The second half was a different story, however, as Lewisburg knocked down five 3-pointers, including four in a crucial stretch of the fourth quarter that helped the Green Dragons prevail 64-59 over Pope John Paul at Martz Hall.

Lewisburg (24-4) stays alive and advances to play either Archbishop Carroll or Bishop McDevitt in the state quarterfinals on Friday at a site and time to be determined. It’s been a long time coming since Lewisburg’s boys’ basketball team last advanced this far in the state playoffs, and Lewisburg coach Leon Tucker is just enjoying the ride.

“It feels pretty amazing. I knew we had a good team, but I did not expect this, and this moment is just special and I’m going to enjoy the ride,” said Lewisburg’s coach. “We have 17 players in (our) locker room who love each other and will go to war with each other every day. They understand what we have and that we built something special here, and the culture of this program has completely changed, and the community has been behind us.

“So, it’s been special the whole way. The guys understand that their hard work is being rewarded, and obviously its showing out there on the floor. And it’s been Lewisburg all the way,” added coach Tucker.

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's LJ Tucker shoots a 3-pointer as his father and coach Leon Tucker looks on against Pope John Paul.

A slow start put Lewisburg in a hole against PJP (22-5) early, but a pair of layups by Rebira Jemama and a basket by Nazir Meredith gave the Green Dragons a 7-4 lead. A 3-pointer by LJ Tucker at the end of the opening period gave the Green Dragons a 12-10 lead.

But in the second quarter, seven straight points by PJP’s Jason Green put the Golden Panthers back on top 20-16, and then back-to-back layups by Ayden Wise sent PJP into the half leading 26-24.

“It’s always only a matter of time (before the shots start falling),” said coach Tucker. “Once one person sees the ball go in, then all of a sudden we can get going really quick.”

A trey by LJ Tucker early in the third quarter tied the game at 29. Later in the period Jaylen Walker and Jemama both made layups, with the latter’s coming on a put-back off an offensive rebound, to give the Green Dragons a 39-33 lead.

“I just felt with my matchup, I could take the shots. It’s not my usual role, but I felt like I could do it so I just went for it,” said Jemama, who led Lewisburg with 19 points. “I saw some results, so I just kept going.”

BRIAN HOLTZAPPLE/Special to the Sun-Gazette Lewisburg's Nazir Meredith shoots over Pope John Paul's Jack Kessler.

In the fourth, a 3-pointer by Cooper Mowry kept the momentum in Lewisburg’s favor, but PJP went on a 10-0 run to trail by only 43-42.

However, moments later LJ Tucker and Mowry nailed back-to-back treys to build the Green Dragons’ lead to 49-42.

“I feel like those 3-pointers were the biggest of the season. Those going in really helped us getting the win,” said LJ Tucker.

But the Golden Panthers wouldn’t go away, that is until another offensive barrage by Lewisburg put PJP away.

Jemama first made a bucket, Cortland Michaels then made a pair of driving layups, and LJ Tucker followed with another trey from the right corner to make the score 58-46.

Later on, baskets from Nazir Meredith and Jemama put the game away.

LJ Tucker finished with 18 points on the night, plus Cooper Mowry added 10 to help send the Green Dragons into the state quarters.

“It great (making the state quarterfinals),” said LJ Tucker. “I haven’t seen a Lewisburg team do this for ever, and it feels great. He (my father and coach) was preaching to keep the intensity up and the shots will fall in the second half, and they did.

“It feels great (to play at Martz Hall). Once we knew we were playing Pope John Paul, we knew we had an opportunity to play here. (Tonight), we tried to seize the moment, and we did, and we came out with the win.”

Lewisburg 64, Pope John Paul 59

LEWISBURG (64)

Cortland Michaels 3 0-0 6; Cooper Mowry 3 2-2 10; LJ Tucker 6 2-4 18; Nazir Meredith 4 0-2 8; Rebira Jemama 9 1-3 19; Jaylen Walker 1 1-4 3; Jack Siegel 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 6-15 64.

POPE JOHN PAUL (59)

Ayden Wise 8 3-4 19; Zahaid Edwards-Boone 4 3-4 11; Jason Green 5 4-5 16; Lucas Pekofskhy 0 0-2 0; Jack Kessler 1 0-0 3; CJ Hestick 3 0-0 6; Jude Schuberth 2 0-0 4; Madden Brady 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 10-15 59.

Lewisburg 12 12 15 25 — 64

Pope John Paul 10 16 9 26 — 59

3-point goals: Lewisburg 6 (Tucker 4, Mowry 2), Pope John Paul 3 (Green 2, Kessler 1).