Persun helps deliver Central Mountain big win over Mifflinburg
By Bees O’Brien
MILL HALL- Central Mountain needed somebody to step up on Tuesday evening in the Wildcats PHAC-1 opener against visiting Mifflinburg. The player that would step up for head coach Tyler Bardo’s Wildcats would be Xavier Persun and his record setting 7 three-point baskets, on his way to a 27-point night and helped CM remain perfect on the season with a 61-56 win. The record ties Central Mountain graduates Brody Baker and Kyle Eberhart, who set the record one week apart from each other in the 2016-2017 season.
Mifflinburg, also the Wildcats were giving the undefeated Wildcats of Central Mountain a fight. Mifflinburg entered the contest 1-1 and their 56-52 victory over Shikellamy the previous week had them sitting atop of the PHAC-1 standings.
The visiting Wildcats had Central Mountain on the ropes with an early 18-14 lead after one quarter of play. Central Mountain would fight back in the second behind 11 points from Persun, including a trifekta of three-point baskets.
Central Mountain’s 14-10 second quarter advantage helped tie things up at 28 at the break.
A huge 21-9 third quarter advantage from CM would see the hometown Wildcats build a 49-37 lead.
Mifflinburg would battle back with a 19-12 fourth quarter advantage, but the damage done in the third quarter would be a little too much for Mifflinburg to recover from.
Caleb Mahoney would join Persun in the double-digit scoring column for Central Mountain by adding 10 points. Leading Wildcat scorer Hunter Hoy was held to just 7 points.
Reigel led Mifflinburg with 21 points and teammate Griffith dropped in 10 points in the loss.
Central Mountain will remain home on Monday when they square off with Montoursville.
Mifflinburg 18 10 9 19 – 56
CM 14 14 21 12 –61
CM (61)
Myers 2 0-0 4, Hoy 3 1-3 7, Mahoney 3 4-6 10, Foltz 1 1-2 3, Walker 1 0-0 2, Grenninger 2 0-0 6, Persun 10 0-0 27, Verrelli 1 0-0 2, TOTALS- 23 6-11 61
3FG- 9 (Persun 7, Grenninger 2)
