MC girls make history, tops SC for first D6 title

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: February 28, 2022

By Kenny Varner

CRESSON – Defense wins championships.

Monday night the MIfflin County girls basketball team made history, knocking off State College and capturing the District 6 Class 6A title, 49-39.

The win was the first in MIfflin County Huskies history.

It was a total team effort on the night as the Lady Huskies finished with seven steals and out rebounded the Little Lions 29-22.

Leading the offensive attack for the Lady Huskies was Marissa Gingrich as she posted a double-double posting 26 points and 10 boards. She also came up strong when sent to the line late in the game.

Bri Bodtorf provided the second of the MIfflin County 1-2 punch as she had 18 points and seven boards in the victory.

They were a team of destiny.

All season, the MIfflin County girls basketball team had their eye on the prize after falling to Altoona in the 2021 title tilt and the Huskies came to play.

Going into the final stanza MIfflin County had a 35-23 advantage.

With just needing one quarter to etch the Huskies name in the history books.

The State College defense came out pressing and fouling early.

But they would send Gingrich to the line. She was 8-11 to help clinch the win.

Also posting clutch free throws for MIfflin County were Bodtorf, with three from the charity stripe.

State College was led by Jordyn Steindl with 11.

Teammate Diana Tsarnakova with 10.

Early on, MIfflin County came out firing on all cylinders, most noticeably it’s defense as it was able to hold the State College offense to just six points.

The Lady Huskies started off with posting the first bucket.

Floor leader Gingrich took the ball straight at the heart of the Little Lions’ defense for a runner in the lane and a 2-0 lead.

After forcing a State College turnover on the following possession, the Huskies got the ball to Bodtorf from beyond the arc as she sent a triple to the hoop, upping its lead to five.

Hawbaker put her team on the board on a runner of her own.

State College would cut it to a 1-point contest when Jordyn Steindl hit a jumper in the paint.

Back battled the Huskies when Bodtorf hit a field goal to increase the lead back to three with 3:11 left in the opening period.

Tsarnakova cut the lead back to one on the Little Lions’ next possession with a field goal of her own.

Mifflin County ended the first quarter scoring with a bucket and a foul shot by Gingrich.

But the night belonged to the Lady Huskies as they celebrated at half court knowing that they would be the foundation of a winning g tradition for MIfflin County teams for years to come.