Blue Devil girls eliminated with 1st-round loss

By Ed Gotwals on 2/17/26

 

ERSHEY — Through the first three-plus quarters, No. 14 Greencastle-Antrim gave No. 3-seeded Milton Hershey all it wanted.

 

But the Spartans outscored G-A 27-16 in the final 8 minutes to pull away for a 65-47 victory in a District 3 Class 5A first-round girls basketball playoff game in Hershey on Tuesday night.

 

Liv Carey

 

The Blue Devils closed out their season with a 13-10 record. Milton Hershey (17-6) plays Cocalico on Friday in a quarterfinal game.

 

Greencastle coach Scott McKeever said, “Most team’s seasons end with a loss and that’s what happened to us tonight. But it doesn’t take away from how successful the season was.”

 

The Blue Devils trailed by 6 at halftime (25-19) and were still down only 7 (38-31) to start the fourth period.

 

However, Milton Hershey, which enjoyed a size advantage, wore Greencastle down on the boards and used a transition offense to take a 6-point lead to 12 quickly and douse G-A’s hopes.

 

“We fought hard and kept the game at arm’s length until then,” McKeever said.

 

Callie Izer led Greencastle with 13 points, Liv Carey knocked down four 3-pointers for 12 points and Ellie Bigler also totaled 12 points. Leading scorer Kiersten Swain was held to a season-low 2 points by the Spartans’ defense.

 

Milton Hershey got 20 points from Aubrie Walker-Smith and 14 from Angelina Momoh.

 

McKeever said, “I am proud of our girls and I want to say say thanks to our seniors, Callie Izer and Liv Carey, who gave everything they had for four years. They will be missed.

 

“But I am excited by the growth we had this year and with who returns next year. We are set up for continued success.”

Aubrie Walker-Smith’s double-double headlines Milton Hershey’s 5A win over Greencastle-Antrim

By Eric Epler on 2/17/26

 

HERSHEY – It’s ironic that some of Milton Hershey’s sluggish starts this season are a direct result of running a bit too fast.

 

And it’s never a good idea to stay reckless and force bad shots when the season is on the line.

 

Luckily for the Spartans, they once again figured it out over the final 16 minutes Tuesday to chase down a District 3 5A opening round win.

 

Forward Aubrie Walker-Smith had 20 points and slick guard Tati Chandler added 16 as the Spartans ran off Greencastle-Antrim 65-47 at Spartan Center.

 

No. 3 Milton Hershey (17-6), using a 14-4 run to snare a 25-19 halftime edge, banked a PIAA berth and will host no. 6 Cocalico at 7 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinal round.

 

Greencastle-Antrim (13-10), done in by the Spartans’ explosive 27-point outburst in the fourth, completes its season despite 13 points from Callie Izer, and 12 apiece from Ellie Bigler and Liv Carey, capped its postseason.

 

The stars

Despite giving up plenty of size in the low blocks, the Blue Devils presented a worthy attack that caused the Spartans trouble in the first 14 minutes.

 

Eventually, the pressure applied by Walker-Smith and fellow forward Journey Wright paid off.

 

Chandler, meanwhile, helped shift the Spartans’ offense into high gear down the stretch. Walker-Smith’s baseline 18-footer started a 7-2 run near the end the third.

 

And after back-to-back triples from Carey kept the Blue Devils with striking distance, 43-37, it was Wright’s free throw, coupled with Walker-Smith’s stick back, that started a game-winning 9-3 MHS surge.

 

Walker-Smith chipped in 13 rebounds. MHS guard Angelina Momah posted 14 points, including eight after the break.

 

Chandler had five points, and Difayah Brisbone-Kremer four, in the fourth quarter. Walker-Smith had six in the stretch.

 

They said it:

“Coach told us to just calm down, take our time with our passes and take care of the ball. We push the ball, but we had to be smarter with our passes. Whenever the other team starts to score, we tend to rush.” – MHS forward Journey Wright on halftime speech from coach Tina Klotzbeecher-Thomas

 

“She snags every rebound. Her hands are like paws and she doesn’t always get the calls she deserves. She gets beat up a lot inside.” – Klotzbeecher-Thomas on Walker-Smith and her inside presence

Blue Devils win tight game vs. JB

By Ed Gotwals on 2/6/26

 

Greencastle-Antrim 53, James Buchanan 47: The Blue Devils made a nice run in the third quarter to take the lead from the Rockets, then did enough at the end to hold JB off in a non-league contest Friday night in Greencastle.

 

Callie Izer

 

A basket in the lane by JB’s Kendyl Stoner tied the game 45-45 midway through the fourth quarter, but a layup by Ellie Bigler quickly gave G-A the lead back. Liv Carey made a free throw, then Ainsley Green scored for the Rockets to get them within 48-47.

 

With 0:45 left, Kiersten Swain drained two free throws for the Blue Devils, and with 0:12 left, Callie Izer made only her first of two free throws. But Swain ran down the rebound and Izer was fouled and made both to finish the game.

 

“You always want to send your seniors out with a win and the girls worked hard tonight to do that,” Blue Devil coach Scott McKeever said. “Callie and Liv mean a lot to our program.”

 

“We rely on 3-pointers, but made only one tonight, so credit to JB’s players and coaches who took that part of the game away. We showed our maturity by going inside over and over and that adjustment made all the difference.”

 

For Greencastle, which finished the regular season 13-9, Izer scored 15 points, Bigler had 12 and Swain ended with 10. Izer grabbed 7 rebounds, Fries had 5 boards and 3 steals and Bigler added 8 boards, 3 steals and 4 assists.

 

Kendyl Stoner poured in 22 points to lead the Rockets (9-11). Alivia Dorty scored 9 and Green added 8.

Basketball team wipe out East Penn

By Ed Gotwals on 2/4/26

 

Greencastle-Antrim 71, East Pennsboro 44: The Blue Devils had blazing hot first quarter — outscoring the Panthers 26-7 — and rolled to a big Mid Penn Colonial win Wednesday at home and help their chances for making the District 3 playoffs.

 

Ellie Bigler

 

G-A coach Scott McKeever said, “After just missing the playoffs last year, our goal was to get back in and see what happens. This win puts us in a good place as we get ready for Senior Night Friday against James Buchanan.

 

“The girls worked through the ups and downs that is basketball and kept East Penn at arms length all night. It puts us right where we want to be — in control of our own fate.”

 

The Blue Devils (12-9, 8-6 MPC) got a big night from Kiersten Swain, who put up 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 27 points (her third game this year with 27 or more).

 

She got plenty of help from Ellie Bigler (13), Callie Izer (13) and Sophie Fries (8).

 

For East Pennsboro (2-19, 2-12 MPC), Amina Alami scored 15 points.

Girls pick up hoops win over Greyhounds

By Ed Gotwals on 1/27/26

 

Greencastle-Antrim 63, Shippensburg 57: The Blue Devils avenged an earlier loss to the Greyhounds by dominating the fourth quarter in a Mid Penn Colonial game on Tuesday night at home.

 

Ellie Bigler

 

“We had some foul trouble in the first half and the bench kept us in the game in the second quarter,” G-A coach Scott McKeever said. “Then, led by Callie (Izer) and Kiersten (Swain), we put together a winning fourth quarter.

 

“Callie attacked the rim from the high post (she scored 8 points in the period) and Kiersten hit two of her four 3-pointers, and we pulled out to an 8-point lead with about 3 minutes to go. Then we closed it out on foul shots by Liv Carey, Ellie Bigler and Swain.”

 

Lily Weller tossed in 21 points for Shippensburg (9-10, 6-6 MPC) and Tressa Triplett added 12 points.

 

Swain poured in a career-high 28 points for the Blue Devils — she made 5 of 9 from long range and hit 9 of 10 free throws — and she was helped by Izer (18 points) and Sophie Fries (10 points).

 

Izer and Bigler each made 7 steals, and Bigler added 8 assists and 11 rebounds. Fries had 3 steals and 4 boards and Swain assisted on 3 baskets.

Blue Devils hoops team defeats West Perry

By Ed Gotwals on 1/22/26

 

Greencastle-Antrim 60, West Perry 27: Already leading by 15 points at halftime, the Blue Devils outscored the Mustangs 25-7 in the second half to claim a Mid Penn Colonial win Thursday night at home.

 

Liv Carey

 

With their third win in the last 4 games, the Blue Devils moved their record to 9-8 (5-6 MPC).

 

G-A coach Scott McKeever said, “Coming off a big win Tuesday over Waynesboro, I wanted the girls to understand that this game meant just as much to our postseason aspirations as that one did. They responded well across the board.

“I was pleased with our energy and execution. We had 17 assists and only 11 turnovers. That’s the kind of execution we’re looking for down the stretch.”

 

Kiersten Swain knocked down four 3-pointers on her way to 16 points to lead G-A. The team hit 8-for-19 from long range.

 

Liv Carey and Sophie Fries added 10 points each. Fries added 14 rebounds, Ellie Bigler had 5 assists, Callie Izer, Morgan Baer and Braelyn Cordell each had 3 assists and Izer added 5 boards and 4 steals.

Big 4th quarters lifts Blue Devils to win

By Ed Gotwals on 1/20/26

 

Greencastle-Antrim 75, Waynesboro 63: A big fourth quarter — including an 11-for-13 effort at the free throw line — lifted the Blue Devils to a 12-point win over the Maidens in a home Mid Penn Colonial game Tuesday night.

 

Sophie Fries

 

Waynesboro (6-9, 6-4 MPC) led by 7 points at halftime, but by the end of three periods, the game was tied 47-47.

 

Greencastle (8-8, 4-6 MPC) then put up 28 points in the fourth quarter to salt the game away.

 

For the game, G-A hit 29 of 43 foul shots, while ‘Boro made 13 of 20.

 

In the fourth, Kiersten Swain scored 9 points for the Blue Devils, while Ellie Bigler and Sophie Fries each scored 7. Bigler was 7-for-8 shooting free throws in that period and was 11-for-14 for the game.

 

For Greencastle, which had lost by 7 to ‘Boro earlier in the season, Fries dropped in 21 points and Callie Izer poured in 20 — both were career-high totals. Also, Swain produced 18 points and Bigler had 11.

 

Bre McIlquham notched 18 points for the Maidens, while Braelynn Pearson had 14 and Aly Shockey 11.

Northern hands Blue Devils  a division setback

By Ed Gotwals on 1/16/26

 

Northern York 44, Greencastle-Antrim 33: The Blue Devils kept the powerful Polar Bears within reach until a rough fourth quarter sealed their fate in a Mid Penn Colonial game Friday night at home.

 

Braelyn Cordell

 

Northern (12-2, 8-1 MPC) trailed 29-27 at the end of three quarters against Greencastle (7-8, 3-6 MPC), but rallied to take the win with a 17-4 advantage in the fourth period.

 

“The first three quarters were as tight as a game could be,” G-A coach Scott McKeever said. “It was a game that featured hard-nosed, physical defense. Scoring was difficult at both ends. Northern found some cracks in our defense early in the fourth to go from two down to six up.”

 

The Bears also hit 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch. Liz Montgomery led with 10 points.

 

For the Blue Devils, Braelyn Cordell led with 8 points, Ellie Bigler had 7 and Liv Carey and Kiersten Swain scored 6 each. Also, Sophie Fries grabbed 10 rebounds, Callie Izer had 4 boards and 3 steals and Cordell added 3 steals.

Balanced Mustangs top G-A girls

By Ed Gotwals on 12/5/25

 

South Western 56, Greencastle-Antrim 25: The Mustangs put 9 players in the scoring column and handled the Blue Devils in a first-round game of the South Western Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night in Hanover.

 

Liv Carey

 

South Western will play York Catholic in the final Saturday at 4 p.m., while G-A will play Carlisle at 2:30. The Herd fell 45-40 to York Catholic.

 

Carly Louey paced the Mustangs with 22 points, scoring 6 in the first period and 8 each in the second and third.

Greencastle (1-1) had no players in double figures. Liv Carey led in scoring with 8 points.