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CM Weekly Review: Girls basketball gets first win since 2017

106 - Mifflin County Nic Allison, Central Mountain Ginao Serafini

BY SHAREIK FLOWERS

sflowers@lockhaven.com

MILL HALL- With the temperature dropping, high school athletics shifted indoors this past week as the winter season officially began.

Boys basketball, girls basketball, wrestling and swimming all completed the first full week of their schedule and there was a lot of optimism for the Wildcats, beginning with girls basketball.

You have to salute the girls basketball team for their commitment to the program over these previous seasons. They endured losing season after losing season over the years and accumulated a 48-game losing streak headed into this year. That slump finally ended in another lopsided game– but this time it was the Wildcats on the top end of a 65-19 win over the Philipsburg-Osceola Mountaineers, last Saturday in CM’s regular-season opener. Quinlynn McCann was unstoppable and torched the Mountaineer defense for 34 points, while Alyssa Fisher added 11 and freshman Kiahna Jones posted double figures in her varsity debut with another 10.

The squad’s high-quality play continued with another 43-36 win over Milton on Monday. McCann posted another Wildcat-high 19 points and Avery Baker chipped in another 10. The win created Central Mountain’s first winning streak since a pair of back-to-back victories against Williamsport and Clearfield back on Jan. 10 and Jan. 14, 2013. Central Mountain ended its week Wednesday with a 66-29 loss versus Danville, but sits at 2-1 on the season. With plenty of basketball remaining on the schedule, coach Scott Baker is focused on improving daily and turning in competitive efforts each time they take the floor.

“We are very happy to have broken the winless streak early in the season and then get a second win to follow that up,” Baker said. “That was surely a positive start to the season. At the same time we remain humble in that we understand that we are still in the process of building a quality program that can be competitive every time we take the floor. We recognize that much work needs to be done and there’s much growth still to occur as we are a very young squad. Better things are still to come. We should only get better.”

The boys basketball team opened its season last Friday night against Bellefonte, and boy was it a fun one to watch. With four new starters the Wildcats out-played the Red Raiders en route to a thrilling 53-49 win. Central Mountain was boosted by Zane Probst’s and Conner Soo’s game-high 11 points as eight players recorded figures for the team. The win jumped the Wildcats’ record to 1-0 on the year, and they’ll need it as they play a rigorous schedule this upcoming season.

Central Mountain dropped back-to-back games against Danville and Shamokin after the opening-night win. Cayde McCloskey recorded a Wildcat-high 13 points versus Danville, while Zane Probst put up 18 in a 72-54 road loss against Shamokin Friday night.

“Since Bellefonte we have played some very experienced teams that have exposed where we are in our development,” Central Mountain coach Tyler Bardo said. “The guys are learning that they need to intensify how we prepare for and approach practices and games. Consistency in our decision-making and mental effort is coming along. Our schedule presents quality every night, but that keeps us from getting complacent as we grow.”

The wrestling team commenced its season last week with a strong showing at the Top Hat Tournament as they finished second in the team competition. Taylor Weaver (126), Lane Porter (152) and Nik Miller (195) all finished as runner-up in their respective weight classes. The Wildcats returned to the mat this weekend to host the annual King of the Mountain Tournament. The Wildcats had four placewinners but were unable to finish in the top 10 in the team competition as they ended in 15th place. Freshman Gino Serafini placed third this weekend after placing third last week in the Top Hat Tournament. Sophomore Derek Keen took fourth after squeezing in a last-second takedown for the 6-4 win. Taylor Weaver finished eighth and Lane Porter finished seventh in the tournament.

The swimmers were the last team to open the season, and it was an away opening-meet loss against Bloomsburg. The boys team lost 81-44, while the girls lost 101-82. Despite both losses the Wildcats had some athletes shine in their respective events. Derek Hughes won the boys 100-yard backstroke, and Olivia Rockey, Hannah Brian, McKenna Fox and Evie Rembold won the girls 200-yard freestyle relay.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Quinlynn McCann deserves the honor this opening week. McCann is averaging 22.67 points per game this season and exploded for a career-best 34 points last Saturday versus Philipsburg. The junior guard has been a fun athlete to watch over her young career- and look for her to continue to make strides as she progresses throughout her high school years.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

This one’s a no-brainer. After losing 48 straight games, the girls basketball team won two of its last three games. They sit at 2-1 and should only get better. Sophomore point guard Mia Kopysciansky has been sidelined the past few weeks with a lower leg injury, and her return should spark an offense that’s been solid three games in.

ALUMNI WATCH

Freshman Collin Jones began his basketball career at Lebanon Valley College this season and he’s already seeing playing time. Jones scored a career-best eight points in his last outing versus Albright College and is averaging 4.1 points per game this season.

Brody Baker transferred to Penn College from Elizabethtown College for basketball this year. He scored 10 points and dished four assists in his last outing versus Cobleskill State. He’s averaging three points per game this season.

Geo Barzona is wrestling in his junior season at Bucknell. He’s 4-6 on the year at 125 pounds.

If there’s an athlete you want featured in the Alumni watch, please email the athlete’s name, sport and school they attend to sports@lockhaven.com

LOOKING AHEAD

The boys basketball team has a tough test tonight. They play undefeated Loyalsock (5-0) at home. They face Mifflinburg Thursday in the “Battle of the Wildcats” before ending the week Saturday with an away matchup versus DuBois.

Girls basketball has an away matchup tonight versus DuBois and a home game Wednesday versus Bellefonte. They close the week Friday with an away matchup versus Mifflinburg.

Wrestling hosts Jersey Shore Friday night in a home meet.

And the swimming team hosts its home-opener Tuesday versus Montoursville at 6 p.m.

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