Saturday’s District 4 Class AA semifinal at Montoursville was for a spot in the championship. But it turned into a defensive clinic, too, and Muncy taught the class. In a season where the Indians have produced some impressive defensive works, this was their masterpiece.

Muncy allowed just seven field goals, forced 22 turnovers and thumped league rival Northwest, 29-15. The Indians (19-5) held Northwest to just 11 points through the game’s first 30 minutes and earned both a second straight district final and state tournament appearance. The defending champions will again meet top-seeded Northeast Bradford in the final after NEB defeated Canton, 53-32 in the other semifinal.

“The bottom line is we won the game with our defense,” Muncy coach Craig Weaver Sr. said. “I always say that in every big game, we have to weather the best shot that they’re going to give us. We weathered it and locked down the second half.”

Addi Eyer scored a game-high 14 points, while grabbing eight rebounds and her younger sister Ava totaled 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Rosie Zalonis made three steals, Anna Zalonis gave dynamic point guard Ashlyn Hermanofski fits, Addi Gresh guarded the rim well and Emma McCormick and Alexis McKeta shined off the bench as Muncy put all the pieces into place.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Addison Eyer (15) reaches in to block a shot by Northwest Area's Ashlyn Hermanofski (10) during a PIAA District 4, Class AA semifinal game at Montoursville on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

Muncy dominated that second half, outscoring Northwest, 19-8 and pulling away while exacting some satisfying revenge. Eight days earlier, Northwest (20-5) rallied to defeat the Indians for the Mid-Penn championship. Muncy yearned for another opportunity and then pounced when it came.

The Indians surrendered just five field goals on their way to building a late 18-point lead. And they never stopped relentlessly competing, Ava Eyer driving home that point when she made a last-second steal as both her teammates and jubilant Muncy fans celebrated.

“We were definitely off that last game. We were all out of it. This one it really came together,” defensive stopper Anna Zalonis said. “We really, really, really wanted to win. We were just talking about how we just want to beat them so bad.”

That desire both teams shared played a role in points again being hard to come by after the rivals scored 53 and 54 combined points, in two earlier games. Muncy was slow to burn offensively and made just 3 of 21 first half shots but it’s stifling defense and ferocious hustle still allowed it to build a 10-7 halftime advantage.

Muncy led by three at the half against Northwest eight nights earlier, but this time it flipped the script and landed a knockout blow. The Indians found their offensive groove, somehow seemingly dialed in even more defensively and built a 22-11 lead entering the fourth. The way Muncy was preventing points, that 11-point deficit may have looked more like 41 to Northwest.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Ava Eyer (5) climbs the net to free a stuck ball during a PIAA District 4, Class AA semifinal game against Northwest Area at Montoursville on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

“We were up by three at the half up at Northwest and we knew the third quarter we had to come out hot,” Addi Eyer said. “All week we talked about having energy this game. We were asleep the last time and we focused on staying hot; staying energized and getting that boost off the made shots.”

Muncy really started doing that in the third quarter and Eyer played a big role. She sank an early 3-pointer and an outside jumper which put Muncy up six both times. Anna Zalonis followed with a 3-pointer and as the offense caught up to the defense, Northwest fell into dire times.

Muncy kept building on the momentum and squeezing the juice from an offense which produced 51 points in a quarterfinal win against Cowanesque Valley. A 9-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters put it up, 29-11 with four minutes remaining.

Anna Zalonis helped make coming back much harder for Northwest, showcasing her intelligence, poise and toughness on two critical third quarter situations. Both times, Zalonis planted herself, held her ground and drew charges on Hermanofski, forcing the team’s senior leader to the bench with four fouls.

“It was big. Getting up from that second one, it was like ‘Oh my gosh!’ That was a key factor in this game,” Zalonis said. “It’s motivation, too. It gives you so much energy and gets you ready to want and play some great defense.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Rosie Zalonis leaps for a loose ball during a PIAA District 4, Class AA semifinal game against Northwest Area at Montoursville on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

Muncy did that by focusing on mistakes made the last time. That night Northwest, which plays Canton for the district’s final state tournament berth, effectively used the screen and roll but Muncy cut off all avenues in the rematch. It was not just about guarding the ball, but guarding space, helping and communicating.

Putting it all together helped Muncy play its best defensive game at an opportune time.

“We worked in the gym, and we focused on help side and there were times it didn’t show up tonight, but we took away their biggest threats,” Addi Eyer said. “We spent a lot of time working on those things and it paid off.”

McKeta and McCormick also played valuable roles, giving Muncy excellent play off the bench. Their speed allowed Weaver to play different matchups and whatever hand Northwest presented, Muncy kept countering with aces.

McKeta was especially key in the first half as Muncy denied Northwest opportunities to take the lead while grabbing four rebounds. McCormick swarmed throughout the second half and Muncy did not allow a fourth quarter point until the final two minutes.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Alexis McKeta (23) reaches to keep a rebound out of the hands of Northwest Area's Arheya Williams (25) during a PIAA District 4, Class AA semifinal game at Montoursville on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

“Emma and Alexis wore worth every penny,” Weaver said. “Those two young ladies gave us what we needed.”

Muncy made the most of a second chance against Northwest and now gets another against Northeast Bradford which won a one-point thriller last month. Whatever happens there, this determined, hard-working team has become the first at Muncy in the 2000s to reach consecutive district finals and that speaks volumes.

“It’s big because your senior year goes by fast,” Addi Eyer said. “It’s nice to leave your legacy.”

NORTHWEST (15)

Ashlyn Hermanofski 2 1-4 5, Jordin Bowman 0 0-0 0, Arheya Williams 0 0-0 0, Ava Ruckle 3 0-0 6, Natalia Ninotti 1 0-2 2, Ali Miner 1 0-2 2. Totals 7 1-8 15.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Alexis McKeta fouls Northwest Area's Ali Miner during a PIAA District 4, Class AA semifinal game at Montoursville on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

MUNCY (29)

Addi Eyer 4 4-6 14, Ava Eyer 5 0-0 10, Rosie Zalonis 1 0-0 2, Addi Gresh 0 0-2 0, Anna Zalonis 1 0-0 3, Alexis McKeta 0 0-0 0, Emma McCormick 0 0-0 0. Totals

Northwest 3 4 4 4―15

Muncy 5 5 10 9―29

3-pointers: Muncy 3 (Ad. Eyer 2, A. Zalonis).

Records: Muncy 19-5. Northwest 20-5.