WILLIAMSPORT — The East Juniata Tigers got off to a slow start on Saturday in the semifinal round of the District 4 Class 2A basketball playoffs and never recovered in a 74-56 loss to Northeast Bradford at Loyalsock Township Senior High School on Saturday.

Sam Kopacki, who finished with a game-high 21 points for the Tigers, scored three points in the first quarter as East Juniata (9-15) trailed 24-9. Jaiden May, Moyer Ramsey and Silas Strickhouser each had buckets for the Tigers.

In the second quarter, East Juniata’s Wrett Smith, who ended up with 17 points, scored five points as the Tigers rallied within 40-24 at halftime. Smith dropped in a three-pointer and a deuce, while Kopacki added eight points – three buckets and two foul shots.

In the third quarter, Kopacki and Smith each had threes. Smith also went wild in the final stanza with three treys. Nipple, Kopacki and Ramsey also had threes as the Tigers saw their season come to an end.

Northeast Bradford had four players in double figures — Cooper Brown had 15 points, while Mac Burgert and Clay Wills each added 14 and Daniel Barrett 13.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Juniata’s Barner, Heidenreich compete at Bucknell

LEWISBURG — Juniata High School’s Carolyn Heidenreich competed in the high jump and 800 on Saturday at Bucknell University’s Indoor Last Chance Track Invitational, and turned in a personal-best of 4-7. Heidenreich also ran the 800 in a time of 2:43.51.

Juniata’s Josiah Barner competed in the boys mile and 800, shaving off 20 seconds off his personal-best mile time and running a 4:58.15. A little over an hour later, he came back to compete in the 800, running a personal best time of 2:06.49 to place eighth out of 49 runners in that event.

“Carolyn and Josiah had fun today and walked away with personal best in one or two events,” Juniata coach Jeff Miller said. “It was awesome to see Carolyn jump a personal best in the high jump considering she hasn’t jumped over a bar since spring track last year. I was impressed how Josiah attacked the mile and 800. He’s a big talent that is giving up things to specialize in distance running and the results are showing. He’s gaining more confidence every season. They are both very coachable kids that I’m looking forward to working with for the next two years.”