DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Ava Eyer and Alexis McKeta of Muncy try to take the ball from Hartley Crawford of Northwest at Montoursville High School. Muncy won 40-31.

Different sport, same mentality.

Big game experience is big game experience and Muncy possesses a lot. The five athletes who played Saturday’s District 4 Class AA semifinal against Northwest also started on last fall’s soccer team which captured district gold and reached the state’s Final Four. They also all started and/or played crucial roles a year ago when Muncy repeated as district basketball champions.

So, when Northwest cut a 14-point third quarter deficit down Saturday at Montoursville, Muncy did not flinch. It was not its first rodeo, so Muncy refocused, stayed the course and pulled away, winning, 40-31. The Indians reached both Wednesday’s championship against Southern Columbia and a third straight state tournament.

“It (the experience) helps a lot, especially with what we did in soccer,” forward Alexis McKeta said after pulling down three crucial rebounds in the closing minutes. “We were all on that team, and we all know what we’re doing and we know what the big stage looks like. We were able to calm down.”

Doing so helped the two-time defending champions earn another golden opportunity. Anna Zalonis is a three-year starter, while younger sister Rosie and cousin Ava Eyer made the game-winning shots in the 2024 district championship against Northeast Bradford. McCormick shined off the bench a year ago, as did McKeta and all parlayed basketball success last winter into soccer success last fall.

Now, the cycle continues. Northwest defeated Muncy a week earlier for the Mid-Penn championship, but experience taught the Indians that it did not matter in the big picture. Instead of wondering what could have been, the team dialed in on what could be, understanding a bigger prize remained out there.

It was the same story a year ago in the same exact scenario with Muncy thumping Northwest in the semifinals a week after the Rangers had won the Mid-Penn. It looked like the Indians might win a blowout, but their response when times grew tough spoke volumes. This is a team as seasoned and tough as it is talented.

“We took a deep breath and said, ‘We know how do to this,'” McCormick said after scoring 11 points. “We got back into it.”

Anna Zalonis turned the tide, drilling a 3-pointer. Rosie Zalonis then made a steal and converted a coast-to-coast buzzer-beating layup which made it 26-17 entering the fourth. There, she found McKeta for a 3-point play which gave Muncy a 10-point advantage. Zalonis masterfully ran the offense down the stretch and she and Eyer combined for four late free throws, sealing victory.

Every player displayed her big game chops and each one made a big impact. Experience has taught this group that the only game; the only play that matters is the next one.

When it came Saturday, Muncy was ready. Now it’s on to the next one.

“Win or lose, it’s the next game. They’re just that kind of team,” Muncy coach Craig Weaver Sr. said. “I said Friday at practice, ‘I’m not concerned, so you shouldn’t be.’ They never complained. They did what was asked of them and they busted their butts and that’s the difference.”

SUBTLE CHANGES

Muncy was less than a second from beating Northwest in that Mid-Penn championship and had won the teams’ first encounter, 37-25 earlier this season. Therefore, the Indians were not reinventing the wheel when preparing for the semifinals rematch.

There were a few minor changes, but the biggest difference simply was that Muncy was a healthier team after having been ravaged by illness the previous week. Couple that with small adjustments and Muncy had Northwest struggling to score throughout the afternoon.

Defense changed the game’s complexion in the second quarter when Muncy allowed just two points and no field goals. The lead grew from three to 18-7 and the Indians had Northwest in catch-up mode from there. Unlike the previous week, Muncy rarely gave the Rangers clean 3-point looks and they managed just two after hitting seven in the Mid-Penn final.

In fact, take away that quick 8-0 burst that Northwest put together in less than three minutes during the third quarter and Muncy allowed just 23 points in 29 minutes. Over the past two seasons, it has limited Northwest to 46 points in both semifinals.

