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Late run propels Huntingdon

Trojans’ shooting goes cold in fourth

Sentinel photo by JEFF FISHBEIN
Mount Union’s Keairra Worthy, center, goes up for a shot while teammate Karrigan Woodward looks on Wednesday in the first game of the Huntingdon Lions Club Shootout at Juniata College. Huntingdon’s Emily Kurtz (14) defends.

HUNTINGDON — A spirited effort by the Mount Union girls basketball team through three quarters showcased what the Trojans are capable of when they are at their best.

It also showed why the team is 1-6.

After three strong quarters, a scoring drought of more than four minutes resulted in just two fourth-quarter points and 16 second-half turnovers in Mount Union’s 50-37 loss to rival Huntingdon in the opening round of the Huntingdon Lions Club 2018 Holiday Shootout.

“I think that it’s a combination of needing to learn how to win and play with a lead,” Trojans’ coach Alix Sellers said. “I think it killed our momentum when [Keairra] Worthy and Ty Hartley fouled out within seconds of each other in the fourth.”

The Trojans led 25-20 at halftime, but were outscored 30-12 in the second half behind a much better shooting effort by the Bearcats. Huntingdon hit seven 3-pointers in the contest, including four in the second half.

Things changed quickly for the Bearcats in the third quarter, as they crashed the glass better and began to get shots to fall. Huntingdon’s Rin Reamer forced Mount Union into multiple turnovers, racking up eight steals — most of which occurred in the second half.

The bench also put forth a great effort in the half for Huntingdon, as Rachel Kyle’s 10 points — including two shots from behind the arc and a pair of fourth-quarter free-throws — helped the Bearcats end the game on a 15-2 run through the final stanza.

Mount Union showed it was more than capable of playing with Huntingdon in the first half with Karrigan Woodward and Kyra Hand leading the offense, while Hartley and Worthy dominated in the paint defensively.

Woodward had 12 points at halftime and Mount Union ran off to an early 22-13 lead before a 7-2 run by Huntingdon put the Bearcats within striking distance in the second half. Huntingdon’s run ultimately carried over into the second half.

The Trojans scored a majority of their points in transition after breaking a smothering Huntingdon press, with precise passes leading to uncontested layups.

“I was very proud of them for that,” Sellers said. “We’ve been working on that since the beginning of the season. We’ve have known what we need to look for and Huntingdon has an especially good press. I was glad we executed against it in a game.”

The Trojans dominated the glass with a 29-17 rebounding advantage, but it was turnovers and foul trouble that cost Mount Union the most down the stretch. Huntingdon forced Mount Union into 36 turnovers, while committing just 18 themselves.

“Usually what determines if what we do well is A, if we are turning it over and B, if we crash the boards or not,” Sellers said. “When those things start to go like in the third quarter when we stopped crashing the boards, the turnovers start.”

Both Hartley and Worthy fouled out with just over six minutes left in the final quarter, leading the Bearcats past Mount Union in the final frame.

Kynnedy Miller led Huntingdon with a game-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Emily Kurtz had eight rebounds for the Bearcats.

Woodward led Mount Union with 16 points, while grabbing four rebounds. Hand had six points and seven rebounds, while Ty Hartley had six points and seven rebounds.

Mount Union will return to action today in the consolation game of the tournament, a contest against Southern Huntingdon at 4 p.m. The Rockets fell 64-15 to Juniata Valley.

Huntingdon 50, Mount Union 37

MOUNT UNION

Karrigan Woodward 7 2-3 16, Kyra Hand 3 0-0 6, Ty Hartley 3 0-0 6, Camille Posey 2 0-1 5, Morgan Brumbaugh 1 0-0 2, Keairra Worthy 1 0-0 2. Totals: 17 2-4 37.

3-point goals: Posey.

Did not score: Myah Hand, Minerva Sheeder.

HUNTINGDON

Kynnedy Miller 6 2-2 18, Rachel Kyle 3 2-2 10, Allie Troup 2 3-4 7, Kait McElroy 1 5-9 7, Rin Reamer 1 0-1 3, Maddie DeForrest 1 1-1 3, Emily Kurtz 1 0-0 2. Totals: 15 13-19 50.

3-point goals: Miller 4, Kyle 2, Reamer.

Did not score: Lexi Troup.

Score by quarters

Huntingdon 10-10-15-15 — 50

Mount Union 14-11-10-2 — 37

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