Trailing by 20 at halftime, the Griffins roared back and pulled as close as nine in the fourth quarter before losing, 58-48 to Coventry Christian at Williamsport’s Magic Dome. The result was not what Sullivan wanted, obviously, but the performance shined a light on both how this team became champions and how one of the state’s premier Class A public school programs has been built.

That foundation is constructed upon a whole lot of heart and toughness. That shined through yet again.

Cayden Smithkors (13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) made a run at a double-double, Jaiden Moore scored 10 points, and Colin King grabbed 11 rebounds, but Coventry fought off a spirited rally and advanced to Tuesday’s second round where it will play Plumstead Christian. Sullivan concludes its third district championship season at 22-5, winning more games than all but two Griffin teams this century.

“It’s been a lot of fun. It’s a ride I’ll definitely miss,” Smithkors said after combining with Moore to help control the paint. “I just wish we could keep going.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Jaiden Moore (21)is fouled by Coventry Christian's Elijah Cyrus (33) as he lines up a shot during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

They certainly tried their best to make it happen. Coventry led by 20 at halftime and 45-28 entering the fourth quarter. A team which rallied from 13 down with 10 minutes remaining to capture district gold thundered back, though, and delivered its fans one final positive memory this season.

Tucker Blasi, Lucas King and Dom Marotti drilled consecutive clutch 3-pointers, making it 57-48 in the final minute, but Coventry made two defensive stands and held on. It was the final chapter in the 2026 Griffins’ book, but it sure was an exciting one.

“The work ethic of the team was awesome. Combine that with their willingness to learn and get better and to execute all year long and it was fantastic,” Sullivan coach Glenn Vaughan said. “We said all year long just get better every day and they did. The personalities are great. They’re enthusiastic, fun kids to be around.

“That creates an environment where now you have tears in the locker room after the game because guys care so much.”

That was evident all game, even when things went sideways in the first half. Sullivan led 9-6 less than four minutes into the first quarter following four straight Colin King points, but Coventry went off from there and scored 27 of the next 31 points while building a 33-13 advantage.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Colin King (12) moves the ball past Coventry Christian's Carter Correia (21) defender during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

Dynamic guard Bryce Correia scored 21 points and Carter Correia had 16. Elijah Cyrus was a handful off the bench and added nine points with eight boards. A Jomaree Brown buzzer-beating 3-pointer made it, 36-16 at halftime and it felt like one could start writing the team’s obituary.

But Sullivan has not made 11 state tournament appearances in 16 years by backing down. Win or lose, the Griffins fight and they would make Rocky Balboa smile with how they responded in the second half.

Sullivan held Coventry scoreless for more than four minutes to start the third quarter and started chipping away. Others might have counted them out, but the Griffins never stopped believing. It was a similar mentality against North Penn-Liberty eight nights earlier when Sullivan turned a 13-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining into a 58-54 championship victory.

“The mindset was just don’t stop. We’ve come back from a deficit like that before,” Smithkors said. “We know we can do it, so keep fighting. The halftime talk by our coach got us pumped. We knew what we had to fix and worked on it and it paid off.”

Down 17 entering the fourth quarter, the Griffins tried to make history repeat itself following last week’s dramatic comeback. Marotti found Colin King for a layup which made it, 47-35 midway through the fourth quarter. Coventry pushed the lead back to 15 with three minutes remaining, but then Lucas King made a sensational play, stealing the ball at midcourt and whipping a pass between his legs to Colin King for a layup.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) runs into interference on his way to the basket by Coventry Christian's Bryce Correia (30) and Elijah Cyrus (33) during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

The 3-point barrage started soon after and Sullivan had its fans who filled the gym both believing and roaring. A Bryce Correia free throw made it a 10-point game and Sullivan finally ran out of magic, but what a carpet ride it was throughout that second half.

“The message at halftime was our program is not about laying down and getting blown out. If that’s going to happen, it’s going to be with a fight,” Vaughan said. “We’re not going to let the scoreboard define who we are. Guys did what I asked them to do; they came out and they fought their butts off.”

Smithkors and Moore helped spark the comeback and flourished inside. Smithkors, a relentless worker throughout the last 12 months scored nine third-quarter points and Moore, who has made enormous strides, produced field goals in all four quarters.

Smithkors and Moore controlling the middle opened up the outside and played a role in the Griffins heating up on the perimeter late. Especially encouraging for Sullivan is that Smithkors and Moore will be back next season.

“I feel like I had a real strength advantage there. When we got the ball inside, they couldn’t stop us,” Smithkors said. “It was a lot of fun. It was a great feeling to pick the team up and get that comeback started.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Cayden Smithkors (34) moves the ball past a Coventry Christian defender during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

“Jaiden has gotten so much better. He’s gotten himself in better shape and worked really hard for 4-5 years to get better at the game,” Vaughan said. “Cayden has a good feel for the game. He’s strong and we trust him. The two of them have been efficient inside and a big key to us coming back in the second half was taking advantage of that strength inside.”

Blasi, Colin King and Ryan Murray all scored Friday, and all three seniors played pivotal roles in helping Sullivan make its district championship run. The Griffins made a nine-win improvement, and it was both their production and leadership which helped make it possible.

“They really stepped up as seniors,” Vaughan said. “They showed the leadership that helped us get to this level.”

Reaching that level could pay dividends next season. Coventry features a potent blend of speed, shooter and size. It could potentially make a deep state tournament run and Sullivan outscored it, 32-22 in the second half.

That performance could be a springboard. Because now Sullivan knows that it can compete at this level. So, what looked like an end Friday is what the Griffins hope is just the beginning.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) moves in to shoot during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game against Coventry Christian on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

“Tucker said last week that whenever the season is over, before you know it, guys are back in the gym working to get better,” Vaughan said. “Now they have a better feel and understanding for what it’s going to take to win games at this level, not just get to this level.”

COVENTRY (58)

Bryce Correia 7 4-7 21, Carter Correia 6 1-1 16, Elijah Cyrus 4 1-2 9, Jomaree Moon 3 3-4 10, Cole Smerecki 0 0-0 0, Drew McCafferty 0 1-2 1, Kaleb Tedeschi 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 11-18 58.

SULLIVAN (48)

Lucas King 1 0-0 3, Tucker Blasi 2 1-2 6, Colin King 3 2-4 8, Cayden Smithkors 6 1-2 13, Jaiden Moore 4 2-3 10, Dom Marotti 1 0-0 3, Ryan Murray 1 0-0 2, Carter Blasi 1 0-0 3. Totals 19 6-12 48.

Coventry 18 18 9 13–58

Sullivan 9 7 12 20–48

3-pointers: Coventry 7 (B. Correia 3, C. Correia 3, Moon); Sullivan 4 (L. King, T. Blasi, Marotti, C. Blasi).

Records: Coventry 23-5. Sullivan 22-5.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Tucker Blasi (2) and Coventry Christian's Carter Correia (21) struggle for possession of a loose ball during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County's Ryder Lambert (5) shoots over the head of a Coventry Christian defender during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County fans cheer during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game against Coventry Christian on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Sullivan County head coach Glenn Vaughan makes a call from the sidelines during the first round Class A Boys State Championship game against Coventry Christian on Friday at Williamsport. Coventry won 58-48.