HARRISBURG - The Mifflin County boys took it as close to their first Mid-Penn Conference basketball win as they've yet been, but ultimately fell to Harrisburg, 69-61, Monday night.
"We had it to three points in the third quarter, and seven with the ball in the fourth, but we were unable to get over the hump and make a challenge after that," Mifflin County coach Aaron Gingrich said.
Mifflin County's Seth Wagner had a strong night with a game-high 18 points. Wagner also had 12 rebounds, giving him the double-double.
Harrisburg put on a full-court press the entire game, but Gingrich thought that overall his team responded well to the pressure.
"I thought our guys kept their composure for the most part, defended well, but our Achilles heel was several turnovers that led to easy baskets for Harrisburg, and we shot 14-for-29," he said.
Mifflin County (3-3, 0-3) hosts Carlisle on Wednesday.
Boys basketball
Greenwood 62, Juniata 19
MIFFLINTOWN - Juniata could muster no more than seven points in a single quarter against Tri-Valley League opponent Greenwood, and it resulted in a very lopsided final score of 62-19.
"They just took us out of our game. We couldn't do anything offensively," Juniata coach Nathan Geibel said.
From Greenwood coach Kent Houser's perspective, his team's defensive performance showed an improvement.
"I think our defense is coming a long a little bit," Houser said. "We're starting to play better team defense."
Greenwood's Adam Harrison had a game-high 14 points on the night. Juniata's Zach Graybill ended close behind Harrison with 12 points.
In the JV game, Greenwood took the Indians 30-20.
Greenwood (4-2, 3-0) travels to Lancaster County Christian Thursday. Juniata (0-3, 0-1) travels to cross-county rival East Juniata Wednesday.
Great Commission 50, Belleville Mennonite 37
BELLEVILLE - Belleville Mennonite found itself in a familiar position Monday, one its coach would like not to see repeated: The Trojans were in a hole at the half that was too deep to dig out of, and the boys basketball game went the way of Great Commission, 50-37.
Belleville Mennonite tried to kick after the break, outscoring the Altoona school 14-4 - but they got no closer.
"We made a run in the third quarter and had it under 10," Trojans coach Doug Snook said. "We were running low in numbers and varsity experience."
Sammy Kauffman's 11 points led Belleville Mennonite (2-3).
The Trojans get a long rest to prepare for their next game, when they take on host East Juniata in the Juniata County Christmas Tournament, which will be played Dec. 27-28.
Bellwood-Antis 61, Mount Union 49
MOUNT UNION - Down by a score of 53-35 to Bellwood-Antis at the beginning of the fourth, the Mount Union boys basketball team attempted a comeback during the last eight minutes of play, but ultimately fell short in the Inter-County Conference matchup by a score of 61-49.
"Down the stretch we pulled it back a little bit in the fourth," Mount Union coach Joe Komir said.
Part of the Trojans' downfall was Bellwood-Antis's Noah Davis, who had a game-high 28 points.
"We just didn't have an answer for him," Komir said. "He's a really really good player."
Mount Union's Kenny Simmons added 18 points to the Trojans' effort.
"Simmons was all over the offensive glass," Komir said.
In the JV game, Mount Union lost by a slim three points in the 46-43 contest.
Mount Union (4-1, 1-1) travels to Bald Eagle Area Wednesday.
