However, the Central Pennsylvania team used a 20-point scoring difference in the second quarter to separate itself.

Central PA got points from six different players en route to 34 points, while Blair managed 14 by four players.

Despite making a run in the third frame, Blair County was unable to come back as Central PA took the 19th edition of the Altoona Mirror Classic with a 121-99 final on Friday night at Penn State Altoona’s Adler Gymnasium.

“Just getting to meet all these news players, it’s such a cool deal,” Central PA and Clearfield coach Nate Glunt said. “I’m so appreciative of this opportunity (to coach).”

Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Blair County's Malakai Shields takes a shot over Central PA's Jace Casses.

Nine players from Blair County registered baskets in the opening 10 minutes as it held the 24-23 lead.

A Taurean Consiglio of Bishop Guilfoyle pull-up made it 24-20 for Blair.

However, a 3-pointer off an inbounds feed by Colin Dinyar of Conemaugh Township got his Central PA team within one near the close of the first quarter.

Dinyar, who was named MVP of Central PA, registered 11 of his 19 points in the opening frame.

“It’s a great honor, but it could have gone to any of us,” Dinyar said of winning the MVP.

Central PA’s Braison Patrick of Clearfield opened the second stanza with a layup and 3-pointer to take a 28-26 lead.

Ty Uplinger of Williamsburg tied it back up for Blair with a putback.

Central PA got balanced scoring as part of a 12-3 run to claim a 40-31 lead.

A layup from Malikai Shields of Altoona and a triple by Kasen Metzger of Hollidaysburg brought Blair within four at 40-36.

“This was amazing,” Shields said. “You get to play against people you are rivals with. It’s amazing how we just came together and played together.”

Central PA seized control the final five minutes of the opening half by reeling off a 17-4 spurt to take a 57-40 lead at the midway point.

“We were staying energized, pushing the ball up the court and executing a lot,” Dinyar said of what contributed to his team’s second quarter dominance.”

Carter Payne of United totaled seven points, Aimer Robinson of Johnstown and Jace Casses of Bishop Carroll recorded four points each, while Raheem Braswell of Johnstown added a layup during the spurt.

Meanwhile, both buckets by Blair came from Consiglio.

“We were just having fun and not really taking it seriously,” Blair County and Tyrone’s Eli Woomer said. “They (Central PA) capitalized on it. We weren’t really getting back on defense, and they were pushing the ball and they got easy buckets.”

A trey from Jack Wesner of Westmont Hilltop made it a 20-point Central PA edge to open the second half.

The difference fluctuated between 18 and 21 before another 3-pointer by Wesner gave his team its largest of the third at 23 with the score 69-46.

However, back-to-back treys from Shields, who earned MVP honors for the Blair team, made it a 17-point deficit.

“I was very nervous coming into it,” Shields said. “I did not think I was going to get the MVP. As the game went on, I started to get the hot hand, my teammates started feeding me and it just happened.”

Wesner hit a pair of free throws later to set the 20-point advantage back for Central PA.

Woomer responded with two straight trifectas — the second coming off a Shields steal — to pull Blair County within 14 points at 76-62.

“When the ball is going in it feels good,” Woomer said. “You get a little tingle. I had hit a few before that. It’s just feels good — it’s fun.”

Blair got to within 14 points twice more on a Jayden Wolfe of Hollidaysburg 3-pointer (80-66) and driving layup (82-68). Chris Wagner of Altoona followed up the layup with a fast break bucket to pull Blair County as close as it got the rest of the way at 12 points.

An 11-7 run to end the quarter by Central PA with seven points coming via Casses which had the score up to 93-77 at the end of three quarters of play.

“Being able to come out here and play with such good teammates and playing other good people — it’s such a blast,” Casses said. “I don’t really know how to describe it — it’s just fun. We’re out here having fun. It’s a reward after a hard season.”

Central PA outscored Blair by 28-22 in the final frame as its largest lead was the final tally.

A pair of triples from Woomer got Blair County within 98-83, and then a Metzger hoop made it 101-86.

A Patrick triple put Central PA over the 100-point mark.

The two teams virtually went back-and-forth trading baskets with Dylan Hoover of Central knocking down a 3-pointer to account for the final Blair County points.

Central PA got the final six points of the contest to set the final score.

“It was a lot of fun,” Blair County and Williamsburg coach Jeff Detwiler said of getting to coach. “These guys brought energy, and it was just fun to be around them and experience this. These guys are talented and we had a good time.”

Robinson led all scorers with 20 points, Dinyar tallied 19, Patrick recorded 17, Wesner finished with 14 and Casses added 13 for Central PA.

Shields and Woomer tied for Blair County team-high honors with 15 points apiece, Metzger accounted for 14, Wolfe posted 12, Kissell came through with 11, and Consiglio totaled 10.

CENTRAL PA (121): Casses 6 0-0 13, Maines 3 0-0 6, Dinyar 7 0-0 19, Gibbons 2 0-2 5, Braswell 4 0-0 8, Henry 2 0-0 6, Robinson 8 2-2 20, Patrick 7 0-0 17, Guisler 1 0-0 2, Payne 4 0-0 9, Wesner 4 2-4 14, McGough 1 0-0 2′. Totals — 49 4-8 121.

BLAIR COUNTY (99): Wolfe 5 0-0 12, Shields 6 0-0 15, Haney 1 0-0 2, Wagner 3 0-0 6, Lestochi 1 1-2 3, Hoover 1 0-0 3, Metzger 5 0-0 14, Uplinger 2 0-0 5, Woomer 5 1-1 15, Consiglio 5 0-0 10, Zimmerman 1 1-2 3, Kissell 5 0-0 11. Totals — 40 3-5 99.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Central PA 23 34 36 28 — 121

Blair County 26 14 37 22 — 99

3-point goals: Central PA 19 (Dinyar 5, Wesner 4, Patrick 3, Henry 2, Robinson 2, Casses, Gibbons, Payne); Blair County 16 (Metzger 4, Woomer 4, Shields 3, Wolfe 2, Hoover, Uplinger, Kissell).

Officials: Kevin Laird, Damon Rickens, Ethan Vipond.