Another night, more L-L League girls’ section shake-ups; Monday’s round-up
UPDATED L-L League team-by-team results here.
UPDATED L-L League scoring/3-pointer game bests here.
UPDATED L-L League standings here.
Intell/New Era Manheim Township-Hempfield game story here.
My Elco-Manheim Central game story here.
The L-L League Section 1 race got yet another facelift Monday night, when Manheim Township bumped archrival Hempfield out of a first-place tie compliments of a 39-19 win in Landisville.
That Blue Streaks/Black Knights rivalry never gets old.
The Section 1 race is simply flat-out confusing, and it’s compounded because Hempfield and Penn Manor have played one more game than everyone else, and because with another snowstorm headed this way, it will likely take a couple of more days before the whole thing is sorted out.
Here’s what we know …
Penn Manor edged Warwick 45-39 on Monday and is in sole possession of first place – ½-game ahead of Cedar Crest, Hempfield and Manheim Township, who all have 10 wins. But Cedar Crest and Manheim Township have one less loss because the Falcons and the Streaks still have a makeup game from last Friday’s snow-out postponements.
Tuesday’s games could be effected, and Wednesday’s games – should this latest storm hit – are in serious jeopardy.
Penn Manor (11-4) finishes up with Cedar Crest at home on Wednesday.
Cedar Crest (10-4) hosts Warwick on Tuesday before getting the Comets on Wednesday.
Hempfield (10-5) finishes up Wednesday at McCaskey.
And Manheim Township (10-4) hosts McCaskey on Tuesday before finishing up at home against Warwick on Wednesday.
Penn Manor’s max wins are 12.
Cedar Crest’s max wins are 12.
Hempfield’s max wins are 11.
Manheim Township’s max wins are 12.
The only head-to-head meeting in that mix is Cedar Crest at Penn Manor, so there is still tons on the table in Section 1.
Meanwhile, the Section 2 race remained tied on Monday when Lebanon and Solanco both won.
The Cedars won their 13th game in a row, topping Conestoga Valley 32-21, while the Golden Mares kept pace with a 66-41 triumph over Elizabethtown.
Solanco is at Lebanon on Tuesday – weather permitting; get used to those two words – with sole possession of first place on the line.
The Section 3 race also got a facelift on Monday, when Elco protected its home court with a 40-29 win over Manheim Central, joining the Barons for first place in the section.
Elco, which trailed by as many as two games in the race as recently as last week, is at Donegal on Tuesday and finishes up Wednesday at Northern Lebanon, which is still alive in the race, but needs wins and some help.
Manheim Central hosts Cocalico on Tuesday before hosting Lampeter-Strasburg on Wednesday.
Um, weather permitting, of course.
And Section 4 also remained unchained on Monday, when Lancaster Catholic crushed Columbia 65-28 and remained ½-game ahead of Lancaster Mennonite, which cruised past Pequea Valley 59-22.
The Blazers have a makeup game Tuesday at Lebanon Catholic before traveling to Annville-Cleona on Wednesday.
Lancaster Catholic finishes up Wednesday at home against Lebanon Catholic, which can’t catch Lancaster Catholic or Lancaster Mennonite, even with two more wins. So the Blazers and the Crusaders have clinched the two playoff spots from Section 4.
Here’s more on Monday’s games, with updates on where everyone stands heading into Tuesday’s games – yep, weather permitting …
SECTION 1
Penn Manor 45, Warwick 39 – The Comets took over sole possession of first place behind Bianca Ygarza (14 points) and Julie Falk (11 points), holding off the hard-charging Warriors down the stretch and getting some help from Manheim Township.
Penn Manor (16-5) led 29-21 at the break and opened up some breathing room with an 11-7 third-quarter spurt, and then held off Warwick, which closed the game on an 11-5 run.
Chloe Hayter and Whitney Reddig scored 10 points apiece for Warwick (6-8, 10-10), which needs one more win to qualify for the District 3 Quad-A playoffs.
Manheim Township 39, Hempfield 19 – The Blue Streaks opened the game on a 16-3 blitz, led 26-15 at the break, held the Black Knights (13-8) to 0 fourth-quarter points, and knocked their rivals out of a first-place tie with Penn Manor.
Jordan Brewer, Lisbet Byler and Kiersten Green scored 8 points apiece to pace a balanced attack for Manheim Township (14-6), which is still very much alive in its pursuit to defend its Section 1 crown.
Green has 936 career points.
Cedar Crest 63, McCaskey 26 – The Falcons remained (15-5) very much in the section hunt behind Meghan Phillips (15 points) and Kirsten Clemens (season-high 12 points).
