Photos by Suzi Bender
By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – Despite the cold and dreary night outside, it would be a senior night delight at the “Dawg Pound”

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Monday, Centre County battled MIfflin County on the basketball court as Bellefonte traveled to do battle with Mifflin County.

Both teams were looking to win their second d game in-a-row.

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The game was a back and forth contest in the first quarter. Things stayed close in the second quarter but a 20-point third quarter helped MIfflin County extend its lead for good.

In the end, the Huskies were too much for the Red Raiders on this night, winning 50-30.

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“From first half to second half we made some adjustments and really ratchet up our pressure and play with more intensity, especially off the ball,” said Mifflin County coach Wade Curry. “In the first half our on ball defense was tough but off the ball we weren’t denying. We did that differently in the second half. That gave us a lot more opportunities in transition.”

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It was a tough night shooting for Bellefonte in the contest despite double digit scoring from Ryder Hamilton who posted 12. He also pulled down seven boards. Teammate Liam Halterman finished with 10 rebounds and posted six points.

“We didn’t handle their pressure as much as I would’ve have liked

,” said Bellefonte coach Rick Hall said. “I tried to make a couple adjustments at halftime they didn’t execute them.  We didn’t do enough back door cuts so then the game got away from us.”

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For MIfflin County, the Huskies pulled down 38 rebounds.

Leading the scoring for MIfflin County was Aidan Attivo who netted 14 while teammate Josh Hartzler finished with 10 points, teammate Luke Bender missed a double – double with nine points and nine boards.

In the first, Bellefonte got on the scoreboard first when Halterman got the ball and went straight to the hoop and in for the easy lay in.

Mifflin County came right back, taking the lead on a triple by Evan Strohecker.

Jack Curry put the Huskies ahead 5-2 on an offensive rebound put back.

With the bucket Bellefonte called a  time out.

The Red Raiders came out and cut it to one point when Hamilton took a runner in the lane for the bucket.

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Bender put his team back up  by three as he hit a bucket with 2:15 left in the first.

But Halterman ended the opening period scoring when he hit a bucket and a foul shot, knotting things at seven.

Bender opened up the second, hitting 1-of-2 from the line, giving Mifflin County an 8-7 advantage.

“I didn’t think we played very well in the first half. We had a long time in the lockeroom at halftime. We came out in the second half and lit it up,” said Bender.

Hamilton tied the game once again as he posted 1-of-2 from the charity stripe as well.

Curry once again put his team up as he hit a backdoor bucket.

Hamilton tied it again as he mirrored Curry as he got free and got behind his defender, knoting it at 10.

But the Huskies’ defense tightened up as its offense finished the second going on a 6-0 run.

At the half, the home team led 16-10 run.

Coming out of the break, John Servant went to the free throw line and hit 1-of-2,  cutting the lead to five.

With the Huskies on offense, Bender pulled down an offensive rebound and scored on the put back.

On the following Bellefonte possession, Tanner Eberling went in for a lay in.

But the Huskies offense started to heat up as it outscored the Red Raiders 20-7 in the second half.

When the final stanza got underway, Bellefonte trailed 36-17.

The Red Raiders battled tough in the final stanza but could not complete the comeback falling 50-20.

In the JV contest, Mifflin County took the contest 54-33.

Editor’s note : Mifflin County honored both team’s seniors before the game.  Bellefonte seniors honored were Ryder Hamilton, Peyton Vancas, Tanner Ebeling, Liam Halterman

and Carter Shivery.

Mifflin County honored both its seniors Aidan Attivo.

MIfflin County 50, Bellefonte  30

BE  7  3    7 13 – 30

MC 7  9 20 12 – 50

Scoring: BE –  Ryder Hamilton 5 2-7 12, Peyton Vancas 2 1-2 6, Tanner Ebeling 1 1-2 3,John Servant  0 1-2 1, Brennan Huntsinger 1 0-0 2, Liam Hamilton 2 2-3 6. Totals 11 6-16 30. MC –  Nathan Parkes 1 0-0 2, Luke Bender 3 3-4 9, Evan Strohecker 3 0-0 7, Josh Hartzler 4 0-0 10, Lucas Hartung 0 1-2 1, Aidan Attivo 4 6-6 14, Jack Curry 3 1-2 7. Totals 18 11-14 50.

Played but didn’t score: BE –  Carter Shivery 0 0-0 0, Logan Gibson 0 0-0 0. MC – Landon Haigh 0 0-0 0, Bryce Hartsock 0 0-0 0, Carson Cherry 0 0-0 0, Carson Franklin 0 0-0 0.

Three-point shots: BE –  Vancas . MC –  Hartzler 2, Strohecker.