It was just the kind of scene these Griffins envisioned when they started working soon after the 2025 season concluded. Through the summer, fall and into the winter, the working never stopped. So, how the 2026 Griffins etched their name into program lore seemed appropriate Thursday night at Montoursville. When title hopes looked bleak, the Griffins kept grinding.

And now they have reached the summit. Sullivan County is District 4’s best Class A boys’ team.

The Griffins stormed back from a 13-point third quarter deficit, took the lead on Tucker Blasi’s steal and dish to Dom Marotti with 47 seconds remaining and captured the district championship with an incredibly gutsy 58-54 win against previous champion North Penn-Liberty. Sullivan (22-4) captured the third district championship in program history, its second in four years while creating moments they will never forget.

“I was speechless,” Marotti said. “Your eyes are watering, and it’s a moment we’ve dreamed of since the first practices.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County boys basketball Class A District IV championship at Montoursville High School Thursday.

Dreams became reality under the most intense of pressure as North Penn-Liberty (16-10) displayed its tenacity by turning an early nine-point deficit into a 13-point third quarter advantage. Instead of buckling, Sullivan pulled together, played some of its best basketball and wrote a comeback story which would make Rocky Balboa envious.

Colin King followed Marotti’s go-ahead basket with a steal and layup before Lucas King sank two clutch free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining. Lucas King then grabbed a rebound on an errant last-second 3-pointer and the party was on.

Players from all sides of the court and from the bench sprinted toward each other, joined at midcourt, jumped for joy and savored a moment a year in the making.

“It was awesome,” Blasi said. “That was our goal coming into the season. It was amazing to be able to go do that.”

“We knew we had a big chance to make it here and win this,” Lucas King said. “We knew what we had to do, we just got the job done.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County players celebrate with head coach Glenn Vaughan after the win over North Penn Liberty for the Class A District IV championship at Montoursville High School Thursday.

They did so despite North Penn-Liberty’s best effort. The Mounties came about as close as a team can to repeating and put together a sensational third quarter to turn a one-point halftime lead into a 44-31 advantage with less than two minutes remaining. Landon Mattern went beyond being in the zone that quarter, scoring 17 of his game-high 19 points while making all five shots from the field, including two 3-pointers.

But right when North Penn-Liberty slammed Sullivan against the ropes, the Griffins came fighting back. They scored the third quarter’s final six points, cut it to seven entering the fourth and kept chipping away.

It took a year of sacrifice to get this far, so Sullivan had no trouble emptying its tank for 32 minutes. The Griffins turned up the defense, forced 10 fourth quarter turnovers and claimed the prize it sought since finishing fourth a year ago. Fans can debate which of the three Sullivan district champions is the best team, but this 2026 squad certainly made a strong argument for being the most resilient.

“This is what we worked for all season,” Colin King said. “Me and Tucker are two-time district champions now, too. It means a lot.”

“The way the guys fought really stands out,” Sullivan coach Glenn Vaughan said. “Down 13 in the third quarter of a district final, packed gym, for a group that hasn’t been here against a team that was here last year is about as tough as it gets. The way they responded to adversity during that game shows the tough character of the entire team.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Jaiden Moore takes a bite of his gold medal after their win over North Penn Liberty for the Class A District IV championship at Montoursville High School Thursday.

Two Blasi free throws pulled Sullivan even midway through the fourth quarter, 50-50 but Mattern hit a free throw and Luke Kreger (11 points) made his third steal, finding Brody Grinnell for a layup and pushing the lead to three. But Sullivan’s switch to a four-guard attack continued paying dividends and Lucas King’s steal and layup cut it to 53-52 approaching the two-minute mark. Following a missed shot and a turnover, the stage was set for Blasi to create a thrilling senior moment.

The Mid-Penn Defensive Player of the Year made a steal near the North Penn-Liberty foul line and zipped a pass toward Marotti who started sprinting downcourt. A reserve who shined on the big stage and who helped fan the comeback flames with a fourth quarter 3-pointer now made the biggest basket of his life.

Marotti went at a tall defender, put the shot over his outstretched arms and connected, giving Sullivan its first lead since the second quarter.

“We were going four guards, so I was guarding one of the post players. I just decided I was going to front, and they tried to lob it over and I got a hand on it,” Blasi said. “I pushed it up ahead and Dom did his thing and made the shot for us. It was awesome.”

“All four of our guards, as soon as we see someone get the ball, we all just know we have it. Someone leaks out and it happened to be me,” Marotti said. “I wasn’t afraid attacking the guy. I saw Jaiden (Moore) or Cayden (Smithkors) on the other post and just took it and ended up making it. It was a big play in the game. The feeling was great.”

