Starring Role: Lee Habalar scores his 1,000th point and helps South win thriller against Muncy (2023)

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport’s Marquan Harris (1) reaches in for a rebound over the head of Muncy’s Ross Eyer (11) during a high school boy’s basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMuncy’s Ross Eyer (11) snags a rebound away from South Williamsport’s Arron Akers (32) during a high school boy’s basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport’s Arron Akers (32) and Marquan Harris (1) try to block a shot by Muncy’s Branson Eyer (23) during a high school boy’s basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMuncy’s Branson Eyer, center, tries for a shot during a high school boy’s basketball game against South Williamsport on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport’s Marquan Harris (1) reaches in for a rebound over the head of Muncy’s Noah Confer (3) and Mike Fry (24)during a high school boy’s basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMuncy’s Branson Eyer (23) moves the ball past South Williamsport’s Marquan Harris (1) and Caden Harris (0) during a high school boy’s basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport’s Lee Habalar reaches his 1000 point milestone during a high school boy’s basketball game against Muncy on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport’s Marquan Harris, center, grabs a rebound during a high school boy’s basketball game against Muncy on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport’s Lee Habalar celebrates after reaching his 1000 point milestone during a high school boy’s basketball game against Muncy on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

Tuesday night at South, Habalar played the starring role in a thrilling basketball game that doubled as a community celebration. In front of a boisterous crowd which filled every gymnasium seat, Habalar received a rousing ovation and rave reviews as he joined an exclusive club while helping South win a big game.

Habalar scored his 1,000th career point midway through the fourth quarter and made a series of big plays late as South edged Muncy, 50-45 and won its eighth straight game. Muncy’s Branson Eyer nearly duplicated that achievement but came up one point shy of 1,000 despite playing a super game and will try and reach that milestone Saturday at East Juniata.

“I love thinking that even when I leave this school there’s still going to be part of me that’s still here. I left something for other people to see,” Habalar said. “In generations, people aren’t going to know who I was; I’m just going to be like the other names up there, but when I come back it’s always going to have a special place in my heart. I’m going to think of my team, all my teammates and all the memories we made together.”

No doubt, what South did together Tuesday is something all the Mounties will fondly remember. Every Mountie superbly played his role and South erased a fourth-quarter deficit to avenge an early-season loss at Muncy. Marquan Harris was a force with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while his brother Caden (8 points, 3 assists, 2 steals) hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to put South (12-7) ahead to stay in the final quarter.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport's Marquan Harris, center, grabs a rebound during a high school boy's basketball game against Muncy on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

Still, while all the South fans wanted a win, they also desperately wanted to see Habalar reach 1,000 points. A four-year starter, a National Honor Society member and a young renaissance man in sneakers, Habalar seemingly had the whole town behind him, showing that his impact carries far beyond the basketball court.

The thing is, reaching 1,000 was a struggle and fans grew nervous. Habalar needed five points to reach 1,000 entering the game and scored two in the opening minute. But he did not score again until the fourth quarter, still needing three entering the final eight minutes as Muncy (13-6) took a 35-33 lead.

Right when things started looking bleak, though, Habalar produced a rousing number and started making music on the court. He scored inside and tied the game 15 seconds into the fourth. After Muncy cut a six-point deficit in half, Habalar’s dramatic moment came, and he took center stage.

Aaron Akers drew the defense into the lane before whipping a pass toward Habalar in the right corner. All eyes shifted Habalar’s way, and some fans rose to their feet in anticipation.

Habalar used a head fake to make the defender jump and miss him. Then, the four-year starter stepped inside the arc and put up a jumper from the wing. It hit nothing but net, put South up, 43-38 and sent his loyal fans into a frenzy.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport's Lee Habalar reaches his 1000 point milestone during a high school boy's basketball game against Muncy on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

“It didn’t feel real. I’ve been anticipating it the last couple games, trying to figure out what move I’d do and all the stuff that goes through a kid’s head,” Habalar said. “I was just out there playing basketball and got the shot I wanted. I was able to make it and to see everyone erupt was amazing. It’s really great to see all the support.”

“It was big. He made a nice fake, and it was a shot he will remember forever,” South coach Joe Simon said. “I talked to him before the game and I said, ‘It’ll happen. Just play your game and he said, ‘I’ve got it, coach.'”

Simon can relate. One of Bucktail’s best players ever, Simon scored his 1,000th career point in 2006, ironically against South. Habalar missed the final 6 minutes, 23 seconds of the first half after picking up his second foul and went scoreless in the third quarter. Still, Simon and his teammates trusted Habalar, he trusted them and together, they made it work.

A player as unselfish as he is talented, Habalar held up a sign which read “Thank you, Team,” after receiving well wishes from family, coaches, teammates and Muncy players. Then, the Mounties went back to work and Habalar helped them surge in the closing minute after Muncy trimmed a seven-point deficit to two.

