What a climb this team has made and what a story it has authored. The book remains unfinished, but the most exciting chapter yet was written Friday. It was the culmination of a two-year journey and the gold medals around their necks validated all the work put forth.

Lewisburg now is King of the Mountain. It is District 4’s best Class AAAA team.

Cooper Mowry scored 19 points, Cortland Michaels dealt four fourth quarter assists and Rebira Jemana sparked a swarming defense, helping Lewisburg fight off a furious Montoursville rally to capture the district championship with a riveting 56-53 victory. The Dragons (21-4) secured their first district title since 2022 and won their 16th straight game while winning a heavyweight battle which Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed would proudly endorse.

“My grand kids will get tired of hearing this story. I’ll tell it every day,” Jemana said after scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds. “All the time we put in, all the work and dedication that we gave to this hit me. We really did it and all the work paid off.”

Montoursville and Lewisburg react to the final score as Lewisburg wins 56-53 at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Lewisburg will continue working next Friday when it plays District 3’s Big Spring in its state tournament opener at a District 4 site. Montoursville (18-7) also will be nearby, facing District 2’s Valley View.

But Friday was a moment for players and coaches to savor both a wonderful achievement and journey. All had their fingerprints upon the success, too, with Michaels (5 steals, five rebounds) dealing eight assists, LJ Tucker going for 11 points and five rebounds and Nazir Meredith scoring five fourth quarter points. Jaylen Walker shined off the bench as well, pulling down four first-half rebounds.

Lewisburg needed every ounce of production and guts against a Montoursville team which delivered a valiant performance and nearly forced overtime after trailing by nine with 90 seconds remaining. Ultimately, how hard it had to compete made Lewisburg’s championship feel even more rewarding.

“To come out on top in such a close championship game means a lot,” Mowery said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was playing in third and fourth grade, and watching the older guys win it in 2022. Now that I’m here with this (gold medal) around my neck it feels amazing.”

“Montoursville didn’t quit. Even when we were up nine in the last couple minutes, they fought to make it what it was,” Lewisburg coach Leon Tucker said. “All the credit to them for pushing us, but it was so good that we’ve been tested, so we knew what we had to do to get over the hump. We did that tonight and it’s just a great feeling.

Isaac Erlandson of Montoursville tries to reach for the ball as Jaylen Walker of Lewisburg tips it to a team mate at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Nobody gave it to us, we earned it.”

Montoursville made Lewisburg do so the hardest way possible. Lewisburg rallied from an early six-point deficit, led by three at halftime and scored the final five points in the third quarter to take a 41-36 advantage. The lead grew to nine and victory seemed imminent with 90 seconds left, but Montoursville displayed its character and stormed back.

Elijah Eck banked in a 3-pointer, Shea Ulmer scored off a drive and Eck buried another trey before Cam Cintron scored of a putback. Just like that, the Warriors trailed just 55-53 with 10 seconds remaining. Michaels hit the first of two free throws following Montoursville’s final timeout before Eck grabbed the rebound off a missed second shot. He sprinted downcourt and attempted a long 3-pointer, but it was off the mark. Kingston Fisher then nearly made a miraculous game-tying shot, winging it while falling down near the Montoursville bench but it rimmed out as time expired.

As it did, Lewisburg students stormed the court, joining jubilant players as nearly all literally jumped for joy. The dream was nice, but the reality hit even better.

“Honestly, for a second it didn’t even register,” Jemana said. “Once that buzzer went off, the feeling was just unreal.”

Elijah Eck of Montoursville and Cortland Michaels of Lewisburg race after a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I don’t even know what I was feeling,” Mowry said. “I can’t even explain it.”

Montoursville takes home silver medals but delivered a gold medal effort. Even on a night when they went cold for long stretches, the Warriors never backed down and kept rallying throughout the second half, culminating with the frantic late push.

Like Lewisburg, Montoursville has made a big turnaround, going from 11-12 last year to reaching both its first district championship and state tournament in six years. Friday’s result does not diminish what the team has done either.

“There’s no disappointment in the effort, none at all,” Montoursville coach Mike Mussina said. “We had a shot. We gave them our best shot, and we couldn’t make enough shots and came up just a little short. We just needed one or two things to go our way, and it just didn’t work out, but we get to keep playing, so we’ll see what we can do.”

