Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS Juniata's Caden Swailes puts up a shot over East Juniata's Silas Strickhouser.

MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata boys basketball topped rival East Juniata on Friday night, 66-43.

Juniata came into the contest sporting an 11-9 record while the Tigers rallied a record of 5-16.

The EJ-Juniata matchup included Tri-Valley League top scorer Wyatt Smith, who is averaging 23.83 points per game and Jasper Shepps, who is third in the TVL in scoring with a 17.25 average.

For Juniata, Jasper Shepps tallied a team-best 24 points, including three threes. Ricky Guante and Caden Swailes each recorded 11 points. Damien Vance provided 11 points and three treys. Issac Carlson added six points.

“I thought we played well as a team. When you get a rivalry game like this, no one can say this isn’t a rivalry game because it is a rivalry,” said Juniata coach Al Ream. “The kids know each other and everything else. So it’s a good win for us. They (East Juniata) have some good players. Wrett Smith is a heck of a player. They came and played hard. We got it going in the second half. The kids played well together.”

Going for the season sweep, the Indians got off to a strong start.

Shepps led the way for the Indians as he got a lot of help from his teammates.

Both teams battled back and forth throughout the first half, exchanging leads a few times. But the Indians would go into the second half with a slim 27-21 advantage.

Opening the second half, Smith got the Tigers on the board with a tough shot in the lane.

Juniata retaliated with a bucket by Issac Carlson who put it up from underneath.

The Tigers would close the gap to 34-29 before the Indians offense started to sizzle.

Later in the third, with the score 36-29, the Indians started to heat up offensively going on a 7-0 run. Shepps tallied all six points as he moved to the hoop to start. He followed with an old fashion three-point play, getting fouled on a made shot and then hitting the free throw. He ended the run hitting 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, upping the lead to 41-29.

Juniata (12-9) outscored EJ in the final half, 39-22.

For the Tigers (6-16), Wrett Smith posted a team-high 22 points and Sam Kopacki added nine points.

Next, Juniata travels to Meadowbrook on Monday for their regular-season finale.

Juniata 66, East Juniata 43

EJ 11-10-10-12–43

JU 16-11-17-22–66

Scoring: EJ – Wyatt Smith 9 1-2 22, Jordan May 2 0-2 4, Bryant Carraasquillo 2 0-0 4, Sam Kopacki 3 2-2 9, Silas Strickhouse 1 2-2 4, Chase Hoffman 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 5-8 43. JU – Jasper Shepps 9 3-3 24 , Ricky Guante 3 3-3 11, Caden Swailes 4 1-2 11, Jadon Nealman 1 0-0 3, Brian Kuhns 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 5-7 66.

Played but didn’t score: EJ – Nathan Carolus 0 0-0 0. JU – None.

Three-point shots: EJ – Smith 2, Kopacki , . JU – Shepps 3, Nealman Vance 3.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

BOYS BASKETBALL

Tigers best Thunder, 51-38

BELLEVILLE — In Friday’s boys basketball action, Fannett-Metal beat Belleville Mennonite, 51-38.

Grant Yoder had 23 points for the Thunder (5-14, 4-6 ACAA) and Bryson Peachey added seven. Clay Ammon tallied six points.

Landon Arnold led the Tigers (8-13) with 27 points and Broc Hostler added eight points.

BMS visits Newport on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Wildcats top Mustangs, 47-29

MIDDLEBURG — Mifflinburg girls hoops beat Midd-West on Friday, 47-29.

For the Wildcats (4-15), Brooke Gessner and Jayda Tilghman each had 16 points.

For Midd-West (1-20), Emma Wagner tallied 13 points and Izzy Walter collected 12.

Midd-West ends their season on Monday against Neumann Regional Academy.