MUNCY–Aleigha Rieppel scored inside and outside. She hustled everywhere, played swarming defense and repeatedly dove after loose basketballs.

And nobody except her teammates, coaches and family knew how much she was hurting. Rieppel sprained her ankle Tuesday at practice but played nearly the whole game Wednesday. The senior did more than just play–she played great and helped her team again become champions.

Rieppel scored a game-high 15 points, contributed in all facets and helped South capture a third straight Mid-Penn West championship as it edged Muncy 36-33 in a thriller between District 4 Class AA title contenders. Lacey Kriebel added 14 points and South (13-5, 10-0) made it three championships in three seasons since joining the Mid-Penn, holding off a furious Muncy comeback while doing so.

At the heart of this latest championship was Rieppel’s heart.

“I knew she was hurting but she’s got ‘It,'” South coach Dean Kriebel said. “Whatever ‘It’ is, she’s got It. I’m very proud of her.”

“It was just having the mentality that I have to be there for my team and having the team-first mentality,” Rieppel said. “I knew I could push through it if I wrapped it up; braced it up, so I just tried to do my best to not think about it.”

During breaks in the action, some could see Rieppel hobble a bit. Those were the only times, however, that Rieppel showed any signs of pain. Like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Rieppel revealed Wednesday that her toughness may even exceed her talent.

A three-year starter, Rieppel is a four-sport standout who has helped the soccer and softball teams capture district championships. She also was instrumental in the soccer team reaching two state semifinals and the basketball team advancing to last year’s quarterfinals. She has produced many super performances, but Wednesday’s might be her signature one.

This was the game which showed exactly how and why Rieppel has helped her teams reach such lofty heights these last four years.

“That was fantastic,” Kriebel said. “Rip was awesome tonight.”

“It made me slower, and the press bothered it just from the turning quickly but I just tried to block it out,” Rieppel said. “I’m used to pain. This injury was a little bigger but that (past experience in soccer) gave me the confidence to know that I can power through this. It’s more mental than physical once you start playing.”

Aleigha’s older sister Chelsea provided a big assist. First, South’s athletic trainer helped Aleigha prepare for the game. Then she made a last-minute trip to Muncy after Aleigha forgot the brace and wrapped it shortly before the game started.

And once the jump ball was in the air, Rieppel shined. She scored all six South first quarter points in this defensive battle, then added six more in the third as South started taking control. Rieppel scored those six points during a 15-0 run as South turned a one-point deficit into a 32-18 lead with 1 minute, 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Ironically, it was Rieppel using her speed on a night she was hurting which enabled her to score those pivotal third quarter points. South effectively worked its offense and on three occasions, Lacey Kriebel, Piper Minier and Sofia Casella found a cutting Rieppel sprinting past the defense, toward the basket for a layup.

“They were saying, ‘Keep giving it to Aleigha.’ They knew it was going to work,” Dean Kriebel said. “If they can’t stop you, we’re going to keep going to you.”

Just when it was looking like South could not be stopped, though, Muncy’s defense started forming a navy Blue and White wall. South defeated Muncy by 31 last December, but the Indians (11-6, 8-3) made sure history did not repeat itself and staged a valiant comeback. Muncy allowed just four points the rest of the way, players unselfishly set each other up for good shots and this gritty team came storming back.

“The turnaround was great to see because it could have gone either way there,” Muncy coach Craig Weaver Sr. said. “I like the determination; I like the way the girls fought through it, and we put ourselves in position to have a chance to win.”

Avery Bigelow (12 points, 6 rebounds) played another strong game and her 3-pointer late in the third quarter stopped South’s 15-0 run. Nolah Moyer (8 points, 7 rebounds) then hit a buzzer-beating jumper as Muncy closed within 32-23. After Abby Akers (3 steals) scored early in the final quarter, Muncy would not allow another point for nearly six minutes. During that time, it went on a 10-0 run and pulled within 34-33 when Mia Edkin (4 assists) found Moyer inside for a basket.

South efficiently then worked the clock and off 70 seconds before Minier blew past two defenders and scored off a drive, making it, 36-33 with 1:40 remaining. Muncy came up empty on its next two possessions and was stuck in the vice of not much time remaining and Minier having the ball after she gained possession with 17.9 seconds left. The Indians had committed just two second-half fouls and needed to foul five times just to get South to the line.

Minier did not let it happen and skillfully dribbled around defenders while running out the clock and clinching another league championship. Minier played a big part as well, dealing a game-high six assists. Akers and Casella combined for five steals and Lacey Kriebel had five steals and three blocks.

“The thing about our team is we have a lot of kids that can step up and make a big shot. Shut down or two, and we have girls that can step up,” Dean Kriebel said. “We’re not a one player team. I always I always tell them there’s a lot of teams out there that have one stud, but we have a lot of studs.”

Muncy features a similar identity and continues growing offensively. The score might not reflect it but that is only because both teams patiently ran their offenses. Still, Muncy continues surging in that area and made 63.6 percent of its second-half shots, including going 4 for 4 from behind the arc. Addison Gresh made a key shot during the 10-0 fourth quarter run, Addi Eyer had four assists to go with six rebounds and Cierra Charles scored four second quarter points when Muncy and South swapped leads five times.

Bigelow and Edkin both made clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and, like South, Muncy is a battle-tested team which is coming on strong at a crucial time.

“We let it get away from us for a couple plays but other than we played a very good ball game. We really have been executing on offense,” Weaver said. “The last five games we’ve been running our offense better than we have all year. It makes a big difference.”

South is seeking to go undefeated in league play for a second straight season and has two Mid-Penn games remaining Saturday at St. John Neumann and next week against Bucktail. The Mounties will then play for the overall Mid-Penn championship following the regular season’s conclusion against Mid-Penn East champion Northwest.

More challenges remain and South has bigger goals moving forward. Still, this win was one to savor.

“They’re a great team and it was for the Mid-Penn, and we want to stay undefeated,” Rieppel said. “That was one of our goals and they’re a tough team to play, so to gut it out feels great.”

SOUTH (36)

Lacey Kriebel 5 2-2 14, Aleigha Rieppel 6 1-1 15, Abby Akers 2 0-0 5, Piper Minier 1 0-1 2, Alizabeth Schuler 0 0-0 0, Mikaia Hills 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 3-4 36.

MUNCY (33)

Avery Bigelow 3 3-4 12, Nolah Moyer 4 0-0 8, Mia Edkin 2 0-0 5, Addi Eyer 1 0-2 2, Cierra Charles 1 2-2 4, Kaylynn Rice 0 0-0 0, Anna Zalonis 0 0-0 0, Addison Gresh 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 5-8 33.

South 6 11 15 4-36

Muncy 4 9 10 10-33

3-pointers: South 5 (Kriebel 2, Rieppel 2, Akers); Muncy 4 (Bigelow 3, Edkin).

Records: South 13-5, 10-0 Mid-Penn. Muncy 11-6, 8-3.