From staff reports
MANDATA - It came down to the wire Thursday, but it ended well for Greenwood.
The Wildcat girls, who have struggled with injuries and a freshman-dominated squad this basketball season, got a strong night out of three of those youngsters on the way to a 51-49 Tri-Valley League victory.
Greenwood had a one-point lead at the half and stretched that to four at the end of the third, and was up by as many as six late in the game. Line Mountain's Sarah Lahr got the Eagles within two late in the contest, and it was tied at 49 after back and forth free throws, but it was the Wildcats who finished on top.
"We're growing up," Greenwood coach T.J. Weller said. "I don't know that we played great the entire game but we never had a letdown we couldn't crawl out of."
Weller said the team put in a strong effort and remained confident even when things changed. Mallory Fortenbaugh led the scoring with 16 points, but most of that came in the first before the Eagles clamped down on her, he said. That opened the door for another frosh, Anna Weger, who put 12 on the board, all after the break.
"She played really strong in spurts," he said. "Anna just found openings. We watched her grow up tonight."
Line Mountain won the JV game, 35-20.
Greenwood (3-15) travels to Selinsgrove Monday.
Girls basketball
Millersburg 45, East Juniata 30
MILLERSBURG - Lauren Maguire's 14-point night wasn't enough to get East Juniata past Millersburg in Tri-Valley League girls basketball Thursday.
Maguire, who hit three from outside the arc, led all scorers in the game, but behind her the Tigers struggled in the contest.
The Tigers (9-7, 6-4) visit Williams Valley Saturday.
Boys basketball
Halifax 49, Midd-West 45
MIDDLEBURG - Midd-West had a slight lead at the half, but Halifax made up for it in the second. The Wildcats saw three players in double figures and went 15-for-25 at the line in the 49-45 non-league win in Thursday's makeup boys basketball game.
Midd-West struggled from 3-point land, hitting just two of 18 tries from behind the arc. Colton Keister led the Mustangs with 11 points.
Midd-West won the JV game, 63-22, behind a 22-point effort from Zach Schrader.
The Mustangs host Milton Saturday.
Postponed
Mifflin County wrestling
Because school was called off Thursday in the Mifflin County School District, the wrestling match scheduled for that night against Carlisle was postponed. The meet is tentatively rescheduled for Wednesday, pending the outcome of the District 6 Class AAA team tournament Saturday.
