Oh yeah, Tucker’s father Leon Tucker is also Lewisburg’s basketball coach. So, father labeling son a one-dimensional player fueled LJ’s competitive fire. Now he is proving his father wrong and Leon could not be happier.

LJ Tucker continues expanding his game and the sophomore scored 20 points seemingly every way possible Saturday at Montoursville, helping Lewisburg win a big midseason game, 50-42 and take over first place in the HAC-II. Tucker added four rebounds and three steals, Nazir Meredith grabbed 15 rebounds and Lewisburg (8-4, 3-0) played excellent defense as it won its third straight game, two coming against the top ranked District 4 Class AA teams.

“Last year, he said I was a one-dimensional player and that really got to me,” LJ said. “This entire summer and fall and in practice, I’ve been working really hard on getting down hill; getting to the basket as much as possible and not just settling for outside shots.”

Elijah Eck opened the game with a 3-pointer, but Lewisburg never trailed after that and Tucker ignited a game-changing 11-0 run which closed the third quarter and put the Dragons ahead, 40-28. Rebira Jemana pulled down seven rebounds, Cooper Mowry three and Cortland Michaels added three assists as Lewisburg gained an early advantage in the race for the league title.

Kingston Fisher of Montoursville puts up a shot against Lewisburg at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Tucker was a big reason why. The 6-foot-1 sophomore played in every game last year, mostly as a reserve and flashed his potential. He went back to the lab in the offseason, kept improving his game and, while the evolution is not yet complete, he is becoming quite a handful.

“He’s become a threat at all three levels,” Leon Tucker said. “I trust him because even though he’s young, he’s gotten a ton of experience and he makes good decisions.”

That certainly was true at Montoursville. Tucker scored 10 first quarter points as Lewisburg built an 18-14 lead in what looked like may become a high-scoring game. That still looked possible when the Dragons led 27-24 at halftime but both teams went cold in the third quarter.

Still, Montoursville clawed within one on two Cam Cintron free throws just passed the quarter’s midway point. Then, in seemingly an instant, Lewisburg caught fire.

Reserve Jack Siegel found Tucker on the wing and the sophomore buried a 3-pointer. Michaels scored off a drive and Siegel whipped a behind the back pass to Jaylen Walker which made it 36-28 as Lewisburg scored seven points in 52 seconds. Tucker capped the burst with a runner and Lewisburg took a 40-28 lead into the fourth quarter.

Kingston Fisher of Montoursville tries to block a shot by Nazir Meredith of Lewisburg at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Give credit to everyone. When that 3 went in and during that run, everyone was so hyped,” LJ Tucker said. “I feel like the more hyped our bench, is the better we play.”

Tucker, who also scored off a post-up move, kept Lewisburg hyped when he made a baseline drive and scored inside to make it, 44-33 early in the fourth. He then helped force two turnovers in the closing four minutes and added his third steal as Lewisburg fought off repeated Montoursville’s comeback attempts.

Talk about a multi-dimensional threat.

“He’s just growing,” Leon Tucker said. “I feel like what I’ve known has been there, everyone else is finally starting to see because it’s starting to show out on the floor.”

Montoursville (10-3, 2-1) was down, but not out. A Kingston Fisher 3-point play and Shea Ulmer 3-pointer twice cut the deficit to eight midway through the fourth quarter. An Ulmer steal and dish to Cam Cintron made it, 47-41 with 2:18 to go, but Lewisburg forced turnovers on the next two Warrior possessions before Mowry found Jemana inside and added a free throw to make it, 50-42 in the final 20 seconds.

Isaac Erlandson (4) and Elijah Eck (25) of Montoursville and Rebira Jemama (33) and Jaylen Walker (2) of Lewisburg all reach for a rebound at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Lewisburg played swarming defense, but Montoursville also was able to work for good shots. It just struggled finishing many and shot 30 % from the field, including 1 for 9 in the third quarter.

“Inside 3-4 feet we just couldn’t make it. Against a team like that, we have to make those,” Montoursville coach Mike Mussina said. “They’re extremely athletic. They’re quick and a really good basketball team. We need to do a better job keeping them off the boards. You put all those things together and that makes a difference.”

Eck scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds for Montoursville. Fisher made a run at a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, while Ulmer added nine points and Cintron four assists.

Montoursville never led after the game’s opening 90 seconds but also never trailed by more than five points until the third quarter. The Warriors play Lewisburg again in a few weeks and have another big game Monday against rival Loyalsock, so it’s all about looking ahead, not back.

“We have a lot more work to do. We have to play these games and learn from them and try and get better, but we can’t dwell on them,” Mussina said. “We have to turn around and play again Monday against a good Loyalsock team. We’re into the meat of the schedule here in January, so we have to stay after it and keep working and let it go.”

Kingston Fisher of Montoursville tries to block the shot by Rebira Jemama of Lewisburg at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Lewisburg has done that after navigating a demanding early-season schedule. Lessons learned in those first nine games have helped the Dragons hit their stride as the season starts barreling toward its stretch run. After winning, 66-47 at Mount Carmel, Lewisburg turned up the defense against a dangerous offense and allowed just 28 points over the final three quarters, holding Montoursville to its lowest total this season.

And while the offense heated up at times, it also encountered some cold stretches, especially late in the second quarter and into the third. But the defense remained constant as did the rebounding which Meredith ignited.

“They were laser-focused on what Montoursville did. We were very well prepared to do well and we battled,” Leon Tucker said. “They made a nice run there and that third quarter, holding them to four points, was huge for us. Our defense was amazing. We didn’t shoot the ball well but I think the game was won on the defensive end.

“That’s why we’re walking out of here victorious.”

LEWISBURG (50)

Elijah Eck of Montoursville drives to the basketball against Lewisburg at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Cooper Mowry 1 2-4 5, Nazir Meredith 3 3-5 9, LJ Tucker 8 1-2 20, Cortland Michaels 2 3-6 7, Rebira Jemana 3 1-2 7, Jaylen Walker 1 0-0 2, Jack Siegel 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 10-19 50.

MONTOURSVILLE (42)

Cam Cintron 2 2-2 6, Shea Ulmer 3 0-0 9, Kingston Fisher 4 1-3 9, Elijah Eck 4 4-5 13, Brennen Imbro 1 0-0 2, Isaac Erlandson 1 1-4 3, Zack Neill 0 0-0 0, Jay Houseknecht 0 0-0 0, Carson Menne 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 8-14 42.

Lewisburg 18 9 13 10–50

Montoursville 14 10 4 14–42

3-pointers: Lewisburg 4 (Tucker 3, Mowry); Montoursville 4 (Ulmer, Eck).

Records: Lewisburg 8-4, 3-0 HAC-II. Montoursville 10-3, 2-1.

Isaac Erlandson of Montoursville and Cooper Mowery of Lewisburg both reach for a loose ball at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kingston Fisher of Montoursville puts up a shot against Lewisburg at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Isaac Erlandson (center) of Montoursville and Cortland Michaels (left) and Leon Tucker (right) of Lewisburg all reach for a rebound at Montoursville High School. Lewisburg won, 50-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette