Lady Huskies top Central Mountain in defensive affair

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN- Defense took center stage Tuesday night when Central Mountain traveled to do battle with MIfflin County in girls basketball action. Both teams forced double – digit turnovers in the contest.

But a 17-point third quarter proved to be the determining factor in the contest as the Lady Huskies held on for the 44-34 victory over the Wildcats.

“Coming off a very intense and physical game yesterday at Hershey, I was a little worried about our legs and what energy we had,” said Mifflin County coach Aaron Gingrich. “Early on I thought we had to get them going a bit. Once they got into the flow, I thought our defensive effort was great. Only giving up 34 points to an athletic and active team like Central Mountain is a tribute to our girls on the defensive end.”

Mifflin County was strong from the outside as they posted six triples while Central Mountain finished with two.

It was a valiant effort by Central Mountain in the losing effort.

“They (MIfflin County) were knocking down the threes tonight. We tried everything we could to get some turnovers and try to get some easy offense because nothing was happening for us in the half court. Then when we tried to trap a little bit there in the half court, they were hitting down in the corner“ said Central Mountain coach Scott Baker.”it was just a darn if you do and darn if you don’t kind of night for us.”

The Lady Wildcats were led in the contest by Lena Walker who finished with a game-high 16-point effort. Teammate Camdyn Weaver followed with 10.

Despite battling foul trouble for much of the evening Mackenzie Peachey led her squad on the scoreboard posting 15. It was scoring by committee when Peachey was sitting on the bench with Riley Retherford following with nine. Amelia Leister and Jalee Bodtorf both posted a solid six points each in the contest.

Early on, both teams tried to establish their defensive presence with much success.

Both teams were evenly matched on the boards as both tallied 24 each.

Central Mountain tallied the first points of the ball game when Keely Rohrbach scored off an offensive rebound.

In the following possession, Mifflin County tied things on a bucket by Peachey in the lane.

Lena Walker stood from behind the 3-point line and hit nothing but net, giving the Wildcats a 5-2 advantage.

Retherford cut the lead to one on a runner in the lane.

With the Huskies clamping down using their full court press, Mifflin County got the ball and the ball made its way around the key to Peachey. Peachey stood back and launched a triple of her own giving her team the lead for the first time in the game, 7-5.

With another Wildcat turnover, MIfflin County made the lead a little bigger when Tressie Bender pulled down a rebound and put it back up for the bucket.

After another uncontested triple by Peachey, the Huskies extended its lead to 12-5.

Back battled Central Mountain as they drew closer as the final minutes drew to a close.

The Lady Wildcats ended the first on a 6-2 run. Four of those points came from Walker.

When the buzzer sounded ending the first, Mifflin County held a slim 13-11 advantage.

Things would remain close as the second half got underway.

Central Mountain broke out of the quarter tying things on a steal and a bucket by Weaver.

Peachey extended it back to two as she hit a tough shot in the paint.

Like in the first, both teams added a lot of defensive pressure.

Mifflin County made the most of it on the Wildcats’ next possession as they got the ball in transition to Bodtorf who stepped behind the line for the Huskies third triple of the contest.

In the following inbounds the Huskies again got possession. The result was Peachey taking the ball inside and getting fouled in the process of shooting. She was perfect on both shots adding to the MIfflin County lead, 20-13.

Back battled the Wildcats as they once again ended on a run to get within striking distance. Starting with a triple by Walker, the team was able to go into the intermission only trailing by 22-18.

The Huskies’ defense took charge dictating the momentum in the third quarter as it helped spark its offense to a 17-point quarter for the “Purple and White”.

The result would end up seeing the Wildcats looking at a 39-25 deficit.

In the final stanza, the Central Mountain defense tried to work down the deficit.

Early on they were successful as they got the Huskies lead down to nine points.

However, the time would run out on the Wildcats whose valiant effort fell short, 44-34.

Mifflin County 44, Central Mountain 34

CM 11 7   7  9 – 34

MC 13 9 17 5 – 44

Scoring: Central Mountain –  Camdyn Weaver 3 2-2 10, Lena Walker 6 2-2 16, Taylor Doyle 1 0-0 2, Keely Rohrbach 1 0-2 2, Ava Doyle 1 1-4 3, Morgan Temple 0 1-2 1. Totals 12 8-12 34. Mifflin County – Amelia Leister 1 4-12 6, Jalee Bodtorf 2 0-0 6, Maelyn Gingrich 1 0-0 3, Jayda Kanagy 0 3-4 3, Tressie Bender 1 0-0 2, Riley Retherford 2 4-4 9, Mackenzie Peachey 5 3-4 15. Totals 13 14-24 44.

Played but didn’t score: Central Mountain – Elise McKean 0 0-0 0, Nancy Plowman 0 0-0 0, Aubrey Eiler 0 0-0 0, Jacey Tripp 0 0-0 0.

Mifflin County – R. Smith 0 0-0 0,Cierra Williams 0 0-0 0, Ava Baker 0 0-0 0, Payton Weaver 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: Central Mountain –   Walker 2. Mifflin County –    Bodtorf 2, Gingrich, Retherford, Peachey 2.