From staff reports
LEWISTOWN - The Mifflin County boys got a strong bounceback win Saturday, knocking off non-league basketball opponent Shikellamy less that 24 hours after their last game, 60-40.
"On a short turnaround it was important for us to begin the game with an exremely high level of intensity and enthusiasm," Mifflin County coach Aaron Gingrich said. "I thought our guys responded very nicely."
Seth Wagner and Curtis Jerzerick both achieved double-doubles in the contest. Wagner led the game in scoring with 20 points and grabbed 11 boards; Jerzerick scored 14 and brought down 13 rebounds. Gingrich said turnovers were down overall, but was especially pleased that John Michael Maclay was especially stingy, allowing no turnovers.
The bench, he said, also responded when needed, especially Nate Koller and Evan Seby.
"When Shikellamy went zone to try and slow us own in the first half Evan Seby came off the bench and hit three critical threes," Gingrich said. He finished the game with five from long distance.
Aggressive defense by the Huskies (3-2) created scoring opportunities, Gingrich said, and the team rebounded well, ran the ball and attacked the paint. It forced the Braves back into a man defense, just where the Huskies wanted them.
"For us, any win is a big win. But I thought it was especially important to show the gus that each game is going to be different as far as the game plan and how we approach the attack to win," he said. That may change tonight when the team travels to Harrisburg.
"These guys have to realize there's going to be a wide divergence in talent level among the teams we play," Gingrich said.
The Huskies also won the JV game, 56-46.
Girls basketball
Bald Eagle Area 52, Juniata 35
WINGATE - Despite the most damaging player hitting Juniata before halftime, it was in the third that Bald Eagle Area doubled its lead on the way to a 52-35 non-league victory in girls basketball Saturday, Juniata's first loss of the year.
The Indians trailed by a half dozen at the break despite watching the Eagles' Marissa Ward score 21 of her game-high 22 points, including a trio of triples.
"I don't think she missed in the first half," Juniata coach Meghan Geedey said. "It didn't have anything to do with what we weren't doing defensively. They were shooting lights out"
It was a wake-up call for Juniata, which could see Bald Eagle Area again in the District 6 tournament. With the move back to the Tri-Valley League this year, the Indians rarely see potential playoff opponents.
Juniata's health may have played a role, Geedey said - her squad is below full speed and full strength thanks to a few early season injuries.
The Eagles also won the JV game.
Juniata (3-1) hosts Newport Tuesday.
Boys basketball
Greenwood 53, Selinsgrove 40
MILLERSTOWN - Josh Ferguson's 15-point outing led Greenwood Saturday as the Wildcats moved back above .500 with a 53-40 non-league win over Selinsgrove in boys basketball.
Ryan Kerstetter added 13 points - nine of those were from outside the arc - and Tyler Fegley 12 as the 'Cats managed six treys in the win.
Greenwood led by a point after one but turned it on in the second quarter, outscoring the Seals 19-9 for an 11-point halftime margin.
The Wildcats (3-2) travel to Juniata tonight.
Wrestling
Mustang Duals
MIDDLEBURG - Midd-West stayed close in two dual meets, but got its only win of the day at its own tournament against Elk Lake - a team that forfeited half the match to the Mustangs, who romped to a 60-5 victory.
Midd-West was close against Halifax, which recorded a 41-36 win, and Williams Valley, which came out on top 40-37. Harrisburg topped the host club, 47-30.
Midd-West had three wrestlers who won all their matches. Zach Heeter wrestled in all four duals, pinning three and getting one forfeit. Tanner Ebright pinned twice, had a major decision and received a forfeit. Corey Stauffer also registered a pair of falls, and had one decision along with a forfeit.
Midd-West (2-6) travels to Selinsgrove Thursday.
Indoor track
Franklin & Marshall Invitational
LANCASTER - Tim Beck and Nate Baumgardner each placed as an individual and on two relay squads, and Erika Shawver placed in two events individually, the highlights for Mifflin County in its indoor track and field debut Friday at Franklin & Marshall.
Shawver finished second in the 55-meter hurdles and seventh in the 200. Only two other girls placed in the meet, both shot putters: Makala Rearick and Emily Landis.
"We had a lot of girls that were close," said Huskies coach Scott Gantz, noting that the youthful squad was above expectations overall.
Jon Colwell had the highest finish among the boys, second in the 3,000-meter run.
"Jon was probably just off of state qualifying standard," Gantz said. "He's going to be one of your top seeded 3k runners in the state this year."
The 4x400 team of Kyroon Carrington, Baumgardner, Michael Kline and Beck was third; the same quartet was eighth in the 4x200. Gantz said the 4x200 could have done better but got tangled with another team during the race
"The kids went out there and they ran their hearts out," he said.
Baumgardner was fourth in the 55 hurdles and Beck fifth in the 400. Patrick Parker and Darien Knudsen both placed in the 1,600 and Dakota Smeltz in the shot put; the 4x800 relay squad was seventh.
Junior high
Wrestling
* Clearfield Duals: Mifflin County went 4-1 to place second on Saturday. Leading the Huskies were Andrew Wert, Dalton Hildebrandt, Quentin Milliken, Isaac Maclay and Trey Hartsock, who all went 5-0 on the day. Going 4-1 were Noah Myers, Trent Hidlay, Kyle Smith, Isaac Habbershon and Matt Lash. Mike Bielski and Clayton Wolfgang were 3-2. The Huskies are now 6-1 on the season.
