COCOLAMUS - The see-saw tilted in East Juniata's favor early, as the Tigers carried a five-point lead into the locker room against Upper Dauphin Thursday.
But a strong performance coming out of the break lifted the Trojans to a 38-35 win in Tri-Valley League girls basketball.
"It was one of those games that we gave ourselves opportunities to win," East Juniata coach Travis Quici said. "Our inexperience showed through."
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by BUFFIE?BOYER
East Juniata’s Hannah Erickson, right, battles with Upper Dauphin’s Taylor Brown (24) as the Tigers’ Kasi Horning reaches toward the ball Thursday at East Juniata. See more photos online at cu.lewistownsentinel.com
None of the East Juniata scoring threats was able to break the double-digit barrier, despite a 17-point second quarter. But Upper Dauphin was able to make defensive adjustments at the half that slowed the Tiger attack.
"The second quarter we played fantastic," Quici said. But in the third, "We were a totally different team," giving the ball away six times.
Quici said his team allowed too many second- and third-chance shots, and missed critical rebounds that cost the Tigers possession time late in the game.
Lauren Maguire led East Juniata with nine points; Caitlin Hoover had eight.
"We can really count on (Maguire), and Caitlin, when she's making good decisions, is one of the best point guards in the TVL," Quici said.
East Juniata won the JV game. The Tigers (3-2, 3-1) host Belleville Mennonite tonight.
Girls basketball
Newport 38, Greenwood 30
MILLERSTOWN - As the Greenwood girls basketball team went into the half trailing Tri-Valley League opponent Newport by just five points, it appeared as if the Wildcats might have a shot at their first win of the season. But one big third quarter for Newport later, and the Wildcats came out on the losing end of a 38-30 game.
In the third quarter, Newport outscored Greenwood 14-6, for a 37-24 lead. The Wildcats then turned up the intensity on the defense - holding Newport to just one fourth quarter point - but the Wildcats' six point fourth quarter didn't take a big enough cut into Newport's lead.
Mallory Fortenbaugh had a team-high 12 points. Fortenbaugh trailed Newport's Miranda Schaeffer by one point for game-high honors.
Greenwood (0-6, 0-4) travels to Juniata on Saturday.
Boys basketball
Juniata Mennonite 79, Watsontown 40
WATSONTOWN - It was a night for the record books when the Juniata Mennonite boys took on Watsontown Christian in Allegheny Christian Athletic Association action Thursday.
In the 79-50 win, Juniata Mennonite's Caleb Gehman broke a school record with his 39 points. Gehman hit eight 3-point goals in the contest, tying another school record.
"He was hot the whole game. When he let the ball fly, it was pretty much going in," Juniata Mennonite coach Dennis Zimmerman said.
But it wasn't just Gehman's sharp shooting that resulted in the win. Juniata Mennonite also held the Crusaders to just 10 points in the second and third quarters, making it impossible for Watsontown to come up with an answer to the Lions' offensive onslaught.
Zimmerman said his team forced many Watsontown turnovers in the third quarter, resulting in a big 33-point quarter for the Lions.
Juniata Mennonite (3-3, 2-2) hosts Walnut Street Christian on Jan. 8.
Greenwood 41, Lancaster County Christian 37
LANCASTER - Tyler Fegley scored 17 points and Josh Ferguson 16, accounting for 80 percent of Greenwood's offensive output in a 41-37 non-league boys basketball win over Lancaster County Christian Thursday.
Despite giving up 17 points in the third to allow the home team a lead going into the final stanza, the Wildcats (5-2) put it away in the fourth.
The Wildcats are idle going into the Perry County tournament at West Perry Dec. 28-29.
Wrestling
Mifflin County 60, Harrisburg 9
HARRISBURG - Mifflin County won eight straight matches Thursday against Harrisburg, handing the Cougars a 60-9 Commonwealth Division loss.
After Kyle Kahley and Caleb Rhodes dropped close decisions in the opening matches at 220 and 185 pounds, the Huskies didn't allow Harrisburg another point on the scoreboard until 160. Along the way, Isaac Underhill (120), Noah Stewart (126), Lucas Besch (132), Brandon Wilson (145) and Joe Knarr (152) pinned their opponents. Besch, Stewart, McKenon Todaro (170) and Jake Lilley (182) all registered first-period falls.
The Huskies managed bonus points in nine of the 11 wins, including a pair of forfeits.
Mifflin County (8-1, 2-0 Mid-Penn) will travel to the Conestoga Valley tournament Dec. 28-29.
Midd-West 43, Selinsgrove 33
SELINSGROVE - The Midd-West grapplers took a win against Heartland Conference opponent Selinsgrove when they outscored the Seals 43-33 on Thursday.
The match started at 132, and a string of Midd-West wins early on - from weights 138 to 170 - gave the Mustangs a lead they never relinquished.
Those earning pins for Midd-West included Dylan Hain, Alexander Tittle, Alex Lieberman, Zach Longacre and Dalton Klingler.
Midd-West (3-6) will next compete in the Bob Rohm Tournament on Dec. 29.
West Branch 40, Mount Union 21
MOUNT UNION - Mount Union suffered its first setback of the wrestling season Thursday as the Trojans were upended by West Branch, 40-21, in an Inter-County Conference meet.
Mount Union sustained a string of losses in the lower weights, and a trio at the top end to the Warriors. Mount Union got its points from a Dylan Smith pin and a Sage Moist technical fall at 113 pounds, and decisions by Jake Boozel (126), Cory Kylor (major, 170) and Darrian Stapleton (182).
The Trojans (4-1, 3-1) travel to Claysburg-Kimmel Dec. 27.
Junior High
Boys basketball
* 9th grade: Hollidaysburg 41, Mifflin County 22. High scorer, Cade Attick 14 points.
* 8th grade: Hollidaysburg 33, Mifflin County 23. High scorers, Nelson Cook and Nate Bargo, 4 points each. Mifflin County hosts DuBois Dec. 27.
Wrestling
* Mount Union 75, West Branch 24: Winners for Mount Union were Josh Boozel, Devon Pearce, Andrew Todaro, Bryton Stidfole, Jonathan Atherton, Nathanael Morgan and Teagan Locke
* Mifflin County 93, Harrisburg 11: Winners for Mifflin County were Keith Shearer, Clayton Wolfgang, Joey Taptich, Andrew Wert, Noah Myers, Trent Hidlay, Kyle Smith, Jonah Kile, Daulton Hildebrandt, Isaac Habbershon, Quentin Milliken, Isaac Maclay, Trey Hartsock, Mike Bielski, Matt Lash and Galvin Patterson. Mifflin County's record is now 8-1.
