That unselfish mindset transfers well to the basketball court. So do all the skills which make Lamper a standout Muncy football player.

Utilizing his strength, agility, balance and tenacity, Lamper is bursting onto the scholastic basketball scene and helped Muncy dominate the second half Monday against Montgomery as the Indians won, 68-33. Lamper collected his second double-double, going for 12 points and 11 rebounds in less than three quarters as the Indians (9-3, 4-0) broke open a close game with a 30-7 third quarter ambush and remained undefeated in league play.

“In the summer we do a lot of stuff to help us prepare for basketball and football. I think the two sports help you all the way around,” Lamper said. “It translates. Basketball helps football and football helps basketball. For basketball the footwork, especially playing o-line translates a lot.”

So does the physicality which has helped Lamper become a two-time first team NTL-II lineman. Lamper is not the tallest post player, but he’s one of the strongest and dominated the boards at times, nearly generating that double-double by halftime when Muncy led, 28-19.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Dominic Guardini (14) shoots over Montgomery's Parker Bennett (10) in the first quarter.

He did not play varsity last season, but the junior forward is becoming a weapon and can open up the perimeter as well. His emergence is helping Muncy hit its stride, and the Indians have won three straight.

“You have to pay attention to him. You can’t ignore him,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “He’s not the tallest kid in the world, but he’s strong as an ox. He’s going to work his butt off for you.”

That’s a quality shared throughout the roster and Muncy received strong contributions from starters and reserves. Dominic Guardini had 15 points and six rebounds; Kyran Lisembee eight steals, Jaxton Frantz four assists and Jermain Morgan nine points off the bench.

Guardini and Lisembee started for Muncy’s District 4 Class AA finalist last year and Frantz was strong off the bench. Lamper was more of an unknown coming into the season but his approach as much as his skill have helped him fit the rotation like a glove.

Lamper scored four quick points starting the third quarter as Muncy continued building on an 11-0 run it made to close the first half. He had his double-double early in the third and Muncy’s flurry reached 19 straight points before Damaj Stewart Williams hit a 3-pointer to stop the bleeding.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Jermain Morgan (23) drives around Montgomery's Greg Drake (1) in the fourth quarter.

“When you have great players around you to give you opportunities that makes it a lot easier,” Lamper said. “It’s just playing. The more you play, the better you get. Even last year in JV I made the most of the opportunity.”

It certainly is showing. Lamper put together a dominant performance in an early season comeback win at St. John Neumann when he erupted for 21 points and 17 rebounds. His role, however, can change depending on the matchup since Muncy goes nine deep.

Whatever the case, whatever he is asked, Lamper is eager to embrace that role. That team-first approach permeates the roster and is making Muncy more dangerous as the season continues.

“If Gresh says that I play two minutes, I play two minutes. If he says I play the whole game I can play the whole game,” Lamper said. “I’ll do whatever the team needs.”

“The thing that you’re most proud of is he’s willing to come out and do what’s necessary to win,” Gresh said. “He came out and made his presence felt immediately tonight. He’s just a great kid. He’s willing to do what it takes to win.”

Montgomery's Greg Drake (1) and Muncy's Dylan Mausteller (24) collide while going for a pass in the fourth quarter.

Muncy put stifling defense at the top of its winning priority list against Montgomery and put on a fabulous display in the third quarter. There, the Indians forced 13 turnovers and turned a hard-fought, close game into a rout. Seven players scored and the defense turned almost all those turnovers into points and/or quality scoring opportunities.

It was a scene which seemed unlikely throughout the game’s first 12 minutes. Montgomery played its own strong man-to-man defense and took the lead three times in the second quarter, going up for the last time, 19-17 on a Parker Bennett putback four minutes until halftime.

Bennett scored 12 points, grabbed six rebounds and added three assists for Montgomery. Stewart Williams added eight points and Greg Drake seven with five rebounds.

It would be 5 ½ minutes after Bennett’s go-ahead basket, though, before Montgomery scored again and defense repeatedly turned into offense as Muncy wreaked havoc with its full-court press. The Indians finished with 18 steals and four straight Bohdy Thomas points imposed the mercy rule with 80 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

“Mentally, it starts wearing on the other team. That’s why we press,” Gresh said. “That’s why we’ve done it for so many years. That’s what we’re going to do. It’s who we are. It’s in our DNA. It’s just a matter of figuring out what press works for this team, and which press works from game to game and staying after it.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Parker Bennett (10) drives between Muncy's Gavin Barrows (1) and Eli Brown (10) in the second quarter.

Scoring balance has been a Muncy staple over the years and that also shined through against Montgomery. The Red Raiders made slowing Frantz a priority and limited him to six points, but that created opportunities for his teammates and Frantz did a nice job finding them as four players scored at least eight points.

The bench played a big role, too, especially late in the first half. Carter Feigles drained a 3-pointer before Dylan Mausteller grabbed a rebound, went the length of the court and made a snap pass to Frantz who drained a 3-pointer and foul shot, capping a four-point play which made it, 28-19 at halftime.

“That’s the story of this team,” Gresh said. “You can’t focus on one guy. We’re not a one-man team. People can think that, but that’s not what it’s going to be.”

MONTGOMERY (33)

Parker Bennett 5 1-3 12, Damaj Stewart Williams 3 0-0 8, Greg Drake 2 2-8 7, Jace Hanford 2 0-0 4, Ethan Tupper 1 0-0 2, Chase Bennett 0 0-0 0, Cam Wilver 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 3-11 33.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Dominic Guardini (141 shoots over Montgomery's Greg Drake (1) in the first quarter.

MUNCY (68)

Jaxton Frantz 2 1-1 6, Dominic Guardini 7 1-1 15, Nixon Lamper 7 0-4 14, Jermain Morgan 3 1-2 9, Kyran Lisembee 4 0-0 8, Dylan Mausteller 1 0-0 3, Gavin Barrows 2 0-0 4, Carter Feigles 2 0-0 5, Bohdy Thomas 1 2-2 4. Totals 29 5-10 68.

Montgomery 9 10 7 7–33

Muncy 13 15 30 10–68

3-pointers: Montgomery 4 (Stewart Williams 2, Bennett, Drake); Muncy 5 (Morgan 2, Frantz, Mausteller, Feigles).

Records: Muncy 9-3, 4-0 Mid-Penn. Montgomery 3-7, 1-3.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Jaxton Frantz (11) drives around Montgomery's Greg Drake (1) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Nixon Lamper (44) shoots over Montgomery's Parker Bennett (10) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Gavin Barrows (1) and Kyran Lisembee (5) put pressure on Montgomery's Pamaj Stewart-Williams (5) for a turn over in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Dominic Ghardini (14) drives around Mongtomery's Parker Bennett (10) in the first quarter.