Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Blair County's Marah Dickson cuts between Central Pa.'s Madison Peterson (left) and Gracey Vinglish.

It wasn’t any surprise to Blair County coach Chris Fleegle that his team’s MVP on Thursday evening was one of his own in Altoona’s Melana Eyer.

Eyer, who became the Lady Lions’ leader in career 3-pointers this season, had 19 points to lead the Blair County girls over Central Pennsylvania, 79-72, in the 18th annual Mirror Classic at Penn State Altoona’s Adler Arena.

Eyer beat out Hollidaysburg’s Bella Vent for the team MVP. Vent picked up 16 points on the night.

“Anything Melana earns is definitely deserved,” Fleegle said. “There’s not many kids out there that work harder than she does. Bella was right there at the end of the game, too. She’s a fantastic athlete. They were both neck-and-neck.”

“This was a good experience playing with the best players in the area,” said Eyer, who will continue her basketball career at Shippensburg University next season. “It was really good to get one final high school game in.”

Central Pennsylvania’s MVP went to Cambria Heights’ Sienna Kirsch, who scored 11 points on the night.

With Central PA down by seven at the half, it was a run that was led by Kirsch that got the game back to as close as two points in the third quarter.

“This was really fun. It was a lot different than playing with my school ball team,” said Kirsch, who is undecided on her basketball future. “I loved playing with all the girls from different teams.

“I always dreamed of playing in one of these games. I’ve always came to watch them, so it means a lot.”

This was Blair County’s first win in the Classic on the girls side since 2019. Central Pa. had been on a 3-game winning streak after there was no games due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

“I said the other day at practice Blair County has a very strong girls basketball tradition,” Fleegle said. “All of these teams are very good. BG is very young. Hollidaysburg is younger. There’s a lot of talent on the girls’ side. We’re lucky to be a part of it as coaches.

“That’s a great group of 12 young ladies. They played hard. It makes it fun to be a part of.”

Penns Manor’s Alyssa Altemus led Central PA with 13 points. She was also coached by her own coach in the Classic in Jason Miloser.

“You have the best girls in the area, and you have a lot of really good coaches in the area,” Miloser said. “To be selected was a great honor for me. It was just a pleasure to get to coach all these girls, but especially my two girls that have worked so hard with me since seventh grade. It was fun to get a chance to coach them in their last high school game.”

NOTES: Central PA now leads the all-time series in the Classic, 11-7. … Eyer made it back-to-back Altoona players getting the Blair County MVP as Jaiden Krull won last year’s award. … The girls game also had an all-female officiating crew in Maireade Byrne, Courtney Cecere, and Emma Musser.

BLAIR COUNTY (79): Vent 7 1-1 16, Stevenson 1 0-0 3, Gofus 1 2-2 4, Wilt 3 2-2 10, Eyer 7 4-4 19, Dickson 1 0-0 3, Ranalli 3 0-0 6, Heim 4 0-0 8, Norton 1 0-0 2, Clapper 2 0-2 4, Greene 1 0-0 2, Boyles 1 0-0 2. Totals — 32 9-11 79.

CENTRAL PA (72): Altemus 6 1-1 13, Hawbaker 2 1-2 6, Beppler 3 0-0 7, Mumau 3 1-2 7, Szymusiak 3 0-0 6, Vinglish 1 0-0 3, Ab. Sheehan 0 0-0 0, Kirsch 5 1-2 11, Peterson 1 0-0 3, Fiscus 3 3-4 9, Al. Sheehan 0 0-0 0, Link 2 3-4 7. Totals — 29 10-15 72.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Blair County 20 21 26 12 — 79

Central Pa. 14 20 17 21 — 72

3-point goals: Blair County 6 (Vent, Stevenson, Wilt 2, Eyer, Dickson); Central Pa. 4 (Hawbaker, Beppler, Vinglish, Peterson).

Officials: Maireade Byrne, Courtney Cecere, Emma Musser.