LEWISBERRY - As the Mifflin County competitive cheer team prepares for the state tournament in Hershey, the girls have to be ready for different challenges.
Saturday, they got a challenge they might not have been expecting.
After weather interrupted the teams' schedule and the Huskies found themselves unable to attend the UCA Keystone Classic at Penn State, the Huskies instead traveled to Sunday's Red Land Cheer Challenge.
The effort was worth Mifflin County's while.
In the event, the Huskies placed in third out of five teams, and coach Collette Bender said she noticed improvements in her team's effort.
"We made the routine a little more challenging, we added some difficulty. We pretty much tweeked the routine from what we had at districts - added some tumbling, added some difficulty," Bender said.
"Today was good for us to go and try out our stunts that we changed...it was a good chance to get out on the mat in front of a full crowd," Bender continued.
On Saturday, Mifflin County will travel to the Giant Center in Hershey for the state tournament, and Bender says her team is preparing for the event by continuing to improve upon and add difficulty to its routine.
"We try to just take the judges' feedback, and make it better week by week," Bender said.
Boys basketball
Shikellamy 65, Midd-West 39
MIDDLEBURG - For a team that has struggled with shooting all season long, the story was no different Saturday for the Midd-West boys as they tried to keep up with Heartland Conference opponent Shikellamy.
In the 65-39 loss, Midd-West especially struggled to score in the first half, and didn't light up the board until the second quarter, during which the Mustangs put up 11.
The Braves, on the other hand, struck early, putting up consecutive 20-point quarters in the first, for the 40-11 half-time lead.
By the second half, Midd-West had finally started hitting some buckets - the Mustangs outscored Shikellamy 28-25 in the half - but were still unable to overcome the first-half deficit.
Colton Keister led the Mustangs with 14 points.
In JV action, Shikellamy edged Midd-West, 64-31.
The Mustangs (3-12, 0-9) get back in action today when they host non-league opponent Halifax.
Girls basketball
Newport 39, Greenwood 24
NEWPORT - Three points into the game, the Greenwood girls found themselves in deep water against Newport when it was already the half and the Buffaloes had a 17-point lead.
As it turned out, the Wildcats turned it on in the second half to outscore Newport 21-17, but this was to no avail as Greenwood took the 39-24 Tri-Valley League loss.
Mallory Fortenbaugh led the Wildcats with 11 points.
Greenwood (2-15) travels to Millersburg today.
Wrestling
Panther Valley Duals
LANSFORD - The Midd-West wrestlers failed to place as a team Saturday at the Panther Valley Duals, but Corey Stauffer and Zach Heeter still came home with individual golds.
At 106, Stauffer took first place after he won a 4-1 decision over Panther Valley's Lenny Ogozalek. Heeter's first place finish came after he pinned Catasauqua's Casey Simmons at 160.
Third place finishers for the Mustangs included Brody McLaughlin and Zach Longacre.
Midd-West travels to Jersey shore on Feb. 7.
