Ever since his freshman year, Jacob Mandrell enjoyed being part of the Wellsville-Middletown boys basketball team.

“I love playing for them because it’s always a great team to be on, no matter what,” Mandrell said. “Even when I wasn’t playing much in my freshman and sophomore years, I loved being on the team with the players and the whole program in general.”

Mandrell helped the Tigers celebrate a win on Senior Night on Jan. 20. W-M improved to 6-7 and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 37-30 win over the New Haven Shamrocks.

Mandrell, Dylan Alsop, Natalie Boeckelman, CJ Curd, Carly Henderson, Lucas Moore and Logan Pursifull were recognized with their parents between the girls and boys games. Mandrell said he couldn’t believe he was celebrating senior night.

“It's weird when it happens because time flies and they’re all saying, ‘Enjoy it while it lasts.’ When it comes up, it’s a whole different thing,” Mandrell said.

The W-M girls basketball team couldn’t pull off a win on Senior Night as the Tigers lost 50-36 to the Shamrocks. W-M lost its second straight game and dropped to 8-6.

The biggest highlight of the game was Henderson – who suffered a season-ending injury to her right knee during the first week of practice – being on the floor during tip-off. After the ball was tipped and play was stopped, Henderson went back to the bench, getting hugs from coaches and players.

“I was really excited to do that,” Henderson said. “I’m really glad the other coach allowed me to do that and went along with it, so that was pretty special.”

Both boys and girls teams have five home games remaining. Their next home game is scheduled for Jan. 31 against Elsberry.

The W-M boys defeated New Haven for the second time this season. The Tigers cruised to a 45-18 win over the Shamrocks in the seventh-place game of the Montgomery County Invitational on Dec. 2.

W-M had a balanced scoring attack that was led by sophomore Carson Huff with nine points, followed by Alsop, Mandrell and Pursifull with eight points each.

After New Haven got within one point, 18-17, early in the third quarter, Mandrell scored back-to-back buckets to extend the Tigers’ lead to 22-17 and started a 12-5 run.

“I saw that they were playing really aggressively,” Mandrell said. “When they’re playing aggressively, you have to attack the rim. I ended up making them.”

Pursifull, who returned to the team after missing the first two months due to a knee injury, scored all of his points in the second quarter. Alsop scored six of his points in the second half, including a basket as time expired in the third quarter.

All five seniors got to start against New Haven. Moore said he was thrilled to be in the starting lineup on Senior Night.

“It’s such a different feeling and a different atmosphere when you’re out there getting your name called and seeing all of the fans cheering for you,” Moore said.

In the girls contest, the Tigers lost to the Shamrocks for the second time this season. W-M fell 37-23 to New Haven in the third-place game of the Montgomery County Invitational on Dec. 3.

“I thought they played with some enthusiasm tonight and got after it a little bit,” W-M coach Todd Cripe said. “It was a loss, but it was a positive step forward.”

Henderson said despite not being able to play this season, she enjoys watching her team from the bench.

“I think the season has been really fun so far for them,” Henderson said. “They have been off to a really hot start. In the last two or three games, they haven’t done as well, but I know they’re going to bounce back and they’re already off to the best start they’ve ever had in numerous years."

Henderson and Boeckelman joined the W-M girls program the same year Cripe took over head coaching duties, which was the 2019-20 season.

“They’re the last of the first freshman class that I had,” Cripe said. “It was nice to send those guys off.”

Junior Meagan Cripe scored 12 points off the bench and sophomore Hallie Guzy finished with 10 to lead the Tigers.