It was the kind of moment the Green Dragon players dreamed about throughout all their offseason work. And, while that work continues, what happened Friday at the Shikellamy Field House provided them a moment to savor.

Because it was something no Lewisburg team had ever before experienced.

LJ Tucker drained three straight go-ahead free throws with 76 seconds remaining before hitting the game-clinchers at the 7-second mark, Cortland Michaels made a huge late block and Nazir Meredith a crucial last-second basket as Lewisburg defeated Southern Columbia, 57-52 and captured its first Heartland Conference Tournament championship.

“I just saw a lot of pink,” Meredith said of all the pink-clad students who poured his way. “I was just like, ‘I like this.’ It’s great.”

FRANK DIMON/Special to the Sun-Gazette Southern's Blaise Kissinger drives against Lewisburg's Leon Tucker.

That goes double, considering Lewisburg went 6-16 during the regular season two years ago. Unfazed, Meredith and fellow seniors Cooper Mowry, Rebira Jemana and Aiden Eby kept pushing the team. That push goes on, but it certainly has brought Lewisburg pretty far these last two seasons.

Lewisburg had reached the final three previous times but come up empty each time. Turns out it was the fourth time which was the charm. It came the hard way, too. Lewisburg (19-4) built a 13-point third quarter lead, but Southern stormed back and went ahead twice, the last time on a Nate Gallagher 3-pointer with 95 seconds left.

Instead of wilting, Lewisburg thundered back. Tucker drilled the foul shots; Michaels blocked a potential go-ahead shot before finding Meredith inside and Tucker sealed victory with two more free throws. Finally, Lewisburg had broken through a wall which blocked it since the tournament started 13 years ago.

“They deserve it. They worked really hard. Spring, summer and fall they worked really hard,” Lewisburg coach Leon Tucker said. “They came in every day, continued to get better and continued to work. They persevered through the four losses in 2025 and learned and continued to battle.”

Lewisburg won its 14th consecutive game and completed a revenge tour through the HAC Tournament, avenging previous defeats against Warrior Run and Southern (18-6) on consecutive nights. Every player delivered key contributions as well.

FRANK DIMON/Special to the Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's Cortland Michaels drives to the basket against Southern's Ben Gehret.

Michaels capped a dazzling tournament with 15 points and seven assists; Tucker scored 12 points, Jemana 11 and Mowry nine. Meredith grabbed seven rebounds, Jemana excelled defensively and Jack Siegel shined off the bench.

“It was great. Now we know we can battle through adversity to win,” LJ Tucker said. “Everybody 1-7 knows it can be their time to shine.”

This was a win as rewarding as it was hard-fought. Last December, Southern turned a 10-point second quarter deficit into an 11-point win against Lewisburg. It looked this game might mirror the first when the Tigers, fresh off an impressive semifinal comeback win against Shamokin, went up 48-47 and then 52-50 when Gallagher (18 points) drained a corner 3-pointer.

To make history, Lewisburg made sure history did not repeat itself. The Dragons stiffened, did not allow another point and made all six shots from the line and field from there.

“We were thinking we can’t let it happen again,” Meredith said. “We said we just have to keep playing tough and let’s fight through it.”

FRANK DIMON/Special to the Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's Cortland Michaels drives against Ben Gehret (10) and Jace Malakoski (44) of Southern.

“I think you saw the toughness tonight. The toughness showed,” Coach Tucker said. “When Southern took the lead, we didn’t waver. We stuck to the plan and got key baskets and free throws down the stretch and here we are.”

There Tucker and his son LJ often are alone at the Lewisburg gym before they leave following each practice as LJ shoots free throws. The work done there when nobody is watching is for moments like Friday when all who filled the large Field House did so.

Tucker has been a consistent shooter throughout the year but uncharacteristically missed four of his first six against Southern. Maybe the pressure simply was not high enough.

Because when it was turned up as high as it could go, Tucker was perfect.

Tucker silenced a Southern student section roaring to try and distract him. It was just he and the net and Tucker barely hit the rim on any shot. It was a similar story when he clinched victory, connecting on the title-clinching free throws.

