Neeko Bowen of South Williamsport tries to steal the ball from Dominic Guardini of Muncy at South Williamsport High School Friday night. South won the game 64-57. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Although Muncy trailed most of the night against St. John Neumann, the one thing it never did was focus upon the scoreboard. It was all about the next play and the next opportunity.

Ultimately, that ability to play through the fire helped Muncy escape unscathed and produce one of its gutsiest wins this season. The Indians erased an early 12-point deficit before fighting back from six down with 2 ½ minutes remaining in regulation, edging Neumann, 57-55 in overtime Friday.

Muncy (14-6, 5-1) remained tied for first with the South Williamsport in the Mid-Penn’s West Division as a result. But in the big picture, probably more important, a junior-heavy team with just two starters back from last year showed it can shine when the pressure is highest in front of a packed gym.

“We don’t focus on the scoreboard. We just play our game. We didn’t let the score get us down,” Nixon Lamper said after scoring the game-winning basket off a putback with 19 seconds remaining. “We just kept fighting and fighting.”

Muncy did so the previous week at South in a similar environment, but the Mounties won that game and tied it for first. Afterward, coach Jason Gresh said how great it was for his younger players to experience a playoff-like atmosphere where the gym was filled well before tip-off.

The Neumann win validated those thoughts. Muncy never cracked when it appeared Neumann was on the verge of securing victory late. It did not flinch through four overtime lead changes. Gresh used 11 players and all made key impacts as Muncy made its Senior Night a memorable one.

“We needed a game like this to get us ready for the future. It was great to get a win in front of a big crowd,” Lamper said. “I think everybody that played tonight did a great job keeping their heads up. We didn’t let ourselves get down no matter what the situation was.”

“The gym was packed at South and it’s the first time we’ve been in that kind of environment with this team. Now, we turn around and do it again,” Gresh said. “It was a packed house and we encountered a lot of adversity and a lot of in-game decisions, and personnel changes and they handled it well.”

Gresh often preserves his timeouts, but exhausted them all in this wildly entertaining, heavyweight slugfest. What he saw during those timeouts assured him that his players were eager to embrace the moment. There was no panic, only only calm attentiveness.

Dominic Guardini scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds; Jaxton Frantz scored 12 points and Kyran Lisembee ignited the regulation-ending 6-0 run with a short jumper. Those three played a lot last year, but it was younger players like Jermain Morgan, Dylan Mausteller and Caleb Beaver among others delivering in crucial spots which shined a light on both the exciting Muncy present and future.

“They focused on every timeout. We locked in on what we were doing and what the game plan was,” Gresh said. “It’s a Senior Night these guys won’t forget.”

Again, the immediate payoff was staying in the hunt for a third straight division championship and all but officially locking up District 4 Class AA’s No. 2 seed. The longer term benefit is the obstacles Muncy overcame, including losing starting guard Gavin Barrows to a first-half injury.

Through all the ups and downs and ear-splitting noise, Muncy stayed cool under fire. The work continues and Muncy hopes to make some postseason noise. This remains a building project but Muncy certainly put down a vital layer in the foundation.

“We keep building and getting better,” Gresh said. “Just because we’re late in the season doesn’t mean the season is over. We’re trying to make adjustments and continue to grow as we move forward.”

LEAGUE UPDATES

Muncy and South each have one league loss against the other. Muncy plays Montgomery and Bucktail in its final two Mid-Penn games and South heads to Bucktail. If they remain tied following those games, there will be a division championship held next Monday, tentatively at Millville. In that scenario the winner would then play East champion Sullivan County the following Saturday, tentatively at Neumann.

Warrior Run and Lewisburg clinched the HAC-III and II championships, respectively while earning spots in the HAC Tournament next week at Shikellamy. Selinsgrove holds a one-game lead over Shamokin in the HAC-I with those two to play this week. Regardless of that result, both are in the driver’s seat to reach the tournament, either as co-champions are one as a champion and the other a wildcard.

PUTBACKS

Williamsport bounced back from a frustrating loss against Wilkes-Barre Saturday at Altoona, winning, 70-58. The Millionaires struggled at the line in their loss but came back strong, going 13 of 13 there at Altoona. Tevin Williams scored 25 points and went 4 of 4 at the stripe, while Kason Ulmer scored 14 points. Williamsport (8-9) is second in the District 2-4 Class AAAA standings and hosts Tyrone tonight … Daiton Thompson scored 48 points in Neumann’s heartbreaking defeats against South and Muncy, adding five assists at Muncy. Jahki Brister had 13 points and 18 rebounds in that game … Monte Whitehead scored 20 points and Ryder Route 15 as a young Canton team won its first game, defeating Williamson, 49-39 … North Penn-Liberty’s Evan McTish produced three double-doubles in four games last week, averaging 16.3 points and 12.7 rebounds as the Mounties (12-7) clinched a playoff berth. Conner Lewis has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 11 straight games and had a double-double of 11 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals in Saturday’s 67-25 win against Sayre … North Penn-Mansfield (11-7) also clinched a playoff spot, avenging a previous loss against rival Wellsboro. After going for 26 points and 15 rebounds against Williamson, Jason Harer stayed hot and had 21 points with 14 rebounds and seven blocks against the Hornets. Andy Hermansen added 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists and five steals … Before dropping a back-and-forth game at Southern Columbia, Loyalsock defeated rival Hughesville, 61-48. Brecken Gusick scored 17 points, Saoj Jones 16 and Jalil Coates 14 for the Lancers (12-7) … Jersey Shore produced 26 assists on 32 field goals in Saturday’s 81-51 win against Midd-West. Jacob Lorson had nine assists and 12 points, Khani McCray 16 points and six assists, Carson Watkins 14 points with five rebounds and Ty McDermit 12 points. Jersey Shore also made 21 steals.

