Lady Indians top Tigers in girls rivalry action

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 14, 2022

Photo by Bob Hockenbrock

MIFFLINTOWN – Juniata took advantage of the missed opportunities by East Juniata in the first quarter and brought home the W as the Indians downed their cross county rivals 38-24 in a Tri-Valley League girls basketball game Thursday evening.

The troubles for East Juniata began in the opening quarter of the game where shots were simply just not finding the bottom of the net. In fact, the Tigers did not score a basket until the mid-way point of the period and only a total of four points for the frame.

On the flip side, the Indians came out the gates swinging throwing everything but the kitchen sink on offense. There wasnát a shot that they didnát like and most of the time, the ball went in as Juniata dropped 17 points in quarter.

The Tigers’ struggles continued in the second quarter of the game as once again, they failed to make a basket until the middle of the period. However, East Juniata started using its defense to apply pressure on the Indians which got them out of their offensive rhythm and used it to get its offense going as both Juniata and East Juniata each scored 10 points in the frame making a 27-14 Juniata lead at halftime.

The full-court press applied by East Juniata became too much for Juniata to handle as the Indians were only able to score a basket for the whole third quarter, which was a three ball by Mackenzie Bennett. The Tigers took advantage and cut into the Juniata lead and made it a 30-22 ballgame.

But that was as close as East Juniata was going to get in catching up with Juniata as the Indians settled down in the fourth quarter and put the pressure on the Tigers forcing them into committing fouls and getting on the foul line. Juniata connected with six of the 10 shots from the free throw line.

East Juniata, much like in the first quarter, failed to get its shots to go down as the Tigers only made a basket in the final quarter which was a mid-range shot from Macy Buskey.

Juniata were led by Bennett were scored a game high of 19 points. Five of those six baskets made by Bennett from beyond the arc. Ava Shearer scored eight points and Regan Lowrey added another seven points for the night.

Sara Brackbill and Grace Hibbs led the East Juniata offense with each scoring six points for the Tigers.

Juniata is now (5-4) overall and (4-2) in the TVL while East Juniata falls to (4-5) overall and (2-4) in league. The Indians will travel to face Philipsburg while the Tigers will be on the road as well against Greenwood. Both games will be on Saturday.

Juniata 38, East Juniata 24
JUNIATA
Haley Mummah 1 0-3 2, Mackenzie Bennett 6 2-3 19, Shalelyn Armstrong 1 0-1 2, Regan Lowrey 1 5-5 7, Mariska Beward 0 0-0 0, Talon Walton 0 0-0 0, Ava Shearer 3 2-2 8, Anna Mae OáBrien 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 9-14 38
3-point goals: Bennett 5
EAST JUNIATA
Lexie Stuck 1 0-0 2, Cypress Feltman 2 0-0 4, Sara Brackbill 3 0-0 6, Marissa Coudriet 2 0-4 4, Cadee Becker 0 0-0 0, Grace Hibbs 3 0-0 6, Macy Buskey1 0-0 2. Totals: 12 0-4 24.
Score by quarters
EJ 4-10-8-2 – 24
J 17-10-3-8 – 38