The team’s Most Valuable Player Saturday night never took the varsity court.

But the way Courtney Bertin plays the game inspired Milton and the Black Panthers displayed the competitive fire which Bertin epitomizes as they rallied for a hard-fought win at rival Montoursville.

Bertin suffered an injury late in the JV game and exited on a stretcher. The scene shook Milton players but they tapped into their inner-Bertin, overcame a fourth quarter deficit and defeated the Warriors, 50-41.

Carrie King (19 points, 13 rebounds), Liz Schrock (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Hayden Snyder (10 points, 11 rebounds) all produced double-doubles, Milton scored 23 fourth quarter points, and it boosted its 4A playoff hopes while making eight straight foul shots in the game’s final 77 seconds.

“That was very tough on us, and we were shaken up about that, but we got in there at halftime and said even though she’s not here right now, Courtney would hustle so hard out there, and she’d want us to hustle, too, so we came out and left it all out there,” King said. “She’s one of our players who wants us to lock in and play our best. That’s what really matters to her.”

Milton did Bertin proud, overcoming Montoursville’s own determined effort. The Panthers (8-8) turned a four-point fourth quarter deficit into a nine-point advantage three different times. Every player did her part, and Milton started a busy stretch of six games in eight nights with a win as gutsy as it was complete.

“That’s what I love about them. I’ll turn around, and they’re screaming on the bench for each other,” Milton coach Gene Bruno said. “There is such camaraderie. They all want to see other do well.”

That is exactly what happened as Milton closed strong after Montoursville turned a seven-point second quarter deficit into that four-point advantage. Kayleigh Sheleman had a big game for the Warriors, generating 22 points and 11 rebounds, but Milton used a blend of switching zone defenses, excellent rebounding and determination to take control in the game’s final seven minutes.

King found Schrock for a go-ahead 3-point play which made it, 34-33; Snyder followed with four straight points and all three, along with Jaslene Holder, clinched victory late with their clutch foul shooting.

“We didn’t come out strong as we know we can. At halftime coach came in and said it’s up to us,” King said. “We call came together as a team.”

King helped set the tone and again filled up the stat sheet. In addition to collecting her fifth double-double, King made six steals, dealt four assists and went 5 of 5 at the line. A 1,000-point scorer who played her first two years at Northumberland Christian before transferring to Milton, King is one of the area’s more well-rounded players and she emptied the toolbox against Montoursville.

King did not have her best shooting night, but her tenacity never receded. Her work on the boards and on defense helped change the game in the fourth quarter and she had a hand in eight points by the time her free throws made it, 44-37 with 1 minutes, 17 seconds left.

“I’d rather be a person who passes and gets her teammates to play well. I like my teammates to shine,” King said. “We love to see each other succeed very well.”

“She does it all. She’s a workhorse,” Bruno said. “I never take her out because she’s doing a bit of everything.”

Sheleman played that role for Montoursville, continuing her strong senior season. An all-state softball player who will play collegiately at Massachusetts, Sheleman also is having a strong basketball season and manufactured her fifth double-double. She also ignited a comeback, scoring 11 straight points between the second and third quarters as the Warriors went from down seven to up, 24-20.

Sheleman’s putback gave Montoursville a 29-27 lead entering the fourth quarter and Emily George (9 points, 6 rebounds) scored early in the fourth to make it a four-point game, but Milton responded with a 13-2 run and took control.

“When Kayleigh gets the ball down there, she’s a force. When she got her opportunities, she finished and that’s all you can ask,” Montoursville coach Travis Heap said. “She definitely makes a big difference on the team, and it just shows what kind of athlete she is to be able to do that on the softball field and then come out on the basketball court and do the same thing.”

Freshman Trinity Belle returned from injury and played a strong game as well, going for six points, nine rebounds and three steals. Marissa Sweeley added six rebounds. There were plenty of positives, but some critical mistakes, especially 16 turnovers denied Montoursville (5-12) a big win.

Still, this is a team which has made big strides this season. What’s been most frustrating is not the losses but coming so close so many times against quality opponents like Milton, Shamokin and Jersey Shore among others.

The upside is that Montoursville still has a shot at making the 4A playoffs and if so, knows it certainly is capable of winning some games if it qualifies.

“I feel bad for the girls because they’re working so hard. They’re changing the culture of the team through all these close games,” Heap said. “They’re seeing that we’re not that far off. I’d like to get a win for them, but you take the small battles when building a program. These close games are building character, and our seniors (Sheleman and George) are doing a great job establishing a culture.”

That is what Bruno has been focused on in his two years at Milton, and the Panthers also continue progressing. Milton’s last two games have featured impressive second-half comebacks.

As was the case Saturday, it has been a collective effort. Five players combined to go 11 of 13 at the foul line in the fourth quarter and Milton turned up the defense with its mixing zones, allowing just two late field goals over the final three minutes.

“That’s what is nice about this year. We have 5-6 girls scoring each game,” Bruno said. “Yes, Carrie will score 15 or so but other players will chip in four, six and eight. They’re playing as a team. There have been some growing pains but we’re growing, and I’m pleased with them.”

MILTON (50)

Carrie King 6 5-5 19, Liz Schrock 4 3-7 11, Hayden Snyder 2 6-6 10, Lainey Snyder 1 0-0 2, Camryn Hoover 1 1-2 3, Jaslene Holder 1 2-4 5, Sienna Short 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 17 26 50.

MONTOURSVILLE (41)

Emily George 4 1-4 9, Kayleigh Sheleman 9 3-3 22, Marleigh Bainbridge 0 0-0 0, Marissa Sweeley 2 0-0 4, Dahlia Campbell 0 0-2 0, Kinsley Schon 0 0-0 0, Trinity Belle 1 4-6 6. Totals 16 8-15 41.

Milton 14 6 7 23–50

Montoursville 13 7 9 12–41

3-pointers: Milton 3 (King 2, Holder); Montoursville 1 (Sheleman).

Records: Milton 8-8. Montoursville 5-12.