Dr. Masse’s Top Five

1. Warrior Run (18-1): Warrior Run secured its first outright league title of the 2000s last week, defeating Mifflinburg and Hughesville. The Defenders shared the crown with Mifflinburg a year ago and its 18 wins are tied for the most in the regular season by a Warrior Run team in the 2000s. Point guard James Keifer scored 40 points in the victories and Ethan Balzer had a double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds) in a potential playoff preview against Mifflinburg. Guard Carter Sheesley provides a spark and helped set the early tone in Friday’s title-clinching win at Hughesville, scoring a career-high 15 points. Warrior Run has a big game tonight heading to Southern Columbia for a showdown between the top two-ranked teams in District 4 Class AAA.

2. Lewisburg (14-4): Lewisburg faced some setbacks earlier this season, starting 5-4 while navigating a demanding non-conference schedule. They turned those negatives into a big positive and are the program’s first outright league champion since 2011.

“The last two years, being at the PHACs for three straight days as a spectator has sucked,” said Lewisburg coach Leon Tucker, whose daughter Jada plays for Central Columbia which had been there both times. “We set a goal that we thought we were good enough to get there ourselves. After every loss, I kept saying to the guys our goals are still within reach. We may have lost a game but our goals are still within reach.”

Lewisburg has attained one of those, but still wants more after winning a 68-60 grudge match with Montoursville and defeating Danville, 78-45. It moves forward with a well-rounded group, including five starters averaging eight or more points per game.

3. Montoursville (14-6): Montoursville gave Lewisburg all it could handle on its home court Tuesday in a fantastic, back-and-forth game. The Warriors are heating up at the right time, winning three of their last four. They host Mount Carmel tonight as both are locked in a fight for the No. 3 seed, with a shot at No. 2 as well, in 4A. Senior Shea Ulmer enjoyed a strong week, scoring 39 points at Lewisburg and in a 67-38 win against Milton. All seven seniors scored on Senior Night there and all 13 players lined the scoring column in a strong team effort. Sophomore Cam Cintron has enjoyed a strong year starting for the first time and had 17 points and three steals at Lewisburg.

4. Sullivan County (16-3): Sullivan County has won four straight games and earned a spot in its first Mid-Penn Conference title game since the league started holding them again a few years ago. The Griffins also have a stranglehold on the top seed in District 4 Class A entering the regular season’s final two weeks. Lucas King scored 21 points in Friday’s 61-25 win against CMVT, going 9 of 14 from the field after scoring 12 points with six rebounds and steals in a 67-48 victory against Millville before scoring 22 points on 9 of 11 shooting in Saturday’s 73-13 win against Northwest. Tucker Blasi (15) and Cayden Smithkors (12) made 11 of 15 shots in that win and the Griffins allowed just three points over the final three quarters.

5. South Williamsport (14-4): One of the district’s most improved teams from the start of the season till now, South has won nine straight games and, like Muncy, rallied to win a thriller against Neumann, edging it on the road, 72-68 last Tuesday. Andrew Walter scored 19 points against his former team and Chance Quimby 16. Quimby has developed into one of the area’s premier point guards and had eight points, seven rebounds and five assists in Friday’s 76-47 win at Montgomery. South is fighting with Loyalsock and Mifflinburg for the No. 4 seed in the 3A field and a first-round home game. It has another test tonight against defending District 4 Class A champion North Penn-Liberty.

Players of the Week

Levi Butler, South and Cooper Mowry, Lewisburg: What Butler did Friday was not just impressive, but showcased his resilience. After his grandparents were involved in a fire and life flighted to Lehigh Valley Hospital Wednesday morning, Butler offered them a powerful tribute, scoring 31 points at Montgomery. This, after his younger brother Judah had 15 points in the JV game. Butler also excelled against Neumann, scoring 23 points to continue his big junior year. Mowry battled injuries throughout the first half of the season. Now he is pain free and inflicting pain upon opponents. Mowry scored 46 points against Montoursville and Danville, igniting a fourth quarter rally Tuesday with nine quick fourth quarter points. He also made five steals in those wins and grabbed six rebounds at Danville.

Game of the Week

Loyalsock at Williamsport: It’s the annual Backyard Brawl battle between two of the area’s most tradition-laden programs Saturday at the Magic Dome. This series has swung like a pendulum the last few years with Williamsport reclaiming bragging rights a a year ago at Loyalsock. Both teams are trying to build postseason momentum, but come on. Does that matter? The bottom line is these teams and their fans desperately want to win this game because of the rivalry, so buckle up.

–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse