Dec 18, 2024
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Ken Hampe shoots in front of St. John Neumann’s Andrew Watter (12) in the second quarter.
Nate Rogers continued filling up the stat sheet the past two games just like he did a year ago when he put together a super freshman season and helped Muncy repeat as District 4 Class AA champions.
There was only one category he struggled with those previous games–scoring. Now, the versatile sophomore can cross that off the list after coming up huge in the latest Muncy-St. John Neumann heavyweight showdown.
Rogers scored nine of his 18 points in the third quarter, making four straight shots, and he nearly generated a double-double while helping Muncy rally for a hard-fought 61-54 win Wednesday at Frank Lupacchino Courty. Stiles Eyer added 13 points and nine rebounds; Kohen Meyer scored 12 points and Gavin Barrows shined off the bench as Muncy (6-1, 2-0 Mid-Penn) won a rematch of the past two District 4 Class AA championships.
“Nate showed up tonight. That’s a big deal,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “It’s just rhythm. He’s one of the guys who didn’t have much practice time after the football run. We know what he’s capable of. We saw it last year and hopefully this will be the springboard for the rest of the season.”
Rogers is one of many Indians who started for the football team which reached the state semifinals, a run which carried into the start of basketball season. Rogers also bounced back from a late-season injury to shine in the football playoffs, so it’s not shocking that he struggled to finish his shots at times last week.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Neumann’s Lagion Dizzard (42) shoots over the Muncy defense in the first quarter.
But when his team needed him most Wednesday, Rogers again delivered. Leading scorer Dominic Guardini injured his ankle early in the first quarter and did not return. Neumann (0-5, 0-2) built a seven-point late second quarter lead, so multiple obstacles stood in Muncy’s path.
Rogers helped the two-time defending district champions knock them down, three times hitting go-ahead shots in the third quarter. Neumann took a one-point lead into the fourth but Rogers’s flurry helped Muncy weather the storm and the Indians took control in the fourth, scoring the first nine points, while building an eight-point advantage.
“Dom was our leading scorer coming into the game. Since he was out I felt like I needed to step it because we need to score. This game is about putting the ball in the hoop, especially in this game,” Rogers said. “I felt like I could take it to the hoop every time. It gave us a boost. Once my first shot went in, I was able to get hot in the third quarter.”
Meyer (12 points, 8 rebounds) played a strong game and put Muncy ahead to stay, scoring the fourth quarter’s first four points. Kyran Lisembee (5 assists) hit a jumper and Barrows found Rogers inside and five minutes into the third quarter, Muncy led 56-49.
Nothing came easy against determined Neumann and Muncy missed repeated chippies and/or layups. Still, the Indians persevered and gutted it out a win. Gresh often quotes Lycoming legendary football coach Frank Girardi who said winning ugly is better than losing pretty every time.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Neumann’s Daiton Thompson (1) drives between Muncy’s Kohen Meyer (33) and Stiles Eyer (10 )in the first quarter.
Teams often learn a lot about themselves in those ugly type of games and Muncy reinforced its hard-nosed, tough-minded label.
“All those misses, we got over it. At halftime our coaches said we have to make those shots and when we came out the third quarter we started hitting our shots and got a boost and got back into it,” Rogers said. “We’ll definitely use this game as a boost going forward and will be able to look back at it to know we can overcome adversity.”
“We kind of hung in there and chipped away at it,” Gresh said. “It felt like momentum was in their favor and you look at the scoreboard and it’s a three-point game at halftime. We go in thinking all we have to do is swing it our way a little, make some changes and we’ll be OK and that’s what happened.”
It’s little consolation to players who put forth maximum effort but Neumann looks like one of the best 0-5 teams around. The Knights are so close to a breakthrough and continue showing why they can be dangerous if they reach districts with every player contributing and competing hard.
Neumann turned a three-point deficit into a 38-31 advantage in the second quarter’s final seconds and shot a blistering 9 of 12 in the second quarter. That included going 4 of 5 from 3-point range, but the Knights cooled in the second half and started the fourth quarter with eight straight misses. The Knights fought on and a runner by Jager Woodring and 3-point Andrew Walter play made it, 57-54 at the 90-second mark, but they could get no closer.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Neumann’s DaitonThompson (1) drives between Muncy’s Kohen Meyer (33) and Stiles Eyer (10)in the first quarter.
“Neumann played hard. They played their butts off,” Gresh said. “They competed the whole game.”
Andrew Walter played an excellent game for Neumann, scoring a career-high 20 points, grabbing nine rebounds, making four steals and adding three blocks. Daiton Thompson scored 12 points and dealt five assists, while Angelo and Gino Birch set the tone in the first half, combining for 14 points and making six of their nine shots.
Still, Muncy fought on and the team’s balance helped it stay productive despite the inside shooting woes. Seven players scored and Eyer’s 10 first quarter points helped Muncy build a 19-16 lead after a quarter. Meyer and Lisembee heated up early in the third quarter and Ken Hampe grabbed six rebounds, helping extend possessions like Meyer did as well.
“It’s hard to guard when you have three or four players scoring double digits,” Rogers said. “I feel like that’s one of our strengths.”
Barrows revealed a lot of strength and made a major contribution off the bench. After playing the entire JV game, Barrows was called up on after Guardini was injured and responded. Another football player who has been getting his legs back, Barrows never tired and he made four free throws in the final 48 seconds to clinch the win.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Neumann’s Andrew Watter (12) and Muncy’s Kohen Meyer (33) battle for a rebound in the first quarter.
Barrows also scored nine points, dealt two assists and made two steals. He had a had in six fourth quarter points and all were big in helping Muncy hold off Neumann.
“Gavin came in and gave us great minutes. He played fantastic,” Gresh said. “I can’t ask for more more from him.”
MUNCY (61)
Stiles Eyer 5 1-2 13, Nate Rogers 8 1-1 18, Dom Guardini 0 0-0 0, Kyran Lisembee 2 0-2 5, Ken Hampe 2 0-2 4, Kohen Meyer 5 2-2 12, Carter Feigles 0 0-0 0, Gavin Barrows 2 4-6 9. Totals 24 8-15 61.
NEUMANN (54)
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann’s Daiton Thompson shoots over Muncy’s Stiles Eyer (10) in the first quarter.
Daiton Thompson 6 0-2 12, Jager Woodring 2 0-0 4, Andrew Walter 6 6-8 20, Lajon Dizard 2 0-2 4, Angelo Birch 4 0-0 8, Gino Birch 2 0-0 6, Legend Dillard 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-12 54.
Muncy 19 16 13 13–61
Neumann 16 22 11 5–54
3-pointers: Muncy 5 (Eyer 2, Rogers, Lisembee, Barrows); Neumann 4 (A. Birch 2, Walter 2).
Records: Muncy 6-1, 2-0 Mid-Penn. Neumann 0-5, 0-2.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Kyran Lisembee (5) shoots around Neumann’s Daiton Thompson (1) in the second quarter.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent St. John Neumann’s Andrew Watter (12) gets a hand on the ball as Muncy’s Ken Hampe tries to shoot in the second quarter.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Nathan Rogers (2) shoots over Neumann’s Lajion Dizzard (42) in the second quarter.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Kohen Meyer (33) shoots in front of St. John Neumann’s Andrew Watter (12) in the second quarter.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Gavin Barrows (1) drives around St. John Neumann’s Gino Birth (22) in the second quarter.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Kyran Lisembee (5) shoots around of St. John Neumann’s Andrew Watter (12) in the second quarter.
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