MONTGOMERY–Officially, Jaxton Frantz’s sophomore basketball season ended last March. Relatively speaking, it never really concluded. It simply bled into his junior campaign.

Because the working never stopped.

Frantz spent four nights a week in the gym, developing all aspects of his game. Now, the Muncy guard is filling up the stat sheet on a regular basis, becoming one of the area’s premier guards. That offseason training paid big dividends again Friday night at Montgomery and Muncy closed its regular season with a convincing win.

Frantz scored 12 points, made seven steals and dealt five assists as Muncy thumped Montgomery, 58-28. Dominic Guardini scored 15 points, Nixon Lamper grabbed 12 rebounds and Kyran Lisembee made seven steals as Muncy (16-6, 7-1 Mid-Penn) clinched a tie for the West Division championship.

If South Williamsport defeats Bucktail Saturday afternoon, it and Muncy will play for the title Monday at Millville. If Bucktail pulls the upset, Muncy would win the title outright. The division winner meets East champion Sullivan County next Saturday at Neumann for the conference crown.

“I worked with trainers, trying to focus on the game and focus on the shots that I need to take. I worked on developing the skills which have helped me build to where I am now,” Frantz said. “It was just different this summer. I had a different focus. It was important to come into the season with that same energy.”

It translated like a 1.21 jiga-watt bolt. After playing a key role off the bench a year ago, Frantz has become a well-rounded weapon who rarely leaves the court. His scoring average has gone up nearly 12 points and his assists and steals per game have increased by two each.

He can play either guard position and is as effective defensively or offensively, as a scorer or facilitator. Frantz was a little bit of all that against Montgomery as the Indians broke things open in the second quarter and built 33-14 halftime lead. Frantz concluded the first half with an assist to Guardini before invoking the mercy rule late in the third quarter with a steal and layup which made it, 54-23.

“He put the work in for sure, and it shows,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “It’s a big leap forward. It’s not unexpected to us because we saw it coming, but it may be a little more unexpected to everyone else in the league.”

The secret was out, however, early in the season. Frantz possesses speed and shooting range and that combination helped him open the season with 66 points in his first three games. Quickly, opponents started focusing their defensive game plans upon limiting Frantz as a scorer.

Sometimes, they have been successful. But that does mean they have stopped Frantz. He simply beats them in other ways.

Friday was a prime example. After scoring 34 points two nights earlier against Bucktail, Frantz took shots when they came his way but did a super job creating scoring opportunities for others.

So, while he did not score as much this time, Frantz was every bit as effective as he was the previous game. Put it together and he had a hand in 12 of Muncy’s first 17 points.

And after Montgomery (6-13, 1-6) pulled within three by the first quarter’s conclusion, Frantz helped Muncy step on the gas in the second and seize control as five players scored.

“It’s important to get my teammates the ball,” Frantz said. “We have other people on the team that can score and it’s important to be able to let them get them those shots and score.”

He averages 17.1 points per game, but it would be foolish to label Frantz a scorer because he does so much more. He simply is a player and rapidly has become a mighty good one.

“That’s key. You have to be an all-around player,” Gresh said. “Sure, he has nights where he goes off for whatever, but if you’re going to run some kind of junk defense or deny him or faceguard him, he will play the game the right way and that’s what you ask of him.”

Muncy has built an excellent program over the last 16 seasons based upon players embracing that mentality. It shined through again Friday with every player doing his part on both ends. Eight players scored, the swarming defense forced 25 turnovers and Muncy overcame a slow start to dominate the game’s final 28 minutes.

Montgomery led 4-1 early, but Muncy scored the next 10 points and never trailed again. After Parker Bennett (19 points) scored four points in eight seconds, the last off a James Godley steal, to close the first quarter, Muncy opened the second on a 10-0 run and held a double-digit margin the rest of the way.

While the offense started humming in the middle quarters, it was the defense which really changed the game’s complexion. Muncy allowed just nine field goals and just five in second and third quarters when it turned a close game into a rout.

“We take pride in defense,” Frantz said. “Our goal is usually 40-45 points and 28 is unreal for us. Defense is definitely a source of pride.”

So is balance and Muncy is receiving that from starters and reserves. Morgan continues blossoming in his junior year and added five rebounds with three steals to go along with his eight points. Eight players scored and Gavin Barrows and Carter Feigles were vital pieces of the defensive unit which squeezed the juice from Montgomery’s offense.

“That’s what we’re trying to instill in all of them,” Gresh said. “It doesn’t matter who scores as long as we score. It doesn’t matter who gets the stop as long as we get the stop. They bought in and we’ve gotten better each game.”

Bennett broke the program’s career scoring record and was honored during the pregame when previous record holder Scott Wertz presented him a ceremonial basketball. Another relentless worker, Bennett added three steals to go with his 19 points, and his brother Chase Bennett added seven boards.

Muncy could see Montgomery again in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals with either it or Cowanesque Valley its quarterfinal opponent. But right now, its attention turns to a potential showdown against South.

Whatever the result, it will be a valuable experience for several younger players who have not experienced significant postseason action before.

“They’re getting a playoff experience that they haven’t had prior to playoffs. You kind of get it out of your system,” Gresh said. “That’s fantastic, but it’s one game at a time. We prepare for South and then you look forward to what’s next (either Sullivan County or districts). The good news is that there is something next.”

MUNCY (58)

Jaxton Frantz 5 2-2 12, Dominic Guardini 4 6-8 15, Nixon Lamper 4 1-4 9, Kyran Lisembee 3 0-0 6, Gavin Barrows 1 0-0 2, Jermain Morgan 4 0-2 8, Carter Feigles 0 0-0 0, Dylan Mausteller 2 00-0 4, Caleb Beaver 1 0-0 2, Gavin Barrows 0 0-0 0, Bohdy Thomas 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 9-16 58.

MONTGOMERY (28)

Parker Bennett 7 5-7 19, Damaj Stewart Williams 0 1-2 1, James Godley 0 0-0 0, Greg Drake 1 0-0 3, Brody Denton 0 0-0 0, Cam Wilver 1 0-0 2, Hayden Denton 0 1-3 1, Dillon Johnson 0 2-2 2, Cody Sechrist 0 0-0, Chase Bennett 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 9-14 28.

Muncy 11 22 21 4–58

Montgomery 8 6 9 5–28

3-pointers: Muncy 1 (Guardini); Montgomery 1 (Drake).

Records: Muncy 16-6, 7-1 Mid-Penn. Montgomery 6-13, 1-6.