MC girls make history; heads to first D6 Championship game with win over State College

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – History was made Wednesday evening as the MIfflin County girls basketball team was able to notch their first playoff game in the school’s history.

In the process, they put away a young State College team in the process, winning in grand fashion 65-18 in the District 6 Semis.

It’s now onward and upward as the Lady Huskies will now play for their first championship.

“First playoff win in school history and I’m really happy for the kids. I was actually thinking of some of the other kids as the game went on.  My mind started to wander a little. A lot of kids that were so close. We had some really good kids play in this gym the last eight years,” said MIfflin County coach Roger Herto. “I heard from some of them this week. I think it meant a lot. To these kids (his current roster) this is their time and it should be their time. I don’t think they realize when your playing for a school sometimes it carries a little more weight that it means a lot to other people too. So I know this was a great win for the program.”

MIfflin County finished with three players scoring in double-figures.

Brianna Bodtorf finished the night with a 19-point effort, one more than the entire State College team.

She finished with three triples and five rebounds on the night.

Marissa Gingrich was a force on defense as well as posting a 16-point effort. She also finished with four boards and numerous steals.

Katie Knable rounded out the leading scorers with 13.

Molly Wagoner made her return to the line up and contributed with six boards and four points. She was also a strong force in the middle, forcing State College to change their shot selection when penetrating the paint.

Hannah Knable also came up clutch in the first half as she tossed in two triples and a free throw for seven.

Coming off the bench Tessa Pavlova made the best of her time on the court, posting two points, four rebounds and a block.

In the early minutes of the opening period the game was a back-and-forth contest.

State College got its first basket from Ellie Lenze after pulling down an offensive rebound.

Bodtorf gave MIfflin County its first lead after roping a triple seconds later, 3-2.

Back battled the Little Lions as Diana Tsarnakova drained a triple giving back State College the lead.

MIfflin County took back the lead for good when Bodtorf sank her second triple, 6-5.

Hannah Rittenhouse hit 1-of-2 from the line to give her team a 2-point advantage with 3:53 left in the first, forcing State College to call a time out.

After the time out, the Lady Huskies caught fire.

Starting the 14-2 run was a put back by Wagoner.

Gingrich led the scoring in the run with four points.

In the run, State College’s basket came from Diana Tsarnakova. She finished as the Little Lions leading scorer with seven.

With time running out, Rittenhouse hit a triple as the quarter buzzer sounded, giving MIfflin County the lead after one at 21-7.

MIfflin County dominated both sides of the court in the second, exploding for a 23-0 period.

Gingrich caught fire in the period, posting 10 points.

As the two teams went into the intermission, MIfflin County was in total control while holding a 44-7 lead.

In the second half, the game was set into a “Mercy Rule” contest.

But again the MIfflin County defense stood tall in the abbreviated period, outscoring State College 11-2.

With the game pretty much at hand it was time for MIfflin County to clear the bench to get some of its reserves in.

Without any let down, MIfflin County was still battling and was able to hold onto to outscore the Little Lions, 10-9.

With the win, MIfflin County will battle Altoona for the title Saturday at 3pm at Tyrone.

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