Obviously, the pressure was turned up high Saturday night. And that’s just the way Jahki Brister likes it.

The senior forward was in his element and played, arguably, his best high school game. Brister scored 16 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dominated the fourth quarter, helping Neumann win a 51-44 thriller and hand Sullivan its first Mid-Penn loss.

“It was so fun. The environment was crazy. They packed our side out, so it felt like an away game for us,” Brister said. “With the adversity we had to overcome, I love this. I feel like I play better under pressure.”

His teammates sure did, too.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Cayden Smithkors (34) looks for a shot around St. John Neumann's Zaidyn Diehl-Romano (4) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

Despite the foul trouble, Neumann (8-6) weathered that second-quarter storm, cut a nine-point deficit to four at halftime, tied it entering the fourth and took charge in the final eight minutes. Brister scored eight points there, Daiton Thompson (10 points, six rebounds) hit four key free throws, and every Knight did his part as Neumann won its fifth straight game and showed how dangerous it can be going forward.

This was not just a great win, but a character win. Players like Kane Meixel (8 points), Zaidyn Diehl-Romano (7 points, 7 rebounds), Avery Taddeo and Conner Haswell came up huge in key spots and Neumann snapped Sullivan’s six-game winning streak with a blend of skill and will.

“It was a big win for us. Everybody chipped in. That our leading scorer has 10 points and we can get a win shows everyone played together, and we figured it out together as a team,” Roskowski said. “It’s the first game of the year I can say we finished strong when it was close. We had some close ones that we really didn’t execute well in. The fact that we executed was huge tonight and I’m proud of every single player.”

“We overcame so much adversity. Down at the half, not getting calls that we wanted, people in foul trouble … It was a statement game,” Brister said. “We lost to Muncy and South and they beat Muncy and South. It’s definitely a statement win. We’re turning our season around.”

Brister is helping spin that wheel.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Jahki Brister (33) looks to pass around Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) and Cayden Smithkors (34) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

The 6-foot-2 forward played at Williamsport the first three years but has adapted well at Neumann and keeps surging. He is a versatile threat and Brister unloaded his toolbox against Sullivan. He scored 13 second-half points, doing so off a 3-pointer, in the post, in transition and off the dribble. He also provided quality post defense, dealt three assists and provided a lift with both his play and words.

Constantly keeping the team upbeat during timeouts and at halftime, Brister turned words into actions and made 4 of his 5 fourth quarter shots. He scored six straight Neumann points after a Thompson runner and Meixel 3-pointer put Neumann up five. Brister’s baseline drive had Neumann leading, 46-40 with 2 minutes, 27 seconds remaining as he consistently answered whenever Sullivan started generating momentum.

It seemed fitting that Brister then made the play which clinched victory. Following a missed Neumann free throw, Brister pulled down the board and scored off a putback, giving the Knights a 51-44 advantage in the final 10 seconds.

“With Daiton and Legend being in foul trouble, I knew I had to step up,” Brister said. “I started off really slow, but I knew my team needed me, so I started doing what I needed to. I’m thankful to my teammates for getting me the shots I needed.”

All those teammates made massive contributions. When Thompson, averaging 21 points per game, exited with his third foul late in the third quarter, Neumann was down nine. When Dillard (7 points, 4 rebounds), averaging 11, picked up his third seven minutes before halftime it was six. Instead of folding, Neumann pulled together.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) looks to pass around St. John Neumann's Jahki Brister (33) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

Diehl-Romano scored seven points in a five-minute span, banking in a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game. Taddeo also hit a 3-pointer which made it a one-point contest and Brister tied it, 25-25. Yes, Sullivan scored the half’s final four points and pushed the lead to seven in the third quarter, but the way it battled in that second quarter provided a turning point, convincing Neumann it could overcome anything.

“Just knowing nothing was going our way, we felt like we were right where we needed to be being down four at halftime without Daiton and Legend,” Brister said. “We knew this was a game we had to win and we played our hearts out the whole game.”

So did Sullivan.

