However, in the game’s most pivotal sequence, the shots stopped falling.

After tying the game up at 54-54 with five minutes to go in the fourth, Central Mountain managed just two points through the next four minutes. The Indians (5-5) put together a 9-2 run within that span in response, dooming the Wildcats’ chances as they endured their fourth straight loss by a score of 66-60.

While there were silver linings considering Shamokin’s strength, the loss was excruciatingly disappointing for a team that’s struggled to maintain momentum through the last three weeks. For head coach Tyler Bardo, it was another winnable game that slipped through its fingers, not one which provided it with a moral victory.

“We’re a good program too, so we have to get away from that mindset where we stay competitive,” said Bardo. “We didn’t win the moments that we needed to win. It was a game between two good programs. It comes down to sequences, especially late, and we didn’t win those sequences.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Darius Shade (2) drives to the basket during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

Alongside the disappointment, it also induced a feeling of déjà vu. In a season where hot starts have become customary, often rendered moot, Central Mountain put together one of the hottest starts of its season.

An opening three from sophomore Collin Confer paved the way for a quarter that saw the Wildcats hit six treys. Darius Shade accounted for three of those, with the senior scoring 11 of his 19 points through the first.

His first three kicked off a 10-0 run that helped the Wildcats take a 14-5 lead after trailing early. And through the last two minutes of the stanza, Shade and Isah Dorman combined for three three-pointers that upped their lead to ten (23-13) – their largest lead of the night.

However, that pace proved unsustainable, as Central Mountain made just two more treys on the night and the Indians were able to quickly cut down that lead. Shamokin hit a three to cap the first, narrowed the gap to 24-21 through the first minute of the second and from there, the teams traded buckets, fouls, turnovers and eventually, leads.

The Indians took their first lead since early in the first with the opening basket of the third, and eight lead changes and five ties followed. The Wildcats never managed a quarter with more than 14 points after their 23-point first, and that ultimately cost them, as a 21-point fourth from Shamokin made the difference.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Collin Confer (23) takes a three-point shot during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

“It’s kind of a pattern for us to score in the 30s (by half), 40s (by the end of the third) and 60 (overall), and tonight, that trend continues,” said Bardo.

“We’ve definitely improved in some areas; we’re getting more shots in the paint or balance in terms of where shots are coming from. But now, we just have to put the sequences of offense-defense together at the times we need to.”

The performance still came with its fair share of positives. In a physical game that featured plenty of fouls, chaotic moments and potential swings in momentum, the Wildcats responded well, keeping what ended up being a thrilling game neck-and-neck for almost 16 minutes of game time.

In the third, Noah Wells, Blake Walker and Shade converted tough twos to help the team cap the stanza on a 6-0 run. And in the fourth, Shade hit his fourth three to open the quarter, giving the Wildcats a 49-45 lead. Noah Wells followed him up with another that ended a 6-0 run from Shamokin, giving Central Mountain its last lead of the night at 52-51, and Calen Hunter went 2-for-2 from the line to create the last tie at 54-54.

Alongside Shade’s 19 points, Wells (13) and Isah Dorman (10) each scored in double figures, with Dorman adding four assists and three rebounds. And Walker was strong across the board, scoring nine points, dishing three assists and leading the team in rebounds and steals with six of each.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Darius Shade (2) drives to the basket during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

“Nobody was able to sustain throughout the game but what we did a better job offensively was the group kind of picked up after each other,” said Bardo. “We got some good contributions across the board, and we certainly had some guys step up in different spots throughout the game.”

With the loss, the Wildcats dropped to 2-6 on the season and 0-1 in league play. They’ll look to bounce back and put an end to their four-game win streak on Wednesday when they face off against rival Jersey Shore on the road. That game is set for 7:30 p.m.

Shamokin 66, Central Mountain 60

SHAMOKIN (66)

Xavier Paul 6 1-5 13; Christian Koklinski 3 0-0 8; Cru Schroyer 5 2-3 12; Colin Steinhart 6 7-8 19; Barrett Walsh 2 0-0 6; Andrew Leffler 1 0-0 2; Nathan Kaleta 2 2-2 6. Totals 25 12-18 66.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Noah Wells (5) drives to the basket during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (60)

Blake Walker 4 0-0 9; Isah Dorman 4 1-2 10; Darius Shade 6 3-4 19; Noah Wells 5 2-4 13; Calen Hunter 2 2-6 6; Collin Confer 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 8-16 60.

Shamokin 16 17 12 21 – 66

C. Mountain 23 11 12 14 – 60

Three-pointers: Shamokin 4 (Koklinski 2, Walsh 2); Central Mountain 8 (Shade 4, Walker 1, Dorman 1, Wells 1, Confer 1).

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Blake Walker (0) works to get past a Shamokin defender during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

Records: Shamokin 5-5 (1-0 HAC-I); Central Mountain 2-6 (0-1 HAC-I).

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Isah Dorman (1) dribbles the ball during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Calen Hunter (11) prepares to shoot a free throw during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Noah Wells (5) takes a contest layup and draws a foul during a boys basketball game against Shamokin on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Central Mountain. The Wildcats fell 66-60.