FRANK DIMON/Special to the Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's Nazir Meredith has a shot blocked against Southern's Jace Malakoski.

“I block out all the noise. It’s just great to get the win,” Tucker said. “I was mad at myself for missing them earlier in the game. I wanted to get it for myself and my team. I was happy I made every one of them down the stretch.”

Michaels made the defensive play of the game on Southern’s ensuing possession when he blocked a shot from the left elbow. From there, the point guard brought the ball up the court, sucked in the defense and spotted Meredith cutting toward the basket.

The senior forward converted the layup and Lewisburg led, 55-52 with :28 seconds left. After a 3-point attempt rolled off the rim, Meredith delivered again, grabbing the rebound, finding Tucker and then watching him ice the game at the line.

“I just saw Cort drive, and they helped and I just cut through the middle. It was wide open,” Meredith said. “Their big had four fouls so I went up strong. It just happened and we executed it perfectly.”

Michaels did not play a perfect tournament. But he came pretty close.

The freshman continued playing with a maturity well beyond his years and gave Southern fits the way he did a night earlier against Warrior Run. Fearless, lightning quick and shifty, Michaels scored 12 of his 15 points in the middle quarters while repeatedly finding teammates in scoring positions.

Michaels pushed tempo, brilliantly ran the offense and stayed in control whatever the situation. He also made 6 of 8 shots in the middle quarters and his dish to Siegel put Lewisburg ahead, 44-31 with 3 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Over two tournament games, Michaels produced 36 points and 11 assists.

“That kid’s not a freshman anymore. He’s so far beyond his years and so talented,” Coach Tucker said. “He’s so composed and so poised and so ready for the moment and he relished it. He didn’t just come in and control the game. He made a huge impact on the game. That was awesome to see.”

Lewisburg felt the same way watching Siegel excel off the bench. The sophomore provided instant energy and grabbed three rebounds in the first 90 seconds after entering in the second quarter. By the two-minute mark he had four points and four rebounds, sparking a 13-2 run which gave the Dragons a 12-point advantage.

Jemana fouled out with 2:11 left after playing a superb defensive game and blocking four shots. Again, Siegel entered in a big moment and delivered as his defense loomed large in helping Southern come up empty on its final three possessions.

“Jack gave us such a big boost. We told Jack here’s what we want you to do, and he came in and executed beautifully,” Coach Tucker said. “That was awesome to see a young man step up in that moment. That’s a credit to the whole team. We have guys we can plug in and they’re ready to go when that moment happens.”

Lewisburg is hoping it can continue making moments when the district playoffs start next week. The Dragons reached one goal but have several more they have spent the last year working to try and achieve.

Friday, however, certainly was a moment to celebrate. And while it will always be special for all the Dragons it hits the Tucker family a bit different. Earlier in the night, LJ’s sister Jada helped Central Columbia repeat as the girls’ HAC champion before father and son brought home the boys’ championship.

“I said to myself, just enjoy myself as a dad and as a coach, win or lose, it was going to be a fun day for the Tucker family, but it feels a heck of a lot better to win both games,” Coach Tucker said as he laughed. “It was a great night. I’ll remember this forever.”

SOUTHERN (52)

Nate Gallagher 6 5-6 18, Jake Gehret 1 0-0 3, Ben Gehret 2 0-0 5, Braydon Griscavage 1 1-2 3, Jace Malakoski 33 3-3 9, Blaise Kissinger 5 4-4 14. Totals 18 13-15 52.

LEWISBURG (57)

LJ Tucker 2 7-11 12, Cooper Mowry 3 1-1 9, Nazir Meredith 1 2-4 4, Rebira Jemana 5 1-2 11, Cortland Michaels 7 1-2 15, Jack Siegel 3 0-0 6. Totals 21 12-20 57.

Southern 12 12 16 12–52

Lewisburg 13 19 14 11–57

3-pointers: Southern 3 (Gallager, J. Gehret, B. Gehret); Lewisburg 3 (Mowry 2, Tucker).

Records: Lewisburg 19-4. Southern 18-6.