Tigers start off season with win over Thunder

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: December 5, 2023

By Joshua Yoder
BELLEVILLE – East Juniata got on Belleville Mennonite early and never looked back as the Tigers dropped the Thunder 50-30 in girls basketball action Monday night.
The Tigers started the opening period off with an 8-0 run and used their size and strength advantage to keep the Belleville Mennonite offense in check as the Thunder was held to just a single point for the whole quarter which was scored by a Leah Reed free throw.
But in the second quarter, Belleville Mennonite managed to get its shots to fall attacking the mid-range as well as from the three point line. But again East Juniata continued to pound the ball inside using their size advantage thanks to the dynamic duo of Sara Brackbill and Landyn Cramer who carried the Tigers to a 24-12 lead at the break.
To the Thunder’s credit, they were able to keep pace with East Juniata throughout the third period and matched shot after shot with the Tigers.
But it was then in the fourth and final quarter where East Juniata turned up the intensity as the Tigers overpowered Belleville Mennonite and outscoring them 18-10 for the quarter thanks to the efforts of Brackbill, Cramer and Cadee Becker.
Belleville Mennonite was led by Reed who scored 13 points and was a big factor on the boards for the Thunder. Karina Renno added another 11 points for the evening.
East Juniata was led by Brackbill who compiled a grand total of 22 points in the game and at one point had more points than the Thunder did combined. Becker was another East Juniata player to score in double digits as she collected 11 points.
Belleville Mennonite opens the season at (0-1) and will look to get its first victory of the season as the Thunder will host the Greenwood Wildcats today at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile for East Juniata, the Tigers start off their season at (1-0) and will be looking to make it two in a row as they will hit the road to do battle with the Forbes Road Cardinals with game time starting at 7:30 p.m.

East Juniata 50, Belleville Mennonite 30
EAST JUNIATA
Sara Brackbill 10 2-4 22, Cadee Becker 5 0-0 11, Landyn Cramer 3 2-3 8, Maddie Snyder 2 3-3 7, Addison Eby 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 7-13 50
BELLEVILLE MENNONITE
Chantal Weaver 2 0-0 4, Karina Renno 5 0-0 11, Mariah Schuble 1 0-0 2, Leah Reed 4 4-6 13. Totals: 12 4-6 30.
Score By Quarters
EJ 10-14-8-18-50
BMS 1-11-8-10-30