The Griffins struggled to finish around the basket and shot 29.5 % from the field, as well as 6 of 21 at the foul line. And still, they gave themselves opportunities down the stretch. Tucker Blasi scored four quick points off free throws and a steal, cutting it to 49-44 with 32 seconds remaining.

Sullivan forced a quick turnover, one of few Neumann lost all night, but missed two close-range shots before Brister sealed victory with his last-second putback. More concerning than the misses was the way coach Glenn Vaughan saw some players’ body language change following them, translating to missed defensive and/or rebounding opportunities.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Jahki Brister (33) defends as Sullivan County's Colin King (12) looks to pass during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

At the end of the day, it was a frustrating loss against a rival but also provides Sullivan a learning opportunity. Build on that and the Griffins, who remain atop both the District 4 Class A and Mid-Penn East standings believe they can keep progressing.

“Our players are hurting right now but I think we have a good feel for how this loss doesn’t affect anything as far as the big picture goes as long as we learn from our mistakes,” Vaughan said. “We have to move forward and, hopefully, this disappointment tonight will make us better.”

Blasi produced a defensive masterpiece in defeat. Drawing the unenviable tasks of guarding Thompson and then Brister in the second quarter when Thompson was out, the senior leader dazzled. He surrendered just one field goal against those excellent players when defending them, adding five rebounds and two steals.

Blasi, who will play baseball at Penn State-Harrisburg, consistently stayed in front of his man, rarely let him get near the basket and forced them into taking tough shots. It was a fabulous performance but also one Sullivan has grown accustomed to.

“Tucker is a heck of a defender. Most of the time he’s the guy,” Vaughan said. “You tell him here’s their best guy, here’s their tendencies, so try to do what you can to limit him and he did that tonight.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Jahki Brister (33) shoots over the head of Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

Colin King pulled down 11 rebounds for Sullivan and Cayden Smithkors had 11 points with eight rebounds. Six players scored by early in the second quarter when Lucas King hit a jumper which made it, 16-7. Neumann was down but far from out.

A team which has shown large growth since starting 3-6 came fighting back. Doing both provided the latest chapter in one of the area’s best small school rivalries while also shining a light on what Neumann could do going forward if this was just a start.

“They’re all contributing. They don’t necessarily have to score, as much as play defense and make good decisions when you have the ball and everyone did that,” Roskowski said. “That’s a huge win and every player stepped up.”

SULLIVAN (44)

Lucas King 2 0-4 4, Tucker Blasi 3 2-5 8, Cayden Smithkors 5 1-6 11, Colin King 2 0-0 4, Jaiden Moore 1 0-2 2, Ryan Murray 2 3-4 7, Calen Sweigart 1 0-0 2, Dom Marotti 2 0-0 6. Totals 18 6-21 44.

NEUMANN (51)

Daiton Thompson 3 4-10 10, Jahki Brister 7 1-2 16, Legend Dillard 2 3-6 7, Kane Meixel 3 0-0 8, Conner Haswell 0 0-0 0, Zaidyn Diehl-Romano 3 0-0 7, Avery Taddeo 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 8-18 51.

Sullivan 16 13 6 9–44

Neumann 9 16 10 16–51

3-pointers: Sullivan 2 (Marotti 2); Neumann 5 (Meixel 2, Brister, Diehl-Romano, Taddeo).

Records: Neumann 8-6. Sullivan 12-3.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Daiton Thompson (1) brings the ball past Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Connor Haswell (2) pulls a rebound away from Sullivan County's Ryan Murray (20) and Dom Marottil (24) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Legend Dillard (3) eyes a shot around Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) and Colin King (12) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Daiton Thompson (1) brings the ball downcourt past Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) and Dom Marotti (24) during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Daiton Thompson (1) falls over Sullivan County's Jaiden Moore (21) while defending the basket during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann's Daiton Thompson (1) is fouled by Sullivan County's Dom Marotti (24) as he brings the ball downcourt during a high school boys basketball game at St. John Neumann Regional Academy on Saturday. Neumann won 51-44.