Quick starts in first and third periods lead Little Lions over young Huskies

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 20, 2024

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Playing this one “For the Kids”. The Mifflin County girls basketball team held its Annual Gold Out Mini-Thon contest Saturday as they faced off against State College.

The night belonged to the the Lady Little Lions as they had strong first and third quarters en route to a 55-37 victory over the Huskies.

State College was led offensively by Sierra Wilson and Lydia Tate as both finished with 10.

Mifflin County got a game-high 11-point effort by Amelia Leister.

State College held a slim advantage on the boards, pulling down 28 rebounds while Mifflin County tallied 24.

“As coaches you always want to have great effort the first four minutes of the game and the first four minutes to start the second half,” said Mifflin County coach Aaron Gingrich. “Unfortunately tonight we did not have that. We got down 12-3 to start the game which put us in a hole. However, the second quarter I was very impressed with the effort and energy. We fought and got it back to one. It ended up being three at the half.”

Sizzling starts by the Little Lions in the first and the third quarter proved to be the difference in the contest.

After pulling down the opening tip, the Lady Lions got the ball to Sienna Wilson. Wilson stood behind the three-point line and hit nothing but net.

On MIfflin County’s first possession Leister was fouled while in the act of shooting, hitting 1-of-2 from the foul line.

State upped the score to 6-1 when Carley Donnell roped a triple at 5:47.

On the ensuing MIfflin County inbounds the Little Lions went into full court press mode on the Huskies.

With the pressure on Mifflin County, State College went on a 6-0 run. Sierra Wilson hit a free throw and a field goal in the run while teammate Sheree Wilson added a triple, upping their lead to 12-1.

Mackenzie Peachey ended the scoring run by hitting a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, making it a 12-3 contest.

State College made it a 12-point contest when McKenna Whitehurst added her name in the 3-point category. The Trey was the fourth of the stanza.

But the Huskies ended the period with a triple from Jalee Bodtorf and two points from the foul line by Peachey.

When the buzzer sounded ending the first, the Little Lions took a 15-8 advantage.

Mifflin County battled their way back into the game in the second.

Peachey opened the quarter posting a jumper to kick things off.

After holding State College on the following possession, Leister cut the lead to 15-12 as she hit a jumper of her own.

But Sierra Wilson took the ball and penetrated the middle culminating in a runner in the lane.

Jayda Kanagy roped a triple to close the margin even further as the Huskies tried to make a comeback.

But the Little Lions had an answer to everything the young Huskies could throw at them.

State College extended the lead to 22-15 on a triple by Donnell and an offensive rebound and put back by Jessica Hawbaker.

Back rallied the Huskies as they would end the first half going on a 5-2 run.

When the two teams went into the intermission State College led by a 23-20 advantage.

Coming out of the intermission, the Little Lions got its transition and inside game going, outscoring and putting the Huskies at a disadvantage posting 21 points on offense while its defense allowed only three MIfflin County points in third.

Going into the final stanza, State College held a 44-24 lead.

Mifflin County refused to give up, outscoring the Little Lions 13-11.

But it was too little too late for the comeback.

State College 55, Mifflin County 37

SC 15 8 21 11 – 55

MC 8 12 3 13 – 37

Scoring: State College – Diana Tsarnakova 1 0-0 2, Jessica Hawbaker 2 0-0 4, Alexa Russell 1 0-0 2, Annika Bechtel 1 0-0 2, Carley Donnell 3 1-1 9, McKenna Whitehurst 3 1-2 8, Sheree Wilson 3 0-0 7, Sierra Wilson 3 1-2 10, Lydia Tate 5 0-1 10. Totals 23 4-8 55. Mifflin County – Amelia Leister 3 5-7 10, Jalee Bodtorf 2 0-0 6, Payton Weaver 1 1-2 3, Jayda Kanagy 3 2-2 9, Riley Retherford 0 2-4 2, Mackenzie Peachey 1 4-4 6. Totals 10 15-20 37.

Played but didn’t score: State College – . Mifflin County – Maelyn Gingrich 0 0-0 0, Tressie Bender 0 0-0 0, Ava Baker 0 0-0 0, Malaina Maxwell 0 0-0 0, Cierra Williams 0 0-0 0.

3-point shots: State College – Wilson, Whitehurst, Donnell 2. Mifflin County – Bodtorf 2, Kanagy.