BUFFALO – Does anyone have a can opener the size of a basketball goal? The Altoona-Midway varsity basketball teams would like to borrow it.
For the most part, shooting woes continued for both squads as AMHS closed out the week losing back-to-back doubleheaders against Liberty Homeschool Alliance and Oswego High School – even though both twinbills were played at Milo Peterson Gymnasium.
On Friday, Oswego won the boys’ game 65-31 and claimed the girls’ outing 51-14. It was Homecoming at AMHS. During halftime of the boys’ contest, Ava Tindle was crowned Queen and Kage Beck was honored as King.
Other members of the Court included Shelbi Bryant, Eryn Tiger and Braxton Wittlake. The theme for the 2026 AMHS Homecoming was “Love in Lights,” and the royalty was honored with a dance in the gymnasium following the basketball games.
Thursday evening, Altoona-Midway stepped out of Three Rivers League action to host Liberty. LHA boys captured a 48-19 decision, and the Lady Arrows won 40-31.
Both Altoona-Midway varsity teams have lost six straight games and stand 5-16 overall, withTRL marks of 2-9.
There is no rest for the weary, as Altoona-Midway is again scheduled for back-to-back action again Monday and Tuesday.
On Monday, Feb. 16, the Jets travel to Arma for a make-up date with Northeast – a game postponed back on Jan. 27. Tuesday, AMHS returns home and will host Marmaton Valley to close out regular-season play.
AMHS BOYS vs. Oswego
In the first and third quarters, Altoona-Midway actually outscored Oswego by a combined score of 22-19. But the Indians dominated the second and fourth quarters 46-9 and as a result claimed the 65-31 TRL victory.
“If it weren’t for a horrible second quarter (24-2), it could have been a decent game,” said AMHS head coach Dave Vance, who missed both Thursday and Friday attending to personal matters. AMHS assistant coach Kieran Foster handled game-management duties both nights.
“We shot only 27 percent from two-point range, didn’t hit a three-point shot, and made just 61 percent of our free throws,” Vance noted.
Chance Carter led the Jets with 11 points, while Kage Beck chipped in nine and Chance Mustain tallied eight. Caden Sicka rounded out the scoring with three points.
Sicka also hauled down six rebounds while Mustain, Beck, and Carter each grabbed five.
Eleven different players scored for Oswego (7-14), led by Kiser with 14 and Deon Williamson with 11.
“We actually are improving in various areas. It may be hard to see, but if you know what you’re looking for, it’s there,” Vance said. “We are running our offense and defense fairly well. But turnovers are a big problem, and we have to find a way to shoot a better percentage.”
Oswego also won a two-quarter junior varsity game 34-17. Eliot Ard led the Jet jayvee with seven points. Sicka scored four points, while Mustain, Nolan Lampe, and Karter Letterman netted two apiece.
AMHS GIRLS vs. Oswego
Oswego (11-10) had little trouble posting a 51-14 triumph in this TRL girls’ contest.
The Lady Indians, winners in seven of their last nine outings, flew out to a 22-6 advantage after one period and increased the lead to 35-9 at halftime. A 16-5 second half resulted in the final margin.
It was a tough game, but the girls hung in there, and they played hard,” said Altoona-Midway girls’ coach Jessica Porter. “We only had five available players, so we suited up Ada Hufford, who has been the team manager.
“Ada was only supposed to play to give girls some breathers, but we got into foul trouble early, and she ended up playing most of the game,” Porter noted. “She was a real trooper.”
Jasa Pankaskie led the Lady Jets with eight points. Keyleigh Clines and Destiny Raymond chipped in two points apiece, while Ava Tindle and Mika Parsons each made a free throw.
Trimble found the range for 11 points for Oswego, which had 11 different players reach the scoring column.
AMHS BOYS vs. LHA
The lid on the basket was even tighter for AMHS on Thursday night, as Liberty Homeschool Alliance waltzed away with a 48-19 non-conference victory at Milo Peterson Gymnasium.
The Arrows led 9-2 at the quarter, 22-10 at halftime, and 33-13 after three quarters. Judah Stockebrand poured in 24 points to pace the Liberty attack. Wyat Bahnsen tallied 11 points, all in the first half.
Only two players managed to find the scoring column for Altoona-Midway. Kage Beck tossed in a dozen points, and Chance Carter netted seven.
“It was a defensive struggle, 2-2 midway in the first quarter, but then Liberty scored 14 in a row before we were able to score again,” Vance noted. “Our effort was great, our ball movement was great, our defense wasn’t bad – but once again, we had way too many turnovers (23).
“And then throw on top of that 22 percent from two-point range and 7 percent from three-point range, and that pretty much tells the story,” he added.
Liberty also claimed a 23-8 victory in the junior varsity tilt. Caden Sicka hit two treys and a pair of free throws, accounting for all of the points for the Jet JV.
AMHS GIRLS vs. LHA
This was the most competitive game of the two nights, as the Lady Jets stayed within striking distance most of the way before falling 40-31.
Liberty held a slim 10-8 lead after one quarter and built a 22-14 advantage at halftime. AMHS closed with 28-22 entering the final stanza, but the Lady Arrows closed things out with a 12-9 spread.
“We honestly did a great job with ball movement on offense,” said AMHS head coach Jessica Porter. “It was quite possibly the best ball movement we’ve had all season, and we had pretty good offensive production as a result.”
Jasa Pankaskie connected on a trio of three-pointers and finished with 11 points to lead the Lady Jets. Keyleigh Clines tallied nine points, and Ava Tindle netted six, while Mika Parsons and Destiny Raymond chipped in three and two points, respectively.
Scout Mathew and Kaleigh Hardy did most of the damage for the Lady Arrows. Matthew poured in 19 points, and Hardy finished with 13.
“We had a tough time staying in front and defending a couple of Liberty’s girls, and in the end, that’s how they won that game,” Porter said. “But overall, I was very happy with the way we played.”