Chris Masse on boys basketball: A look at the best moments of 2025 | News, Sports, Jobs

Isaac Erlandson (4) of Montoursville and Saoj Jones (0) of Loyalsock fight for a rebound during a game earlier this season at Loyalsock High School. Montoursville won 57-50.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Although 2025 became a memory last Thursday, this reporter figured we could take a trip down memory lane and look back at the The 10 moments which highlighted area boys’ basketball there.

Tomorrow, we will do the same as pertaining to girls’ basketball.

Top 10 Moments from 2025

10. Levi Butler erupts: It’s hard to start a season much better than Butler did last month. The South Williamsport junior torched Canton for 43 points in a blowout win. Butler drained seven 3-pointers, and had a ridiculous opening act, producing 25 first-quarter points. He was at 41 points through three quarters as well.

9. Kyreek Bradshaw thunders back: A torn ACL cost Bradshaw his junior year, but he made up for lost time as a senior at Williamsport, becoming the Sun-Gazette’s runner-up for Player of the Year. He earned a piece of history as well, scoring a Magic Dome record 39 points in a late-season win against Executive Education. Bradshaw anchored a young team and kept it from growing discouraged following a slow start, helping it surge down the stretch, win a playoff game and come within a shot of taking down five-time defending champion Scranton in the semifinals.

8. Bucktail raises the bar: After making history when it captured its first District 4 Class A championship the previous season, Bucktail took some big graduation hits, but kept raising the bar. The Bucks did not repeat as champions, but did again reach states, the first time that happened in program history. Bucktail gave top-seeded, eventual champion North Penn-Liberty a scare in the semifinals, defeated Sullivan County in the third place game and workhorse Brody Pentz topped both 1,000 career points and rebounds.

7. Davion Hill makes his collegiate mark: Hill, Lycoming County’s all-time boys’ basketball scoring leader, has settled in at Ball State, becoming the team’s starting point in his debut year there. The St. John Neumann graduate is averaging 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting 44 % from the field. A two-time State Player of the Year, Hill scored a career-high 24 points in a 96-85 win against Le Moyne.

6. Parker Bennett reaches personal milestone: Bennett became the area’s first boys’ player to reach 1,000 career points this season, doing so in Montgomery’s second game. The senior has been a massive part of helping spark a resurgence at Montgomery and, while he will play baseball in college, now will be remembered when anyone looks at the 1,000-point banner hanging in the gym. He became Montgomery’s fourth 1K scorer this century, joining Steve Hamm, Cam St. James and Logan Almeida.

5. Muncy again reaches 20: Muncy has put together one of the most successful runs in program history and earned at least 20 wins for a fourth consecutive campaign. The Indians went 20-7 and also went to both the state tournament and a fourth straight district final. Despite multiple costly injuries, Muncy continues going strong this season and entered the new year at 8-3 and undefeated in Mid-Penn play.

4. North Penn-Liberty makes history: After coming so close the previous five years, North Penn-Liberty grabbed the brass ring and captured the program’s first district championship. The Mounties did so in thrilling fashion, storming back from an eight-point second-half deficit and edging Lourdes, 57-53. North Penn-Liberty also overcame an eight-point deficit in a semifinal win against previous champion, Bucktail. The Mounties had lost in the 2021 and 2022 finals, so this one felt extra sweet and gained all those players and coaches who helped make it happen a moment they will never forget.

3. Jersey Shore roars back: Jersey Shore had won eight games combined the three previous seasons, so expectations were not high when Jon Boob took over as coach last season. But the Bulldogs took the area by surprise and enjoyed a monster turnaround, going 12-11 and putting a serious scare into eventual District 4 Class AAAA champion Danville in the quarterfinals. Jersey Shore won 10 more games than the previous season and earned accolades for its relentless play, regardless of whether winning or losing.

2. Warrior Run breaks through: Three years earlier, Warrior Run won one game. The next year saw an 11-win improvement and a district semifinal appearance. The Defenders reached the semis again in 2023, but became the 2000s best team there a year ago. Warrior Run won 21 games, captured its first league crown of the 21st century, came within a basket of winning its first district title since 1988 and won its first state tournament game since 1999. Center Aiden McKee earned second team all-state honors and Warrior Run has continued climbing to start this season, opening at 8-1 through its first nine games.

1. Ron Insinger retires: Loyalsock’s legendary coach stepped down last October and it is doubtful this area will ever see anything like the resume he built over a remarkable 51-year career. Insinger set a Pennsylvania wins record, going 1,140-321, while guiding Loyalsock to 25 district championships, 31 league crowns and the 2021 Class AAA state championship. One could break each of Insinger’s quarter century’s coaching and call them Hall of Fame careers. That includes his 21st century run where Insinger led Loyalsock to the state tournament in 22 of his final 26 seasons. Insinger set the standard for success around these parts and his name will permanently be etched in the history books throughout the state.

