The ability to produce those numbers has helped Muncy win a lot. And the Muncy guard has proven he can impact a game whether scoring, facilitating or defending. Tuesday night it happened to be scoring.

More than ever.

After flirting with 30 points a few times the past two seasons, Frantz scored a career-high 30 and added five steals, helping Muncy defeat Cowanesque Valley, 63-41 in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals. Nixon Lamper produced a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), Nate Rogers made a quality impact in his season debut, and the Indians (17-7) reached the semifinals for a fifth straight year.

Muncy will face either Line Mountain or Montgomery in Saturday’s semifinals at a place and time to be determined.

Dominic Guardini of Muncy puts up a shot against Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It’s just making those extra chippies, those layups and an extra free throw here or there. That was a good feeling, and it paid off,” Frantz said. “Having our home gym and home atmosphere, it was just amazing to have that performance in front of everyone.”

Frantz has put together several strong performances regardless of where Muncy has played this season. After excelling as a reserve last season, Frantz has flourished as a starter, playing either guard position and frequently carving up defenses in multiple ways.

Like many opponents, CV opened face-guarding Frantz. But if the goal is slowing him as a scorer, Frantz can make the strategy backfire and quickly find the open man as he did to Lamper multiple times as Muncy went ahead, 12-8.

It’s become kind of a pick your poison type of dilemma and Frantz made either choice lethal against CV. Shooting economically, Frantz converted 10 of his 16 attempts, including five 3-pointers. He also turned most of his steals into points and Muncy led from early in the first quarter on.

“He’s more than just a shooter. He’s a willing passer. He has games where if guys are going to face-guard him he’s going to find the open guy and make the right basketball play,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “He’s going to do the things we ask him to do, and he’s worked hard to get to the point where he knows where he knows what the right basketball play is.

Caleb Beaver of Muncy puts up a hook shot over the defense of Josh Teague of Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“He’s extremely smart and the work ethic and intelligence to go with the ability is starting to really show.”

Frantz attacked the basket early and that helped open up the perimeter more as did Lamper’s presence inside. Frantz drained two 3-pointers 10 seconds apart in the second quarter, then went 11 of 12 from the field and line in the second half as all aspects of his game came together.

A Frantz 3-pointer off a Rogers steal put Muncy ahead 51-28 entering the fourth quarter and capped a 24-10 run after CV had closed within nine at halftime. Muncy gave CV fits with its defense throughout the second half and Frantz reached 30 when he made a steal and layup. Seconds later he whipped a pass Lamper’s way and Muncy went ahead, 63-36.

“We probably had 15 points off steals and those are game-changing points,” Frantz said. “We were told to come out with a lot of energy those first three minutes of the third quarter and we had that energy the whole quarter. We stayed with it and kept the energy, and it paid off with the defense making more of an impact than the offense did.”

Rogers played an especially crucial role there. A workhorse starter the past two seasons, the versatile junior missed the entire regular season after sustaining a Week 10 football injury last fall.

Muncy Jason Gresh talks with his team during a time out against Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

His return boosts an already deep team, and Rogers made quite a splash for a player taking the hardwood for the first time in nearly a year. He made five steals and added three deflections which led to steals. Rogers also dealt two assists.

“He’s always been a good defensive player,” Frantz said. “He gets steals, blocks and he does all the important things. It’s good to have him back.”

Rogers scored his first four points during the second half, but it was more about the points he created. Those steals and deflections helped Muncy start breaking the game open. And, almost immediately after entering in the first quarter, Rogers made an impact when he grabbed an offensive rebound which extended a possession.

In fact, all three Rogers rebounds against CV were offensive. Those are the little plays which make a big difference at this time of year. The little intangibles Rogers provides certainly gives Muncy a big boost.

“The stuff that goes unnoticed is we have a turnover and on the next possession, the ball gets in Nate’s hands and he’s calm with it,” Gresh said. “He’s not rushing into it. He calms everyone down. He’s a calming presence because he’s been there before. Having him back is huge.”

Jaxton Frantz of Muncy is fouled by Levi Stahli of Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Josh Teague scored eight points for CV (8-15) and Jacob Johnson dealt four assists. CV had some nice balance with five players scoring in both the third and fourth quarters, but Muncy frequently had it out of sorts and landed the knockout blow in the third.

There, Muncy made 8 of 13 shots with Dylan Mausteller hitting a key 3-pointer and Muncy closing with an 18-6 surge. Lamper scored six points that quarter, Dominic Guardini (6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) blocked multiple shots and Muncy started putting the finishing touches on its fifth consecutive district quarterfinal win.

Nearly every player took the floor as well. With several seeing significant playoff time for the first time that was another positive.

“You get the nerves out there. That’s really important,” Gresh said. “The primary objective is win. It doesn’t matter how. It’s about scoring one more point than the other team and now it’s trying to win the next one to get to states.”

CV (41)

Parker Lee 2 0-0 4, Reed Vargeson 1 2-2 5, Jacob Johnson 1 0-0 3, Josh Teague 4 0-0 8, Levi Stahli 2 0-2 5, Ashtyn Burdick 3 0-0 6, Trevin Hollenbach 2 0-0 4, Carsyn Kemp 3 0-2 6. Totals 18 2-6 41.

MUNCY (63)

Bryson Barrows 0 0-0 0, Gavin Barrows 2 0-0 4, Nate Rogers 2 0-0 4, Carter Feigles 0 0-0 0, Kyran Lisembee 0 0-0 0, Jaxton Frantz 10 5-5 30, Bohdy Thomas 0 0-0 0, Dominic Guardini 3 0-0 6, Jermain Morgan 0 0-0 0, Dylan Mausteller 1 0-0 3, Caleb Beaver 0 1-2 1, Nixon Lamper 7 1-2 15. Totals 25 7-9 63.

CV 8 10 10 13–41

Muncy 12 15 24 12–63

3-pointers: CV 3 (Vargeson, Johnson, Stahli); Muncy 6 (Frantz 5, Mausteller).

Records: Muncy 17-7. CV 8-15.

Dylan Mausteller of Muncy puts up a shot against Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kyran Lisembee of Muncy fouls Parker Lee of Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kyran Lisembee of Muncy drives to the basket under pressure from Reed Vargeson of Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Jaxton Frantz of Muncy drives to the basket under pressure from Reed Vargeson of Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Gavin Burrows of Muncy puts up a shot against Cowanesque Valley at Muncy High School. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette