State College outlasts Huskies in D6 title game in epic contest

Feb 21, 2025

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Friday night the Mifflin County and State College boys basketball team renewed acquaintances as they took to the court at the Bald Eagle Area high school to battle for the District 6 Class 6A championship.

The two teams came into the contest with nine wins each and were looking for the magical 10th win and title.

Like in most battles between the Huskies and Little Lions the game would be an epic one as did this one.

After coming back from two different 7-0 runs early in the first and third periods, Mifflin County was able to get within striking distance late.

However, clutch rebounds by State College’s Manny Elliot late would see the Huskies chances for a total comeback fall just short as they fell to State College 44-40 in an epic battle.

The game was highlight by strong defensive plays by both teams throughout with two of the fourth quarters having both teams scoring in single digits.

Mifflin County got a strong performance offensively by Jack Curry who finished with three triples in a 15-point effort to lead the Huskies.

Teammate Josh Hartzler followed with an 8-point effort as he attacked fearlessly to the rim despite traffic.

“We started both halves on 7-0 runs that they made. We were down by 14. But I never questioned our guys heart of their effort the entire season,” said Mifflin County coach Wade Curry. “They prepared this week. They followed the game plan. We held their key personnel in check, especially Reed Melvin who’s an excellent player. We held him to eight and Charlie Yartz earned his 17. They’re a good basketball team. They made runs when we didn’t. They made shots when we didn’t. But overall, I thought our kids played pretty well.

Offensively for the Little Lions Charlie Yartz came up big when asked to posting a game-high 17 points.

Teammate Reed Melvin chipped in eight as State College’s second top scorer.

State College led in the rebound department by a 24-14 mark.

In the first quarter, the Huskies got down 7-0 early on.

Mifflin County battled back in a flourish as they went on a 14-0 run of their own to take an early 14-7 lead. In the run, Curry hit a triple and a tough jumper for five points in the run.

Aidan Attivo went right in the middle of traffic and came down with the bucket and a foul as he then hit the back end of an old fashioned three-point play. Luke Bender and Landon Haigh both were perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line, upping it to a 12-7 advantage.

Rounding out the scoring was a bucket by Josh Hartzler. Hartzler took to the paint and scored, upping the lead to a 14-7 advantage with 1:33 left in the period.

However, the Little Lions rallied to tie things as they scored on two free throws by Nick Carr followed by a Yartz bucket.

Rounding out the first quarter scoring was a triple by Melvin.

In the second, the Little Lions continued its attack on the Huskies basket, scoring 12.

State’s defense tightened in the period as the Huskies were only able to muster six total points and found themselves down 26-20 at the intermission.

Scoring the MIfflin County points were Curry, Evan Strohecker and Zach Keller.

Despite an early 7-0 run, the Huskies kept chipping away at the 33-20 deficit and had their eyes on making a comeback.

When the two teams entered the third quarter, MIfflin County cut the lead to just five points. Curry led the offensive attack blasting eight in the run.

The Huskies also rallied again late getting it to as close as 41-40 contest.

But State College was able to hold on from there with clutch rebounds and timely baskets.

“There is a lot of promise in this group that we have. There are a lot of sophomores in the line up,” said Curry. “We have juniors who are ready to compete. These experiences give them what they need to know what it’s like to be on these courts in championship games. I’m super proud of them for the season they had. They battled through a tremendous amount of adversity. Between fractured shins and broken hands and recovery from ACLs, they have been through it. They are a stronger team for it and I trust in the end this will be a blessing for us.”

The Huskies end their season with a 9-12 record.

State College 44, MIfflin County 40

SC 14 12 11 7 – 44

MC14 6 12 8 – 40

Scoring: SC – Ty Salazar 2 1-2 5 Nick Carr 1 2-2 4, Michael Powell 1 0-0 3, Manny Elliott 2 0-2 4, Reed Melvin 3 0-0 8, Charlie Yartz 5 7-7 17, Spencer Neilson 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 10-13 44. MC. – Luke Bender. 0 2-2 2, , Zach Keller 2 0-0 4, Evan Strohecker 2 0-0 4, Josh Hartzler 3 2-2 8, Aidan Attivo 2 1-15, Jack Curry. 6 0-0 15, Landon Haigh 0 2-2 2. Totals 17 7-7 40.