By Kenny Varner

MIFFLINTOWN – They left everything they had on the court.

Sometimes in the post season, teams run up against a more experienced and better team.

Wednesday night, the scrappy Juniata girls basketball team went up against a veteran laden, deep and feisty group from Forest Hills.

Forest Hills used its full court press to near perfection as they were able to get ahead early and never let up as they won 74-35 at the Indians home court.

It wasn’t much of what the Lady Indians did wrong but what the Rangers did right as Forest Hills had its defense working, its offensive game working from inside out and a deep bench that allowed the high intensity pressing game to help take home the win.

Despite being down for most of the contest, Juniata refused to give up as they were tough on the boards offensively and defensively and played with tenacious determination no matter what the scoreboard shown on the night.

“They never gave up!,” said Juniata coach Hannah Geedey. “I asked the captains at the end of the game if they had anything to say. That was one of Regan Lowrey’s points that we never gave up, especially coming out at halftime being in the mercy rule. That’s tough. But we never gave up and we kept going.”

Offensively, Forest Hills was led by Aivah Marl who finished with a game high 25-point effort.

Teammate Eva Myers finished in double digits as well posting 11.

Rounding out the double digit scorers was Isabella Carpenter with 10.

Juniata was led on the night by Grace Reinhold with 12. Reinhold went a perfect 6-6 from the foul line in the contest.

Regan Lowrey finished with a spirited 11-point performance in the loss.

Despite only scoring five, Mylee Landis hit the boards and hit them hard, pulling down 15 rebounds.

The game was closer than the to start as Forest Hills opened the game on a 4-0 run with baskets by Marl and Myers.

Juniata battled back scoring their first bucket on two foul shots by Reinhold.

Offensively, the Rangers continued its scoring going on a 7-0 run, extending the lead to 11-2.

The Indians would stop the scoreless run with a bucket by Lindsea Gilson.

But Forest Hills would continue their momentum as they ended the first quarter with a 15-6 score.

The second quarter turned out to be a scoring frenzy by Forest Hills that would have them scoring 32 in the period while the Indians were held to seven.

Coming out of the intermission, the Indians came out and were able to keep the period close. The Lady Rangers though would narrowly outscore the Indians 19-14.

With the game in the Mercy Rule status, the still battled but it would be too much of a deficit to come back from.

Despite the loss, Juniata finished Geedey’s  first season at the helm with an impressive 15-8 record. Quite a great start for the rookie coach.

Forest Hills 74, Juniata 35

FH 15 32  19 8 – 74

JU  6    7  14 7 – 35

Scoring: FH  – Aivah Marl 10 1-2 25, Morgan Gdula 5 1-2 15, Paxtyn Pcola 1 0-0 3, Isabella Carpenter 5 0-0 10, Eva Myers 4 3-3 11, Addison Lashinsky 1 0-0 2, Danika Faith 1 3-4 5, Kinleigh Baumgardner 1 2-2 4. Totals 28 11-13 74. JUN – Grace Reinhold 2 6-6 12, Regan Lowrey 5 0-0 11, Lindsea Gilson 3 0-0 6, Mylee Landis 1 3-6 5. Totals 6 9-12 35.

Played but didn’t score : FH  – Mya Papcunik 0 0-0 0, Samantha Papcunik 0 0-0 0, Kiera Smith 0 0-0 0, Sydney Martin 0 0-0 0, Ana Spangler 0 0-0 0, Kadyn Koval 0 0-0 0. JU – Sara Montoya 0 0-0 0, Maura Campogna 0 0-0 0, Aubryn Deihl 0 0-0 0, Olivia Mummah 0 0 -0 0, Reagan Burd 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: FH  – Marl 2, Pcola, Gdula . JU – Lowrey Reinhold 2.