MUNCY–Addison Wenzel enjoyed a terrific freshman year, earning HAC-II first team all-star honors and helping Milton make a seven-win improvement.

Content she was not. That only fueled Wenzel’s competitive fire, so it was quickly back to the gym as she continued improving and evolving. The season is young, but it certainly looks like Wenzel is taking her game to another level. And Saturday night she helped Milton win a championship.

Wenzel scored a game-high 22 points and made 10 steals as Milton defeated feisty Muncy, 39-33 and captured the Muncy Rotary Tournament championship. Liz Shrock was a rebounding/defensive force, securing 20 boards and anchoring a stellar defense, helping the Panthers (2-1) win their second hard-fought game in as many nights.

“I’m always trying to improve. After every game I try to do a self-evaluation and see what I have to improve for the next game,” Wenzel said after earning Tournament MVP honors. “I really wanted to improve from last year, so I worked hard in the offseason. My AAU team got me better in the offseason and this team is always helping me get better and improve.”

Her teammates are making Wenzel better and vice-versa. First-year coach Gene Bruno likes the way his team is competing hard every day and that effort shined through against a tough-minded Muncy team which won last year’s District 4 Class AA championship and reached the state’s Elite 8.

Milton led from start to finish and kept responding when pushed throughout the second half. The defense cut off the paint and Milton forced 26 turnovers as it concluded a busy week which featured three games in five nights.

Claire Scuder was a vital part of the defensive success, making four steals. Carrie King added three more and blocked three shots, while Kiley Long scored four second quarter points and Amelia Gainer, Lainey Snyder and Hayden Snyder also provided quality minutes.

“I told them before the game this program is very respected, and you haven’t had a signature win (the last two years),” Bruno said. “I said we have to rebuild this, and this one would be a nice won for us to get going. They’ll be peaks and valleys, but I told them to enjoy the moment. This is definitely going to help the confidence.”

Wenzel gained ample confidence as a freshman, immediately stepping in and helping the Black Panthers return to the District 4 Class AAAA playoffs. She concluded her season with 26 points against state qualifier Lewisburg in districts and then went back to the lab, eager to keep constructing an excellent all-around player.

From that work has come impressive results. Wenzel is averaging 20 points through three games but does a lot more than score. Her stifling defense helped spark the offense at times and she added four rebounds and two assists. Wenzel hit a 3-pointer, scored off the dribble, via defense and beautifully sucked in the defense at the foul line before finding a cutting Schrock for a third quarter layup.

“I feel like I can lean back on my teammates this year. I feel more comfortable with where I am. I definitely grew from last year,” Wenzel said. “I understand what it’s like now to play at this level. I can play well with my teammates now because I understand what they understand, and that really helps.”

Muncy (1-2) has a similar connection and never stopped competing against the 4A Panthers. Literally. The Indians went down swinging with Anna Zalonis making a steal with 1.3 seconds remaining, drawing a foul and hitting a free throw.

The Indians trailed by as many as 11 in the second half but pulled as close as six multiple times in the fourth. Wenzel, however, denied them a full comeback, driving in for a steal and layup and finding Schrock inside for baskets which twice put Milton ahead by nine. Still, mistakes Muncy made are correctable.

A foundation built on hustle and work remains strong. A team which started 2-4 last year before becoming one of the state’s top eight 2A teams know it can achieve a lot if that determination remains high.

“To see them in that huddle, even in winning the district title last year, we didn’t have what came out of those huddles in the fourth quarter which any coach would just love,” Muncy coach Craig Weaver Sr. said. “Instead of us giving in a little we dished it back, too. The fight that was there.”

Addi Eyer, epitomized that fight, again leaving all she had on the court. The 5-foot-2 point guard scored a team-high 16 points, made seven steals and pulled down six rebounds. She also scored seven fourth quarter points, twice cutting the deficit to six with clutch jumpers.

She and her sister Ava (7 points) earned all-tournament honors. Rosie Zalonis added seven points, and Addi Gresh played an excellent game inside, especially defensively, finishing with six rebounds and three blocks. Alexis McKeta provided a spark off the bench, grabbing five rebounds.

“We came out of the locker room and turned it up. It’s so gratifying as a coach to see a team do that. Win it or lose it, to be able to come back and fight like that it’s great,” Weaver said. “We don’t want to start 2-4 again, but a loss early doesn’t hurt you. We want to peaking going down the road and we have the kids to do it. They’re just a good bunch of kids.”

Shrock is developing into quite a good post player. Like Wenzel, Schrock made nice strides last year before continuing to improve throughout the offseason. That work ethic has helped her burst out of the gates and she earned all-tournament honors after constantly disrupting Muncy’s offense.

In addition to furiously competing on the boards and reaching a career-high 20 rebounds, Shrock also blocked six shots, while altering many more. Bruno said he implemented a different zone defense than usual against Muncy and then watched his players, especially, Schrock brilliantly execute it, while holding the Indians to 10 or fewer points each quarter.

“I love Liz. She probably works as hard as anyone on this team. She really committed in the offseason this year and I’m really proud of her,” Wenzel said. “She’s someone I really look to on the floor as one of our key components and I’m really looking forward to seeing what she does this year because she has improved so much.”

MILTON (39)

Addison Wenzel 10 1-1 22, Carrie King 1 1-2 3, Liz Shrock 3 2-2 8, Kiley Long 2 0-0 4, Claire Scuder 0 0-4 0, Lainey Snyder 0 0-0 0, Amelia Gainer 1 0-0 2, Hayden Snyder 0 0-2 0. Totals 17 4-9 39.

MUNCY (33)

Addi Eyer 7 1-2 16, Ava Eyer 1 4-4 7, Rosie Zalonis 3 1-2 7, Anna Zalonis 0 1-2 1, Addi Gresh 0 0-0 0, Emma McCormick 1 0-0 2, Alexis McKeta 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-10 33.

Milton 8 14 9 8–39

Muncy 7 7 9 10–33

3-pointers: Milton 1 (Wenzel); Muncy 2 (Ad. Eyer, Av. Eyer).

Records: Milton 2-1. Muncy 1-2.

All-Tournament Team: Malaia Hart, Benton; Maddy Fasnacht, Meadowbrook Christian; Ava Eyer, Muncy; Addi Eyer, Muncy; Liz Schrock, Milton

MVP: Addison Wenzel, Milton