Juniata Christian boys top BMS

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 29, 2022

Juniata Christian 40, Belleville Mennonite 29

PORT ROYAL – A much stronger second half offensively for Juniata Christian while Belleville Mennonite struggled to get its shots to fall was the difference as the Lions defeated the Thunder by the final of 40-29 in an Allegheny Christian Athletic Association boys basketball game Friday night at Cedar Grove Brethren Church.

Both teams started off strong in the opening period of the game as Belleville Mennonite was moving the ball around trying to find a weak spot on the Juniata Christian defense. The duo of Christopher Stoltzfus and Clay Ammon led the Thunder and scored a combined nine of the 10 total points scored for the quarter by the Thunder.

Meanwhile, it was the Owen Yorks show for Juniata Christian in the opening frame as Yorks who did not play the last time these two teams met, scored all 13 points for the Lions in the quarter to give them a 13-10 lead after one quarter of play.

But then things got a little strange in the second quarter, as both Belleville Mennonite and Juniata Christian both failed to find the bottom of the net.

To be fair, both teams continued to look for the best shot possible in the period, but for one reason or another, the ball just did not go in the basket.

The Lions only managed to score a single point in the frame which was a free throw made by Matt Hoover. While for the Thunder, Mitchell Kauffman scored the only basket in the frame. It ended up being a 14-12 ballgame heading into the break.

Belleville Mennonite cut the lead down even more in the third quarter making it a 25-24 Juniata Christian lead after three quarters of play.

However, in the fourth quarter, the Thunder just were unable to make their shots go down, only scoring five points in the frame.

But then much like in the first quarter, Yorks stepped up big time for the Lions scoring 12 of 15 total points scored for the quarter to go and give Juniata Christian the victory.

Yorks led with a game high of 28 points, Clayton Martin added another seven points for the evening.

For Belleville Mennonite, the top scorer was Kauffman who scored nine points while Ammon had eight for the evening.

Juniata Christian (4-10) and Belleville Mennonite (5-7) will both be playing on Tuesday as the Lions will host Columbia County Christian while the Thunder will host Meadowbrook Christian.

Juniata Christian 40, Belleville Mennonite 29
JUNIATA CHRISTIAN
Trevor Brubaker 0 0-0 0, Jorge Flores De Valgaz 0 0-0 0, Matt Hoover 0 1-2 1, Anson Portzline 1 1-5 3, Clayton Martin 3 1-3 7, Owen Yorks 8 6-10 28, Kenny Hoover 0 1-2 1. Totals: 12 10-22 40
3-point goals: Yorks 6
BELLEVILLE MENNONITE
Mitchell Kauffman 2 5-7 9, Quinn Renno 2 0-0 5, Christopher Stoltzfus 3 0-0 7, Colton Sunderland 0 0-0 0, Clay Ammon 2 2-3 8, Evan Crosson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 7-10 29
3-point goals: Renno, Stoltzfus, Ammon 2
Score by quarters
BMS 10-2-12-5 – 29
JCS 13-1-11-15 – 40