PUTBACKS: St. John Neumann sophomore Legend Dillard had a huge game in the North Penn-Liberty Tournament semifinals, scoring a career-high 30 points in a 75-53 win against Meadowbrook Christian. Dillard was virtually unstoppable in the fourth quarter, producing 19 of those points. Daiton Thompson added 17 and Conner Haswell a career-high 13 … Levi Butler scored 20 points as South Williamsport showed no rust following a long layoff and defeated Bucktail, 62-35, avenging a road loss from last season … Jacob Lorson played the hero Friday at Wellsboro, sinking a buzzer-beating runner which lifted Jersey Shore to a 49-47 win. Khani McCray scored 15 points, Lorson 11 and Ty McDermit nine … Greg Drake had a big game, scoring a career-high 16 points in Montgomery’s 66-44 win at Millville. Drake scored most of his points to stop Millville runs and Parker Bennett scored a game-high 28 points.

Dr. Masse’s top 5 rankings:

1. Warrior Run (9-1): James Keifer became the fourth Defender to score at least 18 points in a game, going for a career-high 23 in Saturday’s impressive 70-32 win against Bloomsburg. The team’s assist leader helped Warrior Run outscore Bloomsburg, 39-14 in the middle quarters as it built momentum for a big week which includes games against Loyalsock and Mifflinburg, with whom it shared last year’s HAC-III championship. Aiden McKee produced his eighth double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) in the Bloomsburg win, giving him 30 the past two seasons.

2. Montoursville (8-2): Montoursville showed no letdown following an impressive Pedie McDonald Tournament championship win against Selinsgrove, defeating North Penn-Mansfield, 69-40 Saturday. The Warriors have won eight of their last nine games and excellent balance is a big reason why. Four players scored in double figures Saturday, including Shea Ulmer (16), Kingston Fisher (13) and Elijah Eck and Cam Cintron (10 each). The Warriors open the HAC-II schedule tonight against two-time defending District 4 Class AAAA champion Danville. More tests come Wednesday and Saturday against Central Columbia and Lewisburg in a loaded conference.

3. Loyalsock (8-2): One of the area’s most improved teams this season, Loyalsock earned a big win Saturday when Saoj Jones hit the game-winner with five seconds left at Mifflinburg. The Lancers defeated last year’s HAC-III co-champion and a team which swept it a year ago. Like Montoursville, Loyalsock has won eight of its last nine games and has four players averaging more than nine points per game. First-year coach Ryan Cioffi has stressed going all out on defense and letting it fly on offense. That defensive-first mentality helped it Saturday and Bradyon Cioffi let it fly in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of his 12 points.

4. Lewisburg (6-4): Lewisburg had missed on some chances to produce statement wins until Saturday when it went to defending HAC-II co-champion Mount Carmel and putting it all together in a 66-47 win. Nazir Meredith had a big game inside, scoring a career-high 25 points, while guards Cooper Mowry and LJ Tucker combined for 21. That Lewisburg has four losses and is second in the District 4 Class AAAA standings shine a light on how tough its schedule through 10 games has been. With nearly every league game being a showdown between district title contenders, that could help Lewisburg a lot going forward.

5. Muncy (8-3): Muncy captured its fourth straight North Penn-Liberty Tournament championship, displaying its will and skill. The Indians rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to defeat the host Mounties in the semifinals before playing one of its most complete games in a 52-33 championship win against St. John Neumann which was more lopsided than the final indicates. Kyran Lisembee helped ignite the defense and had five steals against North Penn-Liberty, while Jaxton Frantz, Dominic Guardini and Nixon Lamper all reached double figures against Neumann.

Players of the Week

Jaxton Frantz, Muncy and Evan McTish, North Penn-Liberty: Frantz has had a massive breakout season and it continued at Liberty. The junior guard scored 35 points in two games, including 24 in the comeback win against the Mounties. He added three steals and three assists in that game, while draining five 3-pointers. McTish excelled in the post on consecutive days, totaling 40 points and 17 rebounds and helping North Penn-Liberty take third at its tournament. McTish had a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds against Muncy and was a vital part of a defense which shut down Meadowbrook Christian in a 50-24 third place win.

Game of the Week

Warrior Run at Loyalsock: Wednesday’s HAC-III showdown edges out Saturday’s battle when Lewisburg heads to Montoursville for a key HAC-II clash. Warrior Run-Loyalsock features two of the league’s last three champions (Warrior Run shared the crown a year ago with Mifflinburg) and could have big implications not just for the HAC-III, but for district 3A seeding. Warrior Run swept last season’s series, so Loyalsock likely will be eager to try and exact some revenge. These teams also are a combined 17-3.

–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse