither team led by more than five until Regan’s third quarter burst. Brister scored six straight points early in the second, giving Neumann a 15-14 advantage and they swapped leads three more times before South went up, 24-20 at halftime.

It was another growing up experience for a team which is doing so fast. After suffering heartbreak at Muncy three nights earlier, South experienced the thrill of victory. The work continues but this was a moment to savor.

Bobby Regan of South Williamsport blocks the shot by Daiton Thompson of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It’s high school, you have to enjoy it,” Bowen said. “We’re doing some good things.”

NEUMANN (56)

Daiton Thompson 8 5-8 23, Jahki Brister 6 4-6 16, Legend Dillard 6 0-0 12, Kane Meixel 1 0-0 2, Avery Taddeo 1 0-0 3, Zaidyn Diehl-Romano 0 0-0 0, Connor Haswell 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 9-14 56.

SOUTH (66)

Levi Butler 4 0-0 8, Chance Quimby 2 3-4 7, Bobby Regan 9 0-0 21, Andrew Walter 5 1-2 11, Neeko Bowen 6 1-2 13, Samir Moy 3 0-0 6, Kyree Moy 0 0-0 0, Jax Miller 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 5-8 66.

Neumann 9 11 21 15–56

South 12 12 19 23–66

3-pointers: Neumann 3 (Thompson 2, Taddeo); South 3 (Regan 3).

Records: South 2-2, 1-1 Mid-Penn. Neumann 1-2, 0-1.

Chance Quimby of South Williamsport tries to stop the drive to the basket by Jahki Brister of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Chance Quimby of South Williamsport tries to stop the drive to the basket by Jahki Brister of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Legen Dillard of St. John Neumann puts up a shot against South Williamsport at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Coaches and players celebrate with Bobby Regan (0) of South Williamsport after Regan scored against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Neeko Bowen (4) of South Williamsport celebrates scoring against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Samir Moy of South Williamsport puts up a shot on a break away against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Levi Butler of South Williamsport puts up a shot against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Andrew Walter of South Williamsport puts up a shot against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Levi Butler and Neeko Bowen of South Williamsport fight for position on a rebound with Zaidyn Diehl-Romano of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Andrew Walter of South Williamsport fights for control of a ball with Connor Haswell and Jahki Brister of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Andrew Walter of South Williamsport tries to block the shot attempt by Jahki Brister of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Neeko Bowen (4) of South Williamsport gets a hand to his face by Zaidyn Diehl-Romano of St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Samir Moy of South Williamsport puts up a shot late in the game against St. John Neumann at South Williamsport High School. South won 66-56 over Neumann. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette