Just when you think you’ve got the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff picture figured out, another upset jumps up and throws the whole thing into disarray. This year’s race has featured more twists and turns than a season of ABC’s ‘Lost.’

We got another game-changer last night, when Warwick knocked off McCaskey 72-70. The victory turned the chase for second place in Section 1 into a three-team affair. The Red Tornado lost sole possession of second, dropping into a tie with Penn Manor (a 65-44 winner over Manheim Township Tuesday night). And now Warwick is lurking just a game behind, with a showdown against the Comets looming next week.

The Warriors will probably have to win their final three games (vs. Cedar Crest Friday, at Penn Manor on Monday and vs. Manheim Township next Wednesday) and hope both McCaskey and Penn Manor lose one more each to force a three-way tie for second. If that happens, they would win the playoff berth by virtue of an advantage in tiebreaking criteria (see the analysis of the playoff race I did earlier this week by clicking here).

Penn Manor, meanwhile, has a rematch with section-leading Hempfield on Friday, and will probably need a victory there to stay in second place. The clash with Warwick follows on Monday before the Comets close out the regular season at Cedar Crest next Wednesday. Penn Manor needs to win out to make the playoffs.

McCaskey’s control of its own destiny lasted for exactly one game. Now the Tornado will have to win their final three games and hope that both Penn Manor and Warwick drop another one, because both the Comets and the Warriors wouldhave the advantage over them in the event of a tie for second. McCaskey hosts Manheim Township on Friday, hosts Cedar Crest on Monday and closes the season at Hempfield next Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Hempfield clinched the Section 1 crown with a 70-46 rout of Cedar Crest. Lampeter-Strasburg and Cocalico both clinched playoff berths in Section 3, but remain tied for the lead. The title will likely be decided when the two teams face off in Lampeter next week. Section 2 leader Solanco did not play; its game with Conestoga Valley was moved to tonight because the District 3 wrestling team playoffs were held in Quarryville last night. The same thing was true for Section 4 leader Lancaster Catholic, whose game at Annville-Cleona was postponed until tonight.

Solanco and Catholic have already clinched playoff berths.

Got all that?

Here’s a rundown of last night’s games:

SECTION 1

Warwick 72, McCaskey 70: An incredible fourth-quarter rally came up just short for the Tornado, which trailed 63-41 after three quarters. McCaskey (9-4 section, 10-9 overall) exploded for 29 points in the final eight minutes, but the Warriors (8-5, 12-7) held on by their fingernails to pull out the victory. Vince Soto spearheaded Warwick’s victory with 23 points, while Anthony D’Imperio and Deron Thompson added 12 each. League scoring leader Leontae Turner scored 18 points for McCaskey in his return from an academic suspension, while Diante Cherry added 17 and Tyler Martin had 13.

Penn Manor 65, Manheim Township 44: Jon Brooks poured in 23 points to lead the way as the Comets fought their way back into second place with a rout of the Blue Streaks. Penn Manor (9-4, 13-4) put together a 22-9 surge in the final eight minutes to break the game open. Mark Stratton led Township (6-7, 8-10) with 13 points, while Jon Cheippor added 10.

Hempfield 70, Cedar Crest 46: Imposing forward Taylor McDuffie celebrated his return to the lineup from a concussion with a game-high 23 points to fuel the Black Knights’ romp over the Falcons. Ethan Strayer came off the bench to add 16 points, while Christian Walck had 14 and Mike Uehlein had 12 for Hempfield (13-0, 17-0), which wrapped up its second straight section title and remained undefeated on the season. Tyler Reed paced Cedar Crest (6-7, 9-9) with 18 points.

SECTION 2

Elizabethtown 53, Garden Spot 36: Drew Reinhold scored 15 points to lead the way as the Bears (6-7, 8-11) took over sole possession of second place in the section, a half-game ahead of idle Conestoga Valley, which visits section leader Solanco tonight. Kirby Turner added 13 points and Brad Garber scored 11 for E-town. Garden Spot (2-11, 3-15) squandered a 19-point effort by Jevin Zimmerman and lost for the fifth time in six games.

Lebanon 69, Ephrata 62: Kyle Thomas exploded for 36 points to carry the Cedars over the Mountaineers. Ernest Martez added 12 points for Lebanon (4-9, 7-11), which snapped a seven-game losing streak and swept the season series from the Mounts. Anthony Jamison scored 27 points in a losing effort for Ephrata (0-13, 5-14), while Ray Johnson added 12.

SECTION 3

Lampeter-Strasburg 50, Donegal 44: Tyrone McFadden poured in 21 points and Taylor Groff added 10 as the Pioneers (10-3, 13-5) clinched a league playoff berth and eliminated Donegal from playoff contention. L-S remained tied with Cocalico for first place in the section race. Austin Musser scored 16 points and Josh Rudy had 15 for the Indians (6-7, 10-9).

Cocalico 77, Elco 39: Kyle Rissell scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as the Eagles (10-3, 13-6) wrapped up a league playoff berth with a blowout win over the visiting Raiders. Matt Carty and Dylan Brossman added 12 points for Cocalico, while Kevin Antol had 10. Tyler George paced Elco (5-8, 8-11) with 12 points.

Northern Lebanon 36, Manheim Central 26: Wesley Reitz and Tyler Sheffy scored seven points each to carry the Vikings over the Barons in a low-scoring affair. Northern Lebanon (3-10, 4-14) snapped a four-game skid with the victory. Derek Hart led Central (1-12, 2-17) with seven points.

SECTION 4

Lancaster Mennonite 74, Columbia 50: Elliott Groff poured in 19 points and Jon Lapp added 14 as the Blazers crept closer to the playoffs with a blowout win over the host Crimson Tide. Lancaster Mennonite (10-3, 14-8) can join section-leading Lancaster Catholic in the league playoffs by beating Lebanon Catholic on Thursday. Tre Simms led Columbia with 14 points, while Nick Nobile added 11 points and Brandon Arnold had 10.

Lebanon Catholic 51, Pequea Valley 48: Alex Groh (13 points) and Zach Arnold (10) combined to lead the scoring attack as the Beavers held off PV and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. Lebanon Catholic (7-6, 11-7) needs to win its final three games and hope for outside help to have any shot at a playoff berth. Dylan Carney scored 22 points in a losing effort for PV (3-10, 4-15).