Muncy boys play basketball with ‘collective effort’

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Kohen Meyer (33) tries to shoot under pressure from South Williamsport's Chance Quimby (12) in the second quarter.
Nate Rogers and Kyran Lisembee play like high school veterans. They talk like them, too, excelling on and off the court.
And yet both are freshmen. Entering the season, many wondered how Muncy would respond after four starters, including two 1,000-point scorers and a 1,000-point rebounder, graduated from a district champion. Turns out, quite well.
It has been a terrific collective effort, but Rogers and Lisembee excelling in their debut seasons has provided a big boost. It sure did Wednesday at South Williamsport as Muncy completed an undefeated Mid-Penn West season.
Rogers produced a second straight double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds), while Lisembee dealt 10 assists as Muncy defeated South, 68-38. Patrick Zalonis scored 24 points, Konnor Shearer (15 points, 8 rebounds) nearly collected a double-double and Stiles Eyer produced eight assists as Muncy (17-4, 10-0) won its eighth straight game.
“I like playing with all the seniors,” Rogers said. “I feel like I’m contributing to the team and that helps, especially since we’re down a few players, so it’s really been fun.”
“I get along with all the seniors and they tell us a lot of things that help us,” Lisembee said. “They tell me how to stay level-headed, keep my head cool and calm down.”
Playing poised has helped Rogers and Lisembee make immediate and immense contributions. Rogers has been a consistent scorer and rebounder throughout the season, while Lisembee looks like a future star at point guard and has become an outstanding defender.
All the talent and all the intangibles both freshmen possess were on display against South. Both set an energetic tone and were tough on both the boards and defense. Rogers went 5 of 6 from the field and Lisembee played a major role in Muncy forcing 11 first-quarter turnovers as it built a 22-10 lead.
Rogers and Lisembee providing steady production has been key all season but especially crucial the past two games with leading rebounder and scorer Noah Confer sidelined with an injury. Both played all 32 minutes in Saturday’s win against East Juniata, and each played into the fourth quarter before exiting Wednesday.
“We’re at the point of the year where they’re not allowed to be freshmen. You’ve gotten a lot of playing time under your belt at this point,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “Neither one of them has played a game of JV. Sometimes baptism by fire is the best way to handle it. Not everyone can do it, but both of them have responded and you have to give them a lot of credit.”
Gresh was hoping Muncy would again respond well not so much to Confer’s scoring absence, but to missing his rebounding, defense and leadership. Muncy did so emphatically, dominating the boards and hustling everywhere.
Rogers was key in helping Muncy start strong, scoring six first quarter points, earning six trips to the foul line and grabbing three rebounds. A versatile player who can stay on the outside or cause problems inside, Rogers added two assists and played a pivotal role in Muncy imposing the mercy rule midway through the third quarter.
“Noah is one of our leading scorers, so we knew we all had to step up,” Rogers said. “We had to make up for what he does on the boards, and we have to score more, too, and everyone stepped up for us.”
Lisembee scored three points but set up so many more. Efficiently running the offense, Lisembee dished three first quarter assists, before helping Muncy put the game away quickly in the third quarter with four more. Lisembee had two quick assists in the fourth quarter’s opening seconds and reached 10 less than a minute into the quarter.
Even when Lisembee did not receive the official assist, he sparked scoring. He showed that early in the fourth quarter, making an excellent entry pass into the post which Eyer quickly whipped to a wide-open Zalonis for a 3-pointer.
“That’s one of my strong suits. Since I couldn’t get to the basket as much I was trying to go and create opportunities for other people,” Lisembee said. “I don’t have to score to contribute. As long as I can help us put points on the board, that’s all I care about.”
All the Muncy players share that mindset, and it has helped them thrive while earning the program’s first league championship since 2004. Zalonis looked like a young Larry Bird at times, draining three of his seven 3-pointers early as Muncy started taking control. He added three more in the third quarter as Muncy quickly landed the knockout blow.
When the Mounties focused on slowing Zalonis, the senior guard helped set up teammates. Shearer had a big second quarter, scoring nine points as Muncy went ahead, 40-18 on his buzzer-beating putback.
Ken Hampe added 10 rebounds off the bench and Muncy never let South back into the game after heating up in that first quarter. A big piece was missing, but the Indians still had a lot of good pieces with which to work.
“Stiles played well banged up. He did a nice job giving us what we got,” Gresh said. “Pat got hot there. Konnor played well … Everyone stepped up.”
Making things tougher on South Wednesday, it was playing without two starters. The Mounties hope to have them back Saturday against St. John Neumann. Not having the two starters allowed freshmen Chance Quimby and Levi Butler to play a lot and each scored nine points while also showing how bright their futures may be.
MUNCY (68): Patrick Zalonis 8 1-1 24, Nate Rogers 5 4-8 14, Konnor Shearer 7 0-2 15, Stiles Eyer 1 0-0 2, Kyran Lisembee 1 1-2 3, Ken Hampe 1 1-4 3, Carter Feigles 0 0-2 0, Dominic Guardini 1 0-0 3, Kohen Meyer 2 0-0 4. Totals 26 7-19 68.
SOUTH (38): Radley Knapp 8 0-3 16, Marc Molina 0 0-0 0, Mike Yoas 1 0-0 2, Levi Butler 4 0-2 9, Chance Quimby 2 3-5 9, Chima Uwawuike 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 3-10 38.
Muncy 22 18 21 7–68
South 10 8 12 8–38
3-pointers: Muncy 9 (Zalonis 7, Shearer, Guardini); South 3 (Quimby 2, Butler).
Records: Muncy 17-4. South 6-13.