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) celebrates their win over North Penn Liberty for the Class A District IV Championship at Montoursville Thursday night.

Colin King lived the same feeling seconds later.

A player who is 5-foot-8 but plays like someone a foot taller again stuffed the stat sheet while turning defense into offense at a critical time. Before North Penn-Liberty could attempt a go-ahead shot, King swiped the ball and broke away from defenders down the court, converting a layup for a 56-53 lead. King was one of four players with multiple steals, making six.

“I just grabbed the ball and realized no one was in front of me. I just took off and outran them all,” he said. “That felt pretty amazing.”

Mattern capped his huge second half with a free throw, pulling North Penn-Liberty within 56-54 with 19.5 seconds remaining. Lucas King did not officially put the dagger in, but he inserted it pretty deep nearly seven seconds later, connecting on two free throws and making it a two-score game.

Sullivan had missed all six free throw attempts through three quarters, but when it meant the most late, Blasi and King were perfect there.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent North Penn Liberty's Evan McTish (22) drives the ball Sullivan County's Ryan Murray (20) in the third quarter.

“I just knew if I made those free throws that basically seals the game up,” King said. “I’m going in thinking that all I have to do is make these and we’re good.”

They were great following a North Penn-Liberty miss and King’s rebound as the final seconds ticked away. That Sullivan would be celebrating seemed far-fetched during the third quarter when North Penn-Liberty seemingly could do no wrong.

Mattern scored his 17 points during a remarkable four-minute stretch, and the Mounties went 9 for 13 from the field while building a 44-31 advantage. Luke Kreger made three steals, Conner Lewis grabbed 12 rebounds, and Evan McTish made a run at a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. Sudan Benner dazzled during the second quarter, scoring eight points in less than two minutes and giving North Penn-Liberty a 20-19 halftime advantage.

Storm clouds started approaching through the sun for North Penn-Liberty late in the third, though, as Sullivan scored six quick points. Blasi capped the surge with a last-second steal and layup to make it 44-37 entering the fourth.

And while North Penn-Liberty was lava-like hot during the third quarter, the Griffins were not cold either. They made 10 of 16 shots and the teams combined for 46 points. Once Sullivan settled in against North Penn-Liberty’s full-court pressure and locked in defensively, the comeback wheels really revved into motion.

It was every player, too. Seven scored at least seven points with Smithkors (12) and Moore (10) combining for 12 in the third quarter to keep Sullivan within striking distance. Blasi totaled 10 points and four steals; Lucas King nine points and five rebounds; Colin King eight points and Marotti seven points with three steals over the game’s final 10 minutes.

As individuals the Griffins feature good players. Together, they became champions. And they hoisted Vaughan upon their shoulders afterward, giving the long-time coach the ride of his life.

“These guys are nuts and I’m not surprised they did that,” Vaughan said as he laughed. “It was definitely a cool thing. It was amazing.”

NP-LIBERTY (54)

Brody Grinnell 1 0-0 2, Conner Lewis 3 0-0 6, Luke Kreger 5 0-1 11, Sudan Benner 3 0-0 8, Evan McTish 4 0-2 8, Landon Mattern 6 4-8 19. Totals 22 4-11 54.

SULLIVAN (58)

Tucker Blasi 4 2-2 10, Lucas King 3 2-4 9, Colin King 4 0-2 8, Ryan Murray 1 0-2 2, Jaiden Moore 5 0-0 10, Dom Marotti 3 0-0 7, Cayden Smithkors 6 0-0 12. Totals 25 4-10 58.

NP-Liberty 8 12 26 8–54

Sullivan 13 6 20 19–58

3-pointers: NP-Liberty 6 (Mattern 3, Benner 2, Kreger); Sullivan 1 (Marotti).

Records: Sullivan 22-4. North Penn-Liberty 16-10.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent North Penn Liberty's Luke Kreger (11) drives around Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) in the third quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent North Penn Liberty's Connor Lewis (10) bats away an attempted shot by Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) drives around North Penn Liberty's Connor Lewis (10) in the second quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) dives between North Penn Liberty's Evan McTish (22), left, and Luke Kreger (11) for a lose ball in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Lucas King (5) drives the lane between North Penn Liberty's Luke Kreger(11) and Landon Mattern (23) in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Jaiden Moore (21) and North Penn Liberty's Evan McTish (22) battle for a rebound in the first quarter.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) shoots over North Penn Liberty's Evan McTish (22) in the first quarter.