LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Huskies continued their playoff push on Saturday, inching closer to that .500 mark that would make them eligible for the postseason.

Finding themselves in a dogfight with visiting Cedar Cliff on Saturday, the Huskies leaned on Josh Hartzler, who scored six of his game-high 17 points in what proved to be a decisive second quarter, as Mifflin County locked up a 58-48 Mid-Penn Conference Keystone Division victory at Mifflin County High School gymnasium on Saturday.

“In a gritty, tough game, the boys were able to battle through and get the big time home win,” Huskies head coach Wade Curry said.

In sweeping the Colts, Mifflin County improved to 7-8 on the season, including 3-7 in the Mid-Penn, and look to keep the momentum rolling when the Huskies travel to Palmyra on Tuesday.

Cedar Cliff (2-16, 0-10) grabbed a 9-8 lead after the first quarter hitting as Jayvion Walker and Mohamed Ahmed each drilled three-pointers. Luke Bender accounted for half of the Huskies’ offense by hitting a bucket and a pair of free throws.

Hartzler went to work in the second, dropping in three baskets, while Jack Curry had four points and Carson Franklin added a trey. Mifflin County outscored the Colts 18-9 in the frame to take a 26-18 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, it was more of the same for the Huskies as Hartzler added another six points to his total. Bender had four points in the period and Curry knocked down a three. The Huskies outscored Cedar Cliff 19-15 for a 45-33 advantage.

The Colts tried to climb back in the contest in the final stanza as Troy Joray scored seven of his 11 points and Ahmed answered with six of his team-high 16 points. Despite combining for 13 points, Bender connected on all of his four free-throw attempts and Curry added another as Mifflin County came away with the 10-point win. Husky Aidan Attivo also had five of his seven points in the fourth.

Bender finished with 15 points, while Curry ended up with eight points.

Mifflin County’s JVs won 45-30 as five players scored at least seven points. Franklin led the Huskies with 10 points, while Dylan Bonson had nine points, Lucas Hartung added eight points, with Preston Earnest and Carson Cherry with seven each.

BMS falls to

Blacklick Valley

BELLEVILLE – Bryson Peachey scored 14 points and Grant Yoder added 10 points but Belleville Mennonite fell 63-38 in non-league action on Saturday.

The Thunder (4-10) fell behind early as they only mustered buckets by Peachey and Devin Yoder in the opening quarter and trailed the Vikings (9-7) 20-4.

Peachey and Grant Yoder each scored five points in the second quarter as Belleville Mennonite outscored Blacklick Valley 17-15 and trailed 35-20 at the half. Peachey, Ethan Renno, Grant Yoder and Devin Yoder each drilled three-pointers in the third to spark the rally.

The Vikings cranked up the defense in the third, holding the Thunder to seven points and stretching the lead to 49-28. Ethan Renno accounted for five of Belleville Mennonite’s eight points with a trey and basket.

Peachey and Grant Yoder accounted for all of the Thunder’s points in the fourth quarter as each had five points.

Blacklick Valley had four players in double digits, led by Eli Sheesley with a game-high 22 points. The Vikings’ Greg Schilling and Drew McEvoy each had 15 points and Drew Gdula added 10 points.

The Thunder visit Juniata Christian on Tuesday.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lowrey leads Juniata

past West Perry

ELLIOTTSBURG – Juniata’s Regan Lowrey scored a game-high 13 points and Mylee Landis added nine points as the Juniata Indians rallied in the fourth quarter to beat host West Perry 39-34 in non-league action on Saturday.

Juniata (12-4) led 15-11 after the first period as Landis scored all nine of her points in the opening frame. Lowrey also added a pair of baskets.

The Indians held a slim 21-18 led at the half as they were held to six points in the second quarter during a defensive struggle. Lowrey scored two of these points and added two more in the third quarter but Juniata trailed 26-25 going into the final stanza.

The Indians outscored West Perry 14-8 in the fourth quarter as Lowrey pumped in five points and Lindsea Gilson added four. Sara Montoya also had three of her five points in the frame to fuel the Juniata comeback.

Shay Dyer was the only Mustang to reach double digits as she scored 10 points.

Juniata hosts Greenwood on Tuesday.

Blacklick Valley too

much for Thunder

BELLEVILLE – Karina Renno scored 12 points and Katelynn Renno added six points for Belleville Mennonite as the host Thunder fell to undefeated Blacklick Valley in non-league action 62-26 on Saturday.

Karina Renno and Katelynn Renno each scored three points during the first quarter as Belleville Mennonite (7-8) trailed 16-8 early on. Lilly Yoder and Katelynn Renno each scored two points in the second quarter as the Thunder went into the lockerroom down 34-12.

Karina Renno got going in the third quarter with five points, including her second three-pointer, as Belleville Mennonite trailed 55-21 after three quarters. She added four points in the final stanza.

Kristin Szymusiak led Black Valley (16-0) with a game-high 17 points.

The Thunder travel to Juniata Christian on Tuesday.

Selinsgrove

Stops Mustangs

SELINSGROVE – The host Seals were too much for the Midd-West Mustangs as they dominated the non-league contest 68-17 on Saturday. The Mustangs (1-15) fell behind from the get-go, trailing 25-2 after the first quarter. Izzy Walter, who finished with nine points in the contest, accounted for Midd-West’s only points.

The Mustangs trailed 42-9 at intermission as Emma Wagner scored four of her eight points in the second quarter. Walter, who added three points in the frame, and Wagner combined to score all of Midd-West’s 17 points.

The duo each had two points in both the third and fourth quarters as Selinsgrove (12-8) continued to pull away. Lissa Kruskie’s 15 points led the Seals, who led 55-13 after three quarters. Gillian Hackenburg had 12 points and Kristin Shaffer added 11 points for Selinsgrove, which had all 10 points find the scoring column.

Midd-West hosts Milton on Tuesday.

JUNIOR HIGH BASKETBALL

The Mifflin County Husky junior high teams competed Saturday against Cedar Cliff as part of the Gold Out MiniTHON Charity day.

The Husky seventh-graders found themselves down early but came back to outscore the Colts 22-11 in the second half en route to a 34-29 victory. Landon Cunningham paced the Huskies with 15 points, while Tanner Shawver added six points. Mifflin County finished with seven players in the scoring column..

Mifflin County’s eighth-graders suffered from some cold shooting and dropped a 37-29 decision to Cedar Cliff. Justin Cruz led the Huskies with 12 points