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Mustangs fall in District 4 Class 4A first round

MONTOURSVILLE –The NBA All-Star game’s 3-point contest was last Saturday night. Apparently Montoursville didn’t get the memo and decided to hold its own Friday against Midd-West in the District 4 Class 4A quarterfinals.

The Warriors ended up hitting 15 threes – eight of them belonging to Hunter Shearer. Peyton Mussina was not far behind him as he hit four to help lead Montoursville to a 75-48 victory over Midd-West to advance to the semifinals against Athens at a time and place to be determined.

Midd-West made the playoffs for the first time since 2010 and coach Lance Adams has a lot to be excited about in the future.

“I think the future is pretty strong throughout the entire program. Our junior high program is pretty solid and our freshman class is a pretty solid class, so we have some talent and ability to build on, so we have to expect that were going to win basketball games and that’s the difference. Changing that mentality of winning,” Adams said. “Not that maybe we will win, but we should win and we can win. We will get there and tonight was just another step in the right direction.”

Braedon Reid led Midd-West with 16 points and Isaac Hummel added 13. The Mustangs also got eight from Stefan Leitzel.

The first quarter started with Mussina hitting a couple 3-pointers and finishing a strong take to the basket to put Montoursville up 10-2. After that, Hunter Shearer hit a deep three, a string of four consecutive, as he finished with seven treys in the first half alone. Shearer hit his eighth 3-pointer by pulling up from near half-court and banking it in.

Austin Loe was also a fan of the shooting performance put on by Shearer.

“We were shooting the ball really well and when we got to the second quarter, Hunter Shearer just could not miss,” Loe said.

Loe was hurt for most of the season, but is back and really enjoyed playing one more home game with his senior class.

“It was a great moment with the guys, playing varsity and JV with them for four years playing with the same group of guys since like 3rd-4th grade means a lot,”Loe said. “Being able to come out and play one more game on our home court really means a lot.”

Loe finished the game with 17 points which matches a season-high for the senior forward. Loe has continued to work hard despite battling injuries all year and he is just happy that Montoursville is finally healthy.

“Younger guys stepped up during the season and now that we are healthy coming back as a full squad and having those guys being able to step in the lineup in big games if we ever need them, and knowing that they will know what to do and we know what to do and we are all experienced,” Loe said. “So I think we will be good from here on out.”

The Montoursville senior class has been instrumental ever since its freshman year turning a 10-13 team into district title contenders every year since. Their ride however isn’t over yet and they will continue to be able to play as a team that is finally healthy.

Montoursville 75, Midd-West 48

MONTOURSVILLE

Brandon Good 0 2-2 2, Dillion Young 1 0-2 2 , Josh Burger, Isaiah Fenner 1 0 0 3, Peyton Mussina 5 0 0 14, Jake Simms 1 0 0 2, Hunter Shearer 8 0 0 24, Austin Loe 7 0 0 17, Landon Reeder 1 0 0 2, Joel Verrico 2 0 0 5. Totals: 29 2-4 75.

3-point goals: Shearer 8, Mussina 4, Loe, Fenner, Verrico.

MIDD-WEST

Braedon Reid 5 2-2 16, Hunter Wolfley 1 0 0 2, Cordell Hostetler 1 0 0 2, Griffen Paige 1 0 0 3, Stefan Leitzel 3 2-2 8, Owen Solomon 1 0 0 2, Issac Hummel 6 1-2 13, Andrew Oldt 1 0 0 2. Totals:19 5-6 48.

Score by quarters:

Montoursville 17-22-22-14 — 75

Midd-West 4-14-12-18 — 48

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