RUTH FRY/The Luminary Hughesville held Southern Columbia to single digits in three of the four quarters Saturday afternoon at Milton High School to capture the District 4 Class AAA title, 45-36. Above, players and coaches following the victory.

Hughesville 45, Southern Columbia 36

Hughesville played strong defense holding Southern Columbia to single digits in three of the four quarters Saturday afternoon at Milton High School to capture the District 4 Class AAA title, 45-36. In the win Landon Henry hit 10 fourth-quarter free throws finishing the game with 12 points and six assists. Taylor Mason scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked seven shots. Conrad Sheatler had eight points and six rebounds with four of the eight points early in the third quarter. Patrick Rogers contributed five points late in the game, played strong defense stopping Southern’s lead scorer.

The Spartans road to getting to the title game included stopping No. 2 seed Loyalsock in the semis and No. 3 Mount Carmel in the quarters. Hughesville allowed just 45.3 points per game during districts and no team scored more than 47.

Coach Nick Tagliaferri has led the Spartans (16-9) to four district championships from 2006-11 reaching the state tournament six consecutive seasons. The Spartans will play the first round of states this weekend at Milton High School. Team to be announced.

HUGHESVILLE (45) Landon Henry 1 10-14 12, Taylor Mason 4 4-5 12, Conrad Sheatler 3 1-2 8, Matt Myers 1 2-2 4, Pat Rogers 2 1-1 5, Devon Bushor 0 0-1 0, Luke Ergott 1 2-2 4, Brandon Buck 0 0-0 0, Ryan McClain 0 0-0 0, Logan Woolcock 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 20-27 45. 3-pointers: Hughesville 1 (Sheatler); Southern 2 (Henry, Damgaard).

Spartans stop Lancers

Class AAA-Semi-finals

Hughesville 50, Loyalsock 47

For the eighth time in 12 years the Spartans are state tournament-bound. Hughesville clinched a second straight state tournament berth and beat Loyalsock in the playoffs for a fourth time in five tries since 2008. Hughesville earned their way to the district final after defeating the Lancers, 50-47, in the Class AAA semi-final round, 50-47. Hughesville played outstanding defense and overcame a nine-point second-quarter deficit. Matt Myers scored 11 points, Landon Henry and Sheatler each had nine and Taylor Mason added eight. Patrick Rogers scored six fourth-quarter points and made four straight free throws. The Spartans forced five third-quarter turnovers on Loyalsock’s first six possessions.

HUGHESVILLE (50) Landon Henry 3 3-5 9, Taylor Mason 4 0-0 8, Conrad Sheatler 3 0-0 9, Matt Myers 5 1-1 11, Pat Rogers 1 4-4 6, Devon Bushor 0 0-1 0, Luke Ergott 1 2-2 4, Brandon Buck 1 1-2 3, Ryan McClain 0 0-0 0, Logan Woolcock 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 11-5 50.

Hughesville 11 8 16 1550; Loyalsock 13 9 7 1847; 3-pointers: Hughesville 3 (Sheatler 3); Loyalsock 6 (Williams 2, Ross 2, Malone 2).

Muncy Cagers State Bound

Muncy 63, Canton 49

Jeff Fry and Matt Coyner each scored 19 points as Muncy defeated Canton, 63-49 in the Class AA third-place game last Thursday in Mansfield. The Indians are state bound for the first time since 2013 and hosted District 5 third-place finisher at home on Tuesday night, March 7. (Score was not available at press time.) In the win every player contributed. Peyton Hulyo scored a career-high 12 points added five rebounds, along with three steals. Fry scored 14 of his points in the first half and Coyner’s 19 came in the second half. Nate Paisley dealt nine assists.

MUNCY (63) Jeff Fry 6 3-4 19, Matt Coyner 7 5-5 19, Nate Paisley 3 2-3 9, Noah Rymsza 1 0-0 2, Peyton Hulyo 6 0-0 12, Dylan Wilt 1 1-2 3. Totals 22 10-16 63. 3-pointers: Canton 1 (Walker); Muncy 5 (Fry 4, Paisley)