By Kenny Varner

CRESSON – Adding to the hardware.

The State College boys basketball team has had numerous accolades this season posting a regular season Mid-Penn Commonwealth regular season title, a Mid-Penn playoff title and now they can proudly display the newly acquired District 6 Class 6A title after sweeping rival Altoona for the season and taking a dominating win 69-49 at Mount Aloysius College.

State College’s air attack was in full force Friday, led by the long range shooting of Isaac Dye who dropped in 24. Teammate Braeden Shrewsberry followed up with 14 in the victory.

Altoona’a offensive charge was led by a 19-point effort by Ashton Neely.

Early on, Altoona got the game started with a bang! As they went inside to big man Evan Alwine as he went inside strong twice and was also fouled twice posting five points, giving the Mountain Lions an early 5-3 advantage.

Jalen Triplin took a State College turnover and hit a bucket, giving Altoona the early 7-3 lead.

But the Little Lions came roaring back finishing the quarter going on a 12-5 run to take 15-12 lead as the first quarter buzzer sounded. Leading the way in the run was Luke Black with five, a triple and a field goal.

Altoona was able to keep things close in the second as both took their turns in momentum shifts.

After a field goal by the Mountain Lions Ajaad White, State College got a bucket inside by Jack Morris and a triple by to Shrewsberry to extend the lead to 20-14.

The Little Lions defense stood strong on the next Altoona possession when they would notch a steal and Dylan Davis would finish off the play with the bucket.

Dye made it a 10-point game adding to the lead when  he hit an open jumper, making it a 24-14 game with less than four minutes left in the half.

However, Altoona would take the momentum late, cutting the score to just five at the half, going on a 11-6 run.

At the intermission, the Little Lions still had the advantage, leading 30-25.

The third quarter would be an all out air assault for State College as they opened a somewhat slim advantage and came out of the third quarter with a 20-point lead.

The Little Lions posted an 23-8 run in the period, led by Dye’s five triples, along with a triple from Shrewsberry to highlight the period. It’s defense refused to give many second chance or even first chance shots, holding Altoona’s defense at bay and giving them a cushion entering the final stanza.

In the fourth quarter, both teams went toe-rotor for the last eight minutes but Altoona could not gain any ground and when the buzzer sounded, the Little Lions were officially crowned D6 champions!!

It was a night of celebration for State College and their fans.