“I feel the defense won the ball game. They were shooting a lot of 3s (the previous game), but because we were able to do our assignment and be where we’re supposed to be it they didn’t get that (Ali) Miner 3 until late in the game,” Weaver said. “We corrected some things up to this game. We had a few little wrinkles we had to take care of and we took care of them and they applied them out here.”

BACK AGAIN

Hughesville and Loyalsock are hardly satisfied after winning their District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals last Friday, but both punched their state tournament berths. Loyalsock did so for a 10th straight season, downing Line Mountain, 58-21 and Hughesville for a third consecutive year, defeating Bloomsburg, 49-22.

The top four finishers advance to states, so both are assured of advancing. Loyalsock (17-7) plays Troy Wednesday at Mansfield University in the semifinls and Hughesville (22-3) plays Mount Carmel Wednesday at Milton.

Loyalsock and Hughesville both put together dominant first half performances to pave the way to the semifinals. The Lancers led, 41-15 at halftime and Hughesville, 37-12. Alaina Dadzie, Jaekairah Harden and Madison Perry all scored in double figures for Loyalsock, while five players scored at least six points for Hughesville.

UNDISPUTED

Maddie Smith is now Hughesville’s all-time scoring leader, period. The junior guard broke Chelsey Holmes’s girls record earlier this season and moved past 2009 graduate Rezin Davis for the school’s all-time record against Bloomsburg.

Smith scored 17 points and has 1,348 during her first three seasons at Hughesville.

DIFFERENT PLAYERS, SAME RESULT

Many might have dismissed Jersey Shore as a title contender after four players graduated from the most successful senior class in program history. Instead, returning starter Avery DePasqua was joined by a new group eager to make its mark.

The dedicated work ethic was passed down from past teams and Jersey Shore continues going strong, reaching its fourth straight District 4 Class AAAA semifinal after pounding Shamokin, 55-34 in the quarterfinals. Up next is a showdown against Mifflinburg in Wednesday’s semifinals at Danville.

Jersey Shore (14-9) received steady contributions throughout its rotation, building a 15-point halftime lead and using a big run late in the third quarter to land the knockout blow. DePasqua played one of her best high school games, while Gracelyn Frantz and Sadie Schall helped control the boards. Marlee Lehman scored 12 points and Kylie Schall led the team in assists.

SIMILAR STORY

Lewisburg also overcame odds to reach the semifinals for a fifth straight season. The Green Dragons were expected to return most of their starters but were dealt a devastating blow when point guard and all-state candidate Maddy Moyers tore her ACL last summer and was lost for the season.

Fellow 2025 HAC-II first team all-star Teagan Osunde also was sidelined for a while and Lewisburg was playing as many as five freshmen early this season. Through it all, the team kept progressing and earned its semifinal berth last Thursday with an impressive 35-17 win against Milton.

Lewisburg (12-11) faces five-time defending champion Central Columbia in the semifinals. Lauren Schwartz had 10 points and eight rebounds against Milton, while Addy Shedleski went for 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Osunde had six rebounds and three assists and freshman India Walker 10 points.

Dr. Masse’s top 5 rankings: 1. Hughesville (22-3); 2. Loyalsock (17-7); 3. Muncy (21-4); 4. Jersey Shore (14-9); 5. Lewisburg (12-11)

Players of the Week

Rosie Zalonis, Muncy and Avery DePasqua, Jersey Shore: It’s mystifying that Zalonis was not named a first team Mid-Penn all-star because she is one of the district’s premier point guards. The junior proved it again last week, totaling 34 points, 10 assists and six steals in wins against Cowanesque Valley and Northwest. Zalonis skillfully ran the offense throughout the second half against Northwest’s swarming defense, scored 10 fourth quarter points and was clutch at the foul line late.

DePasqua set the tone for Jersey Shore and excelled in all facets against Shamokin. In addition to scoring a career-high 21 points, she also grabbed six rebounds and made six steals. DePasqua has provided strong leadership all season and if that was her final home game last Thursday, she made it a memorable one.