Bennett tops 1,000-point mark; Juniata tops Susquenita

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: February 10, 2022

Juniata 56, Susquenita 45

MIFFLINTOWN – It took a little while, but eventually a fourth quarter surge gave Mackenzie Bennett a career point 1,000 as the Juniata Indians defeated rival Susquenita by the final score of 56-45 in a very physical Tri-Valley League girls basketball game on Wednesday night.

Miss Bennett came into the game needing only to make 11 points to reach the career milestone and for the first three quarters of the game, only managed to score two points.

But then in the fourth quarter, things finally seemed to open up for her as Bennett attacked the basket and either scored a basket, or found herself on the foul line and was inching ever so closer to the milestone.

Then finally it happened, as the closing seconds of the evening Bennett came charging into the lane and put up a layup that dropped in to complete the 1,000 point career and having her teammates storm the court and congratulating her on the accomplishment.

Bennett scored 10 of her 12 total points in the game during the fourth quarter. But overall, Bennett is just grateful and appreciative to not have to worry about it anymore and is thankful for everything her teammates and the coaches did to help her get to this point. Bennett currently stands at 1,001 points for her career.

Through the first three quarters of the game, it appeared as though Bennett was not going to be able to reach the goal as the Blackhawks zeroed in on her and kept the ball out of her hands.

Luckily for the Indians, Haley Mummah and Ava Shearer came up big offensively and got the struggling Juniata offense going giving Juniata a 16-12 lead at the break.

But then in the third quarter, Juniata got things moving offensively as Shearer, Regan Lowrey and Talon Walton were major contributors to the offense throughout the second half of the game.

Shearer scored a game high of 15 points while Lowrey added another 14 for the evening. Mummah scored eight points and Walton jumped in with five.

The Indians also took advantage of the physical play of Susquenita as they found themselves on the foul line and had 29 shot attempts, making 19 of those free throws.

Most of the damage at the line was done in the fourth quarter where Juniata dropped 12 of the 16 attempts at the line. Shearer made the most foul shots making seven of ten for the evening.

Juniata moves up to (13-5) overall and (11-3) in the league and will gear up and get ready for game two between cross county rival East Juniata on Friday.

Juniata 56, Susquenita 45
JUNIATA
Haley Mummah 3 1-5 8, Autumn Clark 0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Bennett 4 4-6 12, Shalelyn Armstrong 0 2-2 2, Regan Lowrey 5 2-2 14, Mariska Beward 0 0-0 0, Talon Walton 1 3-4 5, Ava Shearer 4 7-10 15, Ima Mercado 0 0-0 0, Anna Mae OáBrien 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 19-29 56
3-point goals: Mummah, Lowrey 2
SUSQUENITA
Mady Fleisher 4 2-4 10, Hailey Lingle 2 0-0 6, Grace Flickinger 1 0-0 2, Sam Wechsler 0 2-2 2, Emma Eicher 1 2-2 4, Ayahna Fleisher 4 2-2 11, Brye Wojcik 0 0-0 0, Elizabeth Jones 1 0-0 2, Leah Allewelt 2 1-4 5, Ryleigh Prinz 0 1-2 1, Lauren Schoppy 0 2-2 2. Totals: 15 12-18 45
3-point goals: Lingle 2, A.Fleisher
Score by quarters
S 8-4-14-19 – 45
J 10-6-19-21 – 56