Cedar Crest opened the game on a 16-3 tear and led 29-7 at the half.
Porscha Hunter scored 10 points for McCaskey (3-11, 5-15), which dropped its sixth game in a row.
SECTION 2
Solanco 66, Elizabethtown 41 – Taylor Kreider (15 points), Emily Allport (11 points), Gillian Glackin (11 points) and Melanie Siegrist (career-high 10 points) led the Golden Mares (12-2, 15-5), who kept pace with Lebanon in the section chase, and set up Tuesday’s first-place showdown against the Cedars in Lebanon – weather permitting.
Sarah Fairbanks scored 11 points for the Bears (6-8, 9-11), who need to win their final two games to clinch a spot in the District 3 Quad-A playoffs.
Lebanon 32, Conestoga Valley 21 – Make that 13 wins in a row for the Cedars (12-2, 16-3), who held the Buckskins to 2 second-quarter points and 3 third-quarter points on the way to remaining tied for first with Solanco, which is set to visit Lebanon on Tuesday.
Gemiqua Benjamin scored 11 points for Lebanon while Jess Martin paced CV (1-13, 3-17) with 7 points.
Ephrata 38, Garden Spot 32 – The Mountaineers snapped their five-game losing skid and picked up their second league victory this season behind Kat Andriani, who scored 14 points for Ephrata (2-12, 3-17).
Lauren Taylor and Julia O’Brien scored 9 points each for the Spartans (2-12, 4-15), who dropped their seventh game in a row.
SECTION 3
Northern Lebanon 43, Donegal 30 – Leah Wilhelm continued her torrid stretch with 11 points and three 3-pointers (giving her 16 treys in her last six games) and Liz Houser scored 12 points for the Vikings (8-6, 10-10), who opened up some breathing room with a 17-4 second-quarter spree and remained mathematically alive in the Section 3 chase.
Northern Lebanon also needs one more win to qualify for the District 3 Triple-A playoffs.
Katie Robinson scored 10 points for the Indians (3-11, 4-16).
Lampeter-Strasburg 64, Cocalico 52 – Kelsey Souders pumped in 24 points and Lexie Lantz scored 11 points for the Pioneers (6-8, 7-13), who led 27-17 at the half and cruised past the Eagles.
Bethany Noll, who missed the last seven games in a row with an ankle injury, returned to Cocalico’s lineup and drilled three 3-pointers and scored 13 points, and Lauren Waskowicz scored 12 points and Amber Daub chipped in with 10 points for the Eagles (6-8, 9-11), who must go 2-0 to clinch a spot in the District 3 Quad-A playoffs.
SECTION 4
Lancaster Catholic 65, Columbia 28 – No double-digit scorers for the Crusaders, but Jen Roehm (9 points), Tyler Oleskowitz (9 points) and Emily Martin (8 points) paced a balanced attack for Lancaster Catholic (14-1, 16-5), which broke the game open with a 19-2 third-quarter blitz and remained ½-game ahead of Lancaster Mennonite.
It was the Crusaders’ sixth win in a row.
Emily Nobile drilled three 3-pointers and poured in 20 points for Columbia (0-14, 0-20).
Lancaster Mennonite 59, Pequea Valley 22 – Steph Rheinheimer hit three 3-pointers and matched her career-high with 21 points and Jess Rheinheimer and Erin LaVenice chipped in with 11 points apiece for the Blazers (13-1, 17-3), who cruised to a 27-9 lead at the half and remained in a virtual tie with Lancaster Catholic.
LaVenice has 961 career points.
Marissa Ferris scored 12 points for the Braves (3-12, 7-14).
Lebanon Catholic 60, Annville-Cleona 19 – The Beavers (10-4, 14-5) remained mathematically alive in the Section 4 hunt behind Hailey Carangelo (19 points) and Rachel Kleinfelter (14 points), plus a 34-12 first-half run.
Victoria Siebecker scored 9 points for the Little Dutchmen (2-12, 4-16), who failed to score a fourth-quarter point.
Raiders top Barons, force first-place tie in Section 3
MYERSTOWN – The Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 race is tied.
Down by two games in the standings two different times this season, Elco came all the way back and forced a tie for the top spot Monday, knocking off Manheim Central 40-29 to join the Barons atop the Section 3 race with two games to go.
And when those games will be played is anyone’s best guess, with another snowstorm approaching the area Tuesday afternoon.
Kala Yoders scored 15 points and Taylor Shaak had 14 points for Elco, which is now deadlocked with Manheim Central with identical 10-4 league marks.
The Barons beat the Raiders 55-41 on Jan. 13 in Manheim.
Elco returned the favor Monday in Myerstown, knotting up the race with two games to go – and another snowstorm approaching.
“We were buried a month ago,” Elco coach Dave Meyer said. “We were working our way through some internal issues with the team and boy, they’re really enjoying themselves now. You hate to call it a must-win game in high school, but this was pretty much a must-win game for us – no two ways about it.”
Manheim Central (13-7 overall) would have clinched at least a tie for the section championship with a win. Instead, Elco (12-8 overall) outscored the Barons 25-15 in the second half Monday and forced a tie for first place.
Northern Lebanon, which topped Donegal 43-30 Monday, is 8-6 in league games and is mathematically alive.
Tuesday’s slate – weather permitting – features Elco at Donegal, Manheim Central at home against Cocalico and Northern Lebanon at Lampeter-Strasburg
And in Wednesday’s regular-season finales, Elco is at Northern Lebanon and Manheim Central hosts Lampeter-Strasburg.
With more snow in the immediate forecast, those games could get pushed back even further in the week.
And should the Barons and the Raiders be tied after those two games, they’d have to play a one-game playoff to decide the section champ.
There was talk after Monday’s game that if another snowstorm pushes the final two games back too far in the week, co-champs could – could – be named in any of the section races.
The L-L League playoffs are set to start next Monday night.
A couple of Tuesday’s games have already been pushed up to a 4 p.m. tip. If game officials can get to gyms on time, that could be an option for a lot of Tuesday’s games.
Stay tuned.
“It’s going to be a nightmare no matter how you look at it,” Meyer said. “I doubt anybody will play Wednesday, and we might not play Thursday, either. There is talk of declaring co-champs if we’re tied to avoid a one-game playoff.”
Manheim Central coach Jason Coletti, whose Barons were in sole possession of first place since Day 1 before Elco tied them Monday, hopes the race is settled on the court.
“Co-champs is like kissing your sister, and we don’t want that,” Coletti said, smiling. “Personally, I’d rather play it off than have co-champs. Our girls worked so hard … I don’t think they want to be co-champs because of a snowstorm. We could probably scramble around and get the games in … we don’t want to cheat the girls for working hard all season to be co-champs. We’d love an outright champ – whether its us or Elco or anybody else. I think we should have the girls settle it on the court.”
Of course, in order for there to even be a one-game playoff, Elco and Manheim Central would both have to win out – whenever those games are.
Bottom line: The next several days are going to be very, very messy.
“It’s a tough situation, but I don’t think we’ll panic,” Coletti said. “Hopefully we’ll have our game Tuesday and we’ll go from there. We have some good senior leaders who would love to win a section championship – and we’re still tied here.”
Tied in large part because Elco had a hot-shooting second half, and because Raiders’ defensive whiz Lexi Shaffer did an outstanding job marking Barons’ sniper Carly Leitzel, who was held to a season-low 2 points.
Leitzel was averaging 14 points a game coming in.
Against Elco, she shot 1-for-6 from the field.
“We played a diamond-and-one defense on her,” said Yoders, who scored 8 of her 15 points in the second half and grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds. “(Leitzel) is their most consistent shooter and she scores a lot of points. With Lexi on her, she wasn’t even really looking to shoot. That was our goal.”
Renee Wiegand (13 points, 8 rebounds) and Rachelle Wiegand (6 points, 7 rebounds) had some success in the paint for the Barons. But Leitzel seemingly never shook free to get any good looks off picks, and Morgan Mummau was just 1-for-5 from 3-point range for Manheim Central.
“Diamond-and-one … that’s what it looked like to me,” Coletti said. “They were chasing Carly all over the place.”
Elco employed the same defense against Lebanon Catholic standout Hailey Carangelo on Jan. 21. The Raiders had Shaffer and Brittany Hartman in a diamond-and-one look chase Carangelo, who was held to a season-low 10 points, and Elco won that game 55-44 to remain on the Barons’ heels.
“I don’t like having to play some of the defenses we’ve been playing lately,” Meyer said, “but we’ve been getting great results.”
Elco also got some clutch buckets in the second half Monday, with Shaak and Heather Kahl knocking down large fourth-quarter 3-pointers to help the Raiders pull away.
“We knew this game could be a deciding factor (in the race),” Yoders said. “I’m glad we’re playing well as a team right now because this is when it matters most … the league playoffs and Districts are coming, and we’re playing well together and we’re winning games.”
And the race is tied.
“I don’t think it’s panic time,” Coletti said. “We really didn’t lose anything tonight … other than a little bit of pride maybe. The girls are disappointed because they know they can play better. So I’m not panicking.”
Unlike the L-L League athletic directors who could have some serious schedule flip-flopping to do in the next 48 hours.
NOTES – The Barons out-rebounded the Raiders 27-25. … Elco turned the ball over 16 times; Manheim Central just 10 times. … Shaak’s previous season-high for points was 15 against Cocalico on Jan. 8. She also hit a first-half 3-pointer against the Barons, who led 7-6 after the first quarter. … Elco used a 12-5 third-quarter run and grabbed a 27-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Raiders’ largest lead was 13 points down the stretch, on Shaak’s 3-pointer. … Elco has won three games in a row, and the Raiders are 6-2 since their last meeting with Manheim Central. … The Barons have lost two games in a row. … It was Senior Night in Myerstown Monday: Hartman, Kahl, Yoders and the Raiders’ scorebook keeper were honored before the game.
Former Manheim Central standout gets ‘coaching assistant’ job with Philadelphia
If you didn’t see the story in the Sunday News, Mike Gross reports that the Philadelphia Eagles have hired Matt Nagy. Here is Mike’s story from this past Sunday …
Former Manheim Central football star Matt Nagy has been named a coaching assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles, Nagy confirmed Saturday.
Nagy said he got a phone call from Eagles head coach Andy Reid Tuesday, discussed the job with Reid in Philadelphia Thursday, and took it on the spot.
“He just wanted to make sure I understood what the job was and what it entailed,” Nagy said.
What it entails, essentially, is making the jobs of Eagles’ coordinators Marty Mornhinweg (offense), Sean McDermott (defense) and Bobby April (special teams) easier.
It doesn’t sound glamorous.
“It’s paper work, computer stuff, helping to put the playbook together … a lot of busy-work stuff,” Nagy said. “A secondary part is really getting into the football side of it.”
Not that he’s complaining.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
Nagy, 31, did coaching internships with the Eagles in training camp the last two seasons.
He was very briefly signed as a player with the Eagles in training camp last August, after Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb was injured. The stint lasted only one day and one practice before the NFL voided his contract.
Nagy has been the offensive coordinator at Palmyra High School the past two years. Before that, he was an assistant coach at Cedar Crest and Manheim Central.
Nagy also played quarterback at the University of Delaware.
He played in the Arena Football League until 2008, twice leading teams to the Arena Bowl, the Columbus Destroyers in 2007 and the Georgia Force in 2006.
My weekly RANKINGS are below … kindly keep reading.
UPDATED L-L League team-by-team results here.
UPDATED L-L League scoring/3-pointer game bests here.
UPDATED L-L League standings here.
UPDATED DISTRICT 3 POWER-POINT RANKINGS HERE.
If you’re a basketball fan, you’ll love what the final week of Lancaster-Lebanon League regular-season action has to offer – if you have your car dug out of the driveway and the back roads are plowed.
The players and the coaches might not love it.
But all kinds of things are on the table. All four section races are still up for grabs, and there are still a few teams jockeying for a spot in the District 3 playoffs.
And since Friday’s snowstorm postponed all but one game – and a big game, at that – most teams are staring at a three-game week with games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Yikes.
That’s a lot of stress and wear and tear on the players.
And next to no practice or prep time for coaches, who have to keep their kids motivated – and fresh – through that brutal stretch.
And did I mention that if any of the section races finish with a first-place tie, there will be a one-game playoff for the championship?
That means some teams – results pending, of course – could play four games in five or six nights this week.
That’s a ton of hoops.
And did I also mention another snowstorm is in the forecast for Tuesday?
Speaking of the section races, this is a perfect time to post the L-L League playoff tiebreaker criteria.
Remember: A one-game playoff will only be contested for first-place ties.
If there is a tie for second place, that tie shall be snapped based on …
1 – Head-to-head record.
2 – Record vs. section opponents.
3 – Record vs. the section champion.
4 – Winning percentage vs. PIAA teams.
5 – District 3 power ranking.
Learn it. Live it. Love it.
If there is a three-way tie (or dare I say four-way tie), there would be a coin toss to determine matchups for a mini multi-team playoff.
Geez, I don’t even wanna go there. The folks in the L-L League front office probably don’t either.
So how about we let the teams fight it out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and see where everyone is – and who has the most gas left in the tank.
But keep those tiebreakers handy.