Montoursville did a lot at times against Lewisburg, putting together a spirited effort to try and beat a team which took two close games during the regular season. Ulmer scored 14 points, sophomore Isaac Erlandson was in beast mode, going for 11 points and 10 rebounds and Fisher nearly went for a double-double, totaling eight points with 11 rebounds. Eck scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter and added four assists, while Cintron scored five of his eight points in the fourth.

Shea Ulmer of Montoursville puts up a shot against Lewisburg at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Warriors started strong and led 12-6 following a Brennen Imbro jumper less than six minutes into the game. An Ulmer floater, Cintron drive and Ulmer to Fisher connection gave Montoursville a 23-20 lead with 5 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the first half as it scored on three straight possessions. The Warriors, however, would miss their next 13 shots bridging the middle quarters and did not score again until Erlandson turned a block shot into a coast-to-coast drive, a drought which covered 8:02.

Yet Montoursville was only down three at that point and tied the game three times later in the quarter, the last at 36-36 on a nifty Erlandson post move. LJ Tucker countered with a 3-pointer a possession later and Mowry found Jemana inside, making it, 41-36 entering the fourth.

While one door closed on Montoursville Friday, another opens next Friday. The goal now is taking the lessons learned from the district final and trying to parlay them into something equally impressive at states.

“When we get back it later, they’ll realize we’re playing in the state tournament and this is a big deal,” Mussina said. “Obviously, that doesn’t happen every year. I’m sure eventually we’ll be ready to go.”

Lewisburg pushed the fourth quarter lead to nine on three occasions, Tucker scoring off a putback before Michaels connected with Jemana and Meredith to make it 52-43 with 90 seconds left.

Isaac Erlandson of Montoursville has his shot blocked by Rebira Jemana of Lewisburg at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

It felt like the championship party was about to begin but Montoursville fought on. It took Lewisburg continuing to fight equally hard to hold it off. Michaels continued his dazzling freshman season by showing veteran maturity with two free throws at the 43-second mark which made it, 54-48. Meredith hit another key foul shot to make it a two-score game with 21 seconds remaining before Michaels added the last, capping the scoring.

Montoursville turned up the heat, but Lewisburg stayed cool. A team which traveled to Harrisburg and Liberty College throughout the offseason at the start of its journey made sure its District 4 ride ended in triumph.

“We have a theme and it’s ‘Together.’ We say that when we break every huddle,” Coach Tucker said. “Us coming together was the difference between the last two years and the team we are this year. Our team exemplified that.”

The journey continues, but whatever awaits, these players know they will be linked together forever. The gold medals will be stored away, but the memories of becoming champions will never fade. Oh, the stories they can tell.

“Having this to put in the trophy case after all the hard work we’ve put in is amazing,” Mowry said. “I was telling another guy I’ll probably get the TV tape, and I’ll be showing my kids this.”

MONTOURSVILLE (53)

Shea Ulmer 6 1-2 14, Cam Cintron 3 1-2 8, Kingston Fisher 4 0-0 8, Elijah Eck 4 0-0 10, Isaac Erlandson 5 1-2 11, Brennen Imbro 1 0-0 2, Jay Houseknecht 0 0-0 0, Zack Neill 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 3-6 53.

LEWISBURG (56)

Cooper Mowry 6 3-4 19, LJ Tucker 4 0-0 11, Cortland Michaels 2 3-4 7, Nazir Meredith 3 1-2 7, Rebira Jemana 6 0-0 12, Jaylen Walker 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 7-10 56.

Montoursville 17 6 13 17–53

Lewisburg 15 11 15 15–56

3-pointers: Montoursville 4 (Eck 2, Ulmer, Cintron); Lewisburg 7 (Mowry 4, Tucker 3).

Records: Lewisburg 21-4. Montoursville 18-7.

Shea Ulmer of Montoursville puts up a shot against Lewisburg at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Cam Cintron of Montoursville puts up a jumpshot against Lewisburg at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Elijah Eck of Montoursville has his shot blocked by Rebira Jemama of Lewisburg at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Isaac Erlandson of Montoursville and Rebira Jemama of Lewisburg dive for a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Cam Cintron of Montoursville has his shot blocked by Leon Tucker of Lewisburg at Shikellamy High School. Lewisburg won 56-53 to win the District IV AAAA Champions. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette