Eagles fall into consolation game

Feb. 24—MILTON — After winning its first District 4 playoff game in 14 years earlier this week, there was a big crowd to watch Line Mountain's semifinal Saturday at Milton High School.

And the combination of a big crowd and Muncy's defense wasn't a good mix for the Eagles' chances against the No. 2-seeded Indians.

Muncy raced out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, and was never really challenged in a 51-35 victory over Line Mountain.

"It's been a long time since we've been in an environment like this," Line Mountain coach Pjay Hunsberger said.

Muncy had more field goals (eight) in the first quarter than Line Mountain had field goal attempts (seven). The only first-quarter bucket from Line Mountain was a Nick Snyder 3-pointer. The Indians attacked the rim at will — Muncy attempted just five 3-pointers in the game, making one — but had six offensive rebounds in the opening quarter.

Cole Shutt knocked down two foul shots for Line Mountain with 1:31 left in the first to cut the Muncy lead to 10-5. The Indians then scored the next 11 points to take a 21-5 lead after Konnor Shearer's driving layup two minutes into the second quarter.

The Eagles made a bit of a run late in the second quarter, getting a late 3-pointer from Aiden Tressler, and Snyder's jumper early in the third got the lead down to 11 at 29-18.

Muncy then scored the next six points to push the lead to 17 at 35-18, and the Eagles didn't get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Line Mountain (12-13) has to bounce back in a consolation game with a state playoff berth on the line. Line Mountain will play top-seed Northwest (21-3) in next week's third-place game. Northwest lost to St. John Neumann, 49-42, in the other semifinal. Line Mountain dropped a 53-22 decision to the Rangers in the consolation game of the Milton Tip-Off tournament to open the season.

"We've got good group of young players, and hopefully we can learn from this experience," Hunsberger said.

Tressler finished with 10 points, while Chase Shutt chipped in nine points. Snyder and Bryce Smeltz each had eight points for Line Mountain.

Noah Confer and Patrick Zalonis each had 12 points for the Indians (19-5), who will face the Golden Knights (14-10) in the championship game. Muncy swept both games from Neumann this year, winning by 23 points in early December, and by just seven on Jan. 27.

------

DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A BOYS BASKETBALL

SEMIFINAL

at Milton H.S.

NO. 2 MUNCY 51, NO. 6 LINE MOUNTAIN 35

Line Mountain (12-13) 35

Nick Snyder 3 0-0 8; Aiden Tressler 3 3-4 10; Chase Shutt 3 2-2 9; Bryce Smeltz 4 0-2 8. Totals 13 5-8 35.

3-point goals: Snyder 2, Tressler, Shutt.

Did not score: Joe Spang, Ace Witmer, Cameron Malafi, Kaiden Maurer, Kaden Derck, Quinn Dunkelberger.

Muncy (19-5) 51

Nathan Rogers 3 1-3 7; Noah Confer 6 0-3 12; Stiles Eyer 3 1-4 7; Patrick Zalonis 3 5-6 12; Connor Shearer 4 1-2 9; Kyran Lisembee 1 0-0 2; Ken Hampe 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 8-20 51.

3-point goals: Zalonis.

Did not score: Kaylen Meyer.

Score by quarters

Line Mountain;5;11;9;10 — 35

Muncy;17;12;12;10 — 51