Photo by Bob Hockenbrock
By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Thursday, the feisty MIfflin County boys basketball team went head-to-head against Manheim Central in the Justin Henry Trust Tournament.

The Huskies hung tough for three quarters before falling late to the Barons 64-43.

Mifflin County got an inspired effort from Aidan Reed who muscled his way to a double-double, pulling down 13 and finishing with a team-high 14 points.

Teammate Tagg Selfies also finished in double digits with a 10-point effort.

“The effort was led by Aidan Reed. He played with great emotion and it was the type of fire we want to see in our guys,” said MIfflin County coach Wade Curry. “We need that to be contagious with the rest of them. They’re playing hard. We just need to play smarter.“

Leading the offensive punch for the Barons was Trey Grube with a game-high 22 points. Nine of those points came from beyond the arc.

Teammate Aaron Enterliner followed with a 12-point effort as well.

Mifflin County came out battling early on in the opening quarter.

Jaylen Bowersox got the Huskies scoring off and running as he sent a triple from downtown, making it a 3-0 lead.

Grube went the middle for a tough runner in the lane, cutting the MC lead to one.

MIfflin County extended its lead to three again when Reed went strong to the hoop off of an offensive rebound. He was hacked in the process of shooting and went to the free throw line for two shots. He hit both shots.

But after another bucket by Zach Bender and a triple by Grube, MIfflin County trailed by two.

Another strong effort by Reed in the Huskies next possession, put him back to the charity stripe where he was 2-for-2 once again.

On its next trip up the court, Bender went straight inside to give his team back the lead with 2:50 left in the opening period.

Reed was relentless on the boards, he once again was able to pull down a rebound and two more from the line to knot the game once again.

Trailing 13-9 with time running out in the first, Jay Miner hit a bucket, cutting it to a 13-11.

Manheim Township was able to spread its lead to seven before the intermission buzzer sounded.

For most of the quarter, the Huskies held their own.

Selfies, Reed and Bilger led the high scorers for the Huskies all finishing with three each.

Grube paced his team with a 10-point performance.

When the two teams went into the intermission, the Barons led the Huskies 29-22.

Early in the third, MIfflin County was able to make a run at the deficit, getting it as close as 33-29.

But it wasn’t to be for the Huskies on the night as Grube and company lit things up in the second half, outscoring MIfflin County 35-21 en route to the victory.

Manheim Central 64, MIfflin County 43

MA 13 16 14 21 – 64

MC 11 11    8 13 – 43

Scoring: Manheim – Trey Grube 9 1-3 22, Aaron Enterline 6 0-0 12, Jackson Tracy 1 0-0 2, Zach Benner 4 0-1 8, Collin Neiles 1 0-0 3, Mason Rodgers 1 0-0 3, Connor Fahnestuck 2 2-2 6, Sam Witmer 1 0-0 2, Colt Fisher 1 2-2 4. Totals 26 5-8 64.

Mifflin County – Tagg Selfies 3 2-2 10, Jay Miner 1 0-0 2, Landen Eichhorn 2 1-3 5, Jaylen Bowersox 1 0-0 3, Jayden Bilger 3 3-6 9, Aidan Reed 2 10-12 14. Totals 12 16-23 43.

Played but didn’t score: Manheim – Zach Hahn 0 0-0 0, Ryket Redcay 0 0-0 0. MIfflin County – Evan Strohecker 0 0-0 0, Kale Stimely 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: Manheim – Grube 3, Rodgers, Neiles . Mifflin County – Selfies 2, Bowersox.