Habalar first found Ben Manning streaking down the court, hitting him in stride with a perfect inbound pass as Manning’s layup put South ahead, 47-42 with 40 seconds left. After Ross Eyer drained a 3-pointer from beyond NBA range and made it a two-point game, Habalar drew a foul and went to the free throw line for a 1-and-1. There, he calmly sank both free throws and put South up, 49-45 with 15 seconds remaining. Marquan Harris grabbed the rebound off Muncy’s ensuing miss and clinched the game with another foul shot at the six-second mark, giving Habalar the perfect ending to a perfect night.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMuncy's Branson Eyer (23) moves the ball past South Williamsport's Marquan Harris (1) and Caden Harris (0) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

“It wouldn’t be the same if we lost the game. Obviously, I’d still be happy about it because it’s still a big achievement, but it was such a big game coming in,” Habalar said. “There was pressure on just for the game; pressure on for 1,000 points and it was a great team win.”

“The first thing Lee said to me after the game was, ‘That was a great win coach,'” Simon said. “He said nothing about him scoring 1,000. That’s the type of player he is. It’s a great individual accomplishment, but he is prepared and ready to go for this team for the push into the playoffs.”

Simon normally talks to his team following the game, but Habalar was the talk of the town Tuesday and Simon let he and his teammates enjoy their curtain call. Habalar was swarmed by jubilant fans of all ages. No doubt, Branson Eyer will receive a similar reaction if all the Muncy fans who did a fantastic job filling up their section of the bleachers Tuesday night, head to East Juniata Saturday.

Eyer and Habalar are similar players in so many ways. They frequently fill up the stat sheets and are focused on winning above any personal achievements. That was evident early and often as both players facilitated the offense and combined for three assists in the opening minutes.

Eyer played his usual excellent all-around game, scoring a team-high 14 points, grabbing four rebounds and making three steals. He also nearly willed Muncy to the comeback win. After South went ahead, 45-38 with less than three minutes remaining, Eyer scored off a drive before doing so again off a one-handed putback. Just like that, Muncy was within, 45-42.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport's Marquan Harris (1) reaches in for a rebound over the head of Muncy's Noah Confer (3) and Mike Fry (24)during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

It also says a lot about Eyer that he sacrificed himself to save precious seconds late in the game and fouled out with 15 seconds remaining. Had Habalar not been so clutch at the foul line and not made both, Muncy would have had ample time to either tie or win the game.

“It’s like a broken record because I keep saying it, but it’s true,” Muncy coach Jason Gresh said. “Every game is the same thing. He gives you everything every single game. He just battles.”

So do his teammates.

South led 17-11 after the first quarter but Muncy came storming back and tied it by halftime. The lead changed hands 11 times between the middle of the second quarter and early in the fourth as two playoff contenders staged a riveting heavyweight fight.

Ross Eyer matched Marquan Harris by pulling down 16 rebounds and also dealt six assists, while blocking three shots. Mike Fry produced 10 points and six rebounds and Eli Weikle added eight points.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMuncy's Branson Eyer, center, tries for a shot during a high school boy's basketball game against South Williamsport on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

“We had our opportunities,” Gresh said. “At the end of the day, it was just a good back and forth battle, no doubt about it.”

“It was great. We had the pep band here, it was Coaches vs. Cancer, and it was a Gold Out with both teams having big crowds,” Simon said. “This is what’s awesome about high school basketball.”

And how it played out is something Habalar will carry with him wherever he goes. Reaching the 1,000-point milestone was great, but Habalar likely will remember the reception he received while achieving it even more.

On this night, he commanded the spotlight.

“It worked out great. The atmosphere was nuts,” Habalar said. “I don’t think I can even put into words what this means.”

MUNCY (45)

Ross Eyer 3 1-2 9, Branson Eyer 5 3-4 14, Mike Fry 4 1-1 10, Noah Confer 1 2-4 4, Eli Weikle 3 1-2 8, Brady Ryder 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 8-13 45.

SOUTH (50)

Lee Habalar 3 2-2 8, Marquan Harris 7 2-4 16, Aaron Akers 2 0-0 4, Ben Manning 3 0-0 7, Alex Neidig 3 0-1 7, Caden Harris 3 1-2 8, Radley Knapp 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 5-9 50.

Muncy11 15 9 10-45

South17 9 7 17-50

3-pointers: Muncy 5 (R. Eyer 2, B. Eyer, Fry, Weikle); South 3 (Manning, Neidig, C. Harris).

Records: South 12-7. Muncy 13-6.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport's Arron Akers (32) and Marquan Harris (1) try to block a shot by Muncy's Branson Eyer (23) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentMuncy's Ross Eyer (11) snags a rebound away from South Williamsport's Arron Akers (32) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette CorrespondentSouth Williamsport's Marquan Harris (1) reaches in for a rebound over the head of Muncy's Ross Eyer (11) during a high school boy's basketball game on Tuesday at South. South won 50-45.