Huskies late comeback forces OT in D6 title tilt before falling late to Altoona

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: March 14, 2021

By Kenny Varner

TYRONE – After suffering a winless 2020 season, the MIfflin County basketball program showed it was heading in the right direction, earning a spot in the District 6 Class 6A championship game as the top seed.

Like the MC girls game before them, the Huskies found their was into an overtime contest versus Altoona at Tyrone high school Saturday.

However, their season would come to an after the Mountain Lions defeated the Huskies 56-49.

First year coach Bob Sealy was proud of the effort his kids gave against Altoona.

“I tell them every time, just give me effort. The effort tonight was there. I mean that anybody who was watching here, I can’t fault their effort one bit,” said Sealy. “When I took this job one think I won’t teach is effort. If I know your not busting it out there you’re coming out. Tonight, I didn’t take anyone out who because they didn’t hustle. So our kids just fought and fought. Down late they kept digging. I’m exceptionally proud of these guys.”

Leading the offensive punch for the Huskies was Owen Wise. Wise lit things up from beyond the 3-point line posting four triples on a 18-point performance.

Teammate Cade Penepacker followed up with a solid 11-point game.

Altoona’s leading scorer was Colin Lear with 14.

The Mountain Lions hit eight triples on the night while MIfflin County posted nine.

MIfflin County found itself down by five points at the beginning of the final stanza. But the Huskies would make a charge at the lead.

Altoona’s Nick Petucci added to the Mountain Lions lead as he hit a jumper in the lane and was fouled. Petucci missed the and one, making it a 37-30 lead.

Penepacker started the comeback attempt, hitting two free throws.

But like most of the contest, Altoona had an answer.

Ashton Bardell extended the lead to seven with 4:52 left.

The Huskies’ Cole Knable chipped into the lead hitting 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Ty Felmlee got the offense going again as he took it to hole, only to be fouled and sent to the line.

Felmlee went 2-for-2, cutting it back to a 7-point contest with only 3:10 left, cutting the Altoona advantage to only four at 39-35.

With the made free throws, Altoona called a time out.

MIfflin County came out of the time out with a strong drive to the bucket by Jayden Jackson, bringing his team to within a bucket.

Altoona made it a 3-point lead when Lucas Muffie hit one from the free throw line.

On the following MIfflin County possession, Jackson broke out into the open floor after getting the ball on defense.

He took the ball straight to the hoop and made the scoop lay-in and was fouled on the play.

With ice water in his blood, Jackson hit the high pressure foul shot to knot the game at 40 with only 20 ticks left in regulation.

MIfflin County’s defense played tough one last time in the final seconds and was able to keep the Mountain Lions from getting a good look at the basket, forcing an overtime period.

However, Altoona took over the momentum in the final stanza with a 16-6 run to clinch the victory.

As the Huskies walked off the court, they knew that the season they had was one they would remember as a historic one as they became the first basketball boys team to play in the D6 title tilt and played tough to the final buzzer, proving they belonged.