Mustangs want crack at district playoffs

BY ANTHONY FIUZA Sentinel sports editor afiuza@lewistownsentinel.com

MIDDLEBURG — After a down 2021-22 season, Midd-West’s boys basketball team not only wants to right its wrongs but, the Mustangs want to reach the District IV playoffs.

Midd-West is coming off a 2-17 season but the Mus-

Tigers

Continued from Page 18 at 56.3 points per game and third in team defense, allowing 40.6 points. The Tigers were the TVL’s top field-goal shooting and twopoint shooting team at 45.9 tangs have a lot of players returning who don’t have varsity level experience.

“We are going to be a and 51.7 percent.

“We also play my alma mater this year in Penns Valley, so that is one I am looking forward to,” Hazel added. “As far as post season, I see us being one of the top 4 teams in the district again and making a push to get back to the district title game again this season.” very inexperienced team overall. So, there will be a lot of players that will need to contribute who don’t have a lot of varsity experience,” Midd-West head coach Lance Adams said.

When asked about how to improve following a lastplace finish in the HAC-II, Adams said it starts with defense.

“We will need to solidify our defensive effort and be able to finish games in the fourth quarter,” Adams noted.

With the addition of St. Joseph’s, the TVL will return to the East-West divisional format this season. The East consists of East Juniata, Greenwood, Juniata, Newport and St. Joseph’s, while the West has Halifax, Line Mountain, Millersburg, Susquenita and Upper Dauphin.

Midd-West is putting a lot of emphasis on outdoing their lack of size.

“Since we lack size, we have emphasized needing to play fast and play solid defense. Our league schedule is tough. We will play Danville, Mifflinburg and Lewisburg who are all perennial playoff teams,” Ad-

East Juniata Tigers

District 4 2-A 15-7, 13-3 Tri-Valley League; won TVL championship and lost in District 4 2-A quarterfinals to Northwest.

Head Coach, Justin Hazel, 3rd year; assistant coaches Bailey Coder and Matt Ritzman.

ams explained.

“I expect to have several leaders on the floor this year but we will rely heavily on Easton Erb and Noah Romig’s leadership, primarily,” Adams said.

Players returning to the Midd-West basketball team include Trevor Sheaffer, Mason Noll and Dylan Miller.

The Mustangs beat Northumberland Christian and Warrior Run for their two victories last season.

This year

Midd-West will play the Warriors and Defenders within its first two games and both contests will be on the road.

Chris Romig and Dezz Henderson are the assistant coaches for the Mustangs.