Although disappointed it could not play for a District 4 Class AAA championship, Mifflinburg looked forward not backward Saturday at Montoursville.

A big opportunity came its way and Mifflinburg pounced. The Wildcats made quite a statement, too.

Chad Martin scored 14 points, Jackson Griffith 12 and Grady Brubaker 11 as Mifflinburg dominated all facets and routed Loyalsock, 55-25, taking third place and earning a state tournament berth.

The Wildcats (16-9) are state tournament bound for the first time since 2021 and will play District 2 champion Riverside at a District 2 site.

“We were hoping we’d be playing somewhere else, but when we got ready, I’m like, ‘Let’s go win and show them what we got,'” said Griffith, who has now led the boys’ and girls’ teams to state tournaments. “Let’s show them the team we are.”

For any who had not noticed through the first 15 wins, Mifflinburg is quite a good team.

Highlighting that fact, Mifflinburg dropped its first game against Loyalsock this season before winning the next two by 54 combined points. Saturday’s game felt like it was over before it started with Mifflinburg leading 17-3 late in the first quarter and 33-8 at halftime. By the time Griffith (7 rebounds) hit a 3-pointer a little more than three minutes into the third quarter, Mifflinburg imposed the mercy rule and led, 40-9. At that point, Loyalsock made just 3 of 30 shots from the field.

“Chad really attacked the offense and did really well at beginning,” Kelly Griffith said. “We rebounded great. They defended well. Those were the keys to the game, and they executed them really well.”

Loyalsock closed a turnaround season 14-11. The Lancers, who return all but one player next season, made an eight-win improvement and gave Southern Columbia all it could handle in the semifinals, dropping a 48-45 heartbreaker.

It appeared the Lancers had nothing left following that game with Mifflinburg dominating all facets, especially the boards. Martin (8), Yoder (8), Griffith and Brubaker (6) all collected six or more rebounds, and no Lancer had more than five.

A last-second Cioffi 3-pointer offered a lifeline as Loyalsock pulled within 17-6 entering the second quarter, but Mifflinburg soon squeezed all the life from its offense. The Lancers went 1 of 14 from the field in the second quarter and did not reach double figures until Saoj Jones drained a 3-pointer near the third-quarter’s midway point.

“That was a great team effort,” Coach Griffith said. “We played great defense in the first half, and everyone contributed.”

Mifflinburg started the season late after the football team enjoyed a super season and captured a district championship. The Wildcats started the season 6-7 but have won 10 of 12 games since then with the only two losses coming against district champion Warrior Run.

What Mifflinburg showed again Saturday is that it not only is a strong team, but one which has come a long way.

“From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, we’ve definitely improved a lot,” Coach Griffith said. “We work together really well.”

Mifflinburg goes back to work Monday and starts preparing for Riverside, an explosive team which features two players averaging more than 20 points per game. Griffith coached a girls’ team which reached the Final 4 in 2015 and took out state tournament favorite Lancaster Catholic along the way.

Yes, the challenge is a daunting one, but history shows that anything is possible. And what awaits Saturday is both a reward for the seniors and a great opportunity for the underclassmen. Mifflinburg worked all season for a chance like this and now it will try building on what it showed in its final district game.

“This is their first time going to states. It’s a good opportunity and for the young kids it’s great for them to get the experience,” Coach Griffith said. “You go and play your game and see what happens.”

Mifflinburg 55, Loyalsock 25

LOYALSOCK (25)

Braydon Cioffi 3 0-0 9, Brecken Gusick 0 0-0 0, Jalil Coates 1 1-3 4, Saoj Jones 2 0-0 5, Isaac Blackwell 2 0-0 4, Ryan Lingg 0 0-0 0, Ronnie Emery 0 3-3 3. Totals 8 4-6 25.

MIFFLINBURG (55)

Jackson Griffith 4 3-4 12, Chad Martin 5 3-3 14, Grady Brubaker 4 2-4 11, Chase Yoder 1 0-0 2, Hunter Bolick 1 0-0 2, JP Marr 4 0-1 8, Cole Reibsome 1 0-0 2, Jackson Marr 0 2-2 2, Logan Sauers 0 2-2 2, Luke Brubaker 0 0-2 0. Totals 20 12-17 55.

Loyalsock 6 2 10 7–25

Mifflinburg 17 16 12 10–55

3-pointers: Loyalsock 5 (Cioffi 3, Coates, Jones); Mifflinburg 3 (Griffith, Martin, G. Brubaker).

Records: Mifflinburg 16-9. Loyalsock 14-11.