Here’s your L-L League girls’ basketball rundown, section by section …
SECTION 1
Hempfield (10-4, 13-7)
Penn Manor (10-4, 15-5)
Cedar Crest (9-4, 14-5)
Manheim Township (9-4, 13-6)
Warwick (6-7, 10-9)
McCaskey (3-10, 5-14)
THE RACE – Jumbled and quite hectic. All kinds of stuff going on here, and you can bet Hempfield is really glad it got its game in at Penn Manor on Friday before the snow hit. The 4 p.m. tip was a tad odd, but the Black Knights beat the Comets in a double-OT thriller and forced a first-place tie with Penn Manor. So the good news for Hempfield and Penn Manor is that they’ll have just two games this week, so they’ll have some fresh legs. Everyone else is staring at a mind-bending three-game-in-three-night stretch. Hempfield – which trailed by as many as two games, and now finds itself in the lead – and Penn Manor are ½-game ahead of Cedar Crest and Manheim Township, who are tied for second place, but could be back in first place by late Monday. The Blue Streaks are at Hempfield, so they could bump the Knights out of that tie for first with a win. How this race will end up is anybody’s best guess, and things won’t come into clear focus until Tuesday after the makeup games, when everyone will have played the same number of games. I do know Penn Manor is behind in most of the tiebreakers, so the Comets will likely need to win out to win the title. If there isn’t some sort of tiebreaker criteria needed for this race come Wednesday night, I’ll be stunned. Warwick and McCaskey have been eliminated from the chase, but will both have a major say in who wins this race.
DISTRICTS – Hempfield, Penn Manor, Cedar Crest and Manheim Township clinched spots in Quad-A. Warwick needs one more victory to get a bid in Quad-A.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY – Cedar Crest has dominated Section 1 since the start of the 21st century. The Falcons won section titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. Hempfield is next with crowns in 2000 and 2005, followed by McCaskey in 2006 and reigning champ Manheim Township, which is out to defend its championship.
SCORING LEADERS
Meghan Phillips, Cedar Crest – 19 games, 394 points – 20.7
Kiersten Green, Manheim Township – 19 games, 297 points – 15.6
Bianca Ygarza, Penn Manor – 20 games, 279 points – 14.0
Julie Falk, Penn Manor – 20 games, 259 points – 13.0
Porscha Hunter, McCaskey – 19 games, 202 points – 10.6
3-POINT LEADERS
Julie Falk, Penn Manor – 36
Meghan Phillips, Cedar Crest – 29
Jordyn Newsome, Hempfield – 28
Kendra Beittel, Hempfield – 20
Torri Wagner, Cedar Crest – 17
Jazmine Trimble, Cedar Crest – 15
Megan Hunt, Warwick – 14
Kiersten Green, Manheim Township – 11
Whitney Reddig, Warwick – 11
THIS WEEK
Monday, Feb. 8
Penn Manor @ Warwick
Manheim Township @ Hempfield
McCaskey @ Cedar Crest
Tuesday, Feb. 9
McCaskey @ Manheim Township
Warwick @ Cedar Crest
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Cedar Crest @ Penn Manor
Warwick @ Manheim Township
Hempfield @ McCaskey
NOTES – Cedar Crest snapped a two-game league losing skid on Thursday with a clutch 44-40 non-league OT win over Lower Dauphin, a potential District 3 Quad-A playoff opponent down the road. LD was fourth in power points and Cedar Crest was sixth in power points at the start of last week. The Falcons got some mojo back after a pair of gut-wrenching losses: 49-48 in double-OT to Manheim Township and 55-51 to Hempfield last Tuesday, which knocked the Falcons into second place. L-L League leading scorer Meghan Phillips is one of only two players in the L-L League to score in double figures in every game this season; Lebanon Catholic’s Hailey Carangelo is the other. Phillips has scored 20 or more points in a game 13 times, and her last five games she’s averaging 21.0 points. Meghan McCabe had a season-high 10 points off the bench in the win over Lower Dauphin. Torri Wagner has nine 3-pointers in her last eight games. Taylor Boyer is averaging 10.0 points with a pair of treys in her last three games. … Remember like a month ago when nobody was talking about Hempfield? How quickly times change. The Black Knights are scorching, winners of seven of their last eight. And once two games out in the section race, Hempfield is now tied for the top spot with Penn Manor, after the Knights topped the Comets 53-52 in double-OT on Friday, beating the snowstorm in electrifying fashion, when Brianna Neal drove the length of the court and scored with three ticks to go in the second OT. Hempfield is also in good shape in the tiebreaker department, and the Knights will only have to play two games this week, which could turn out to be a big advantage. Jordyn Newsome has seven 3-pointers in her last three games. Inside duo of Elle Larsen and Ali Hartman have been hot. Larsen is averaging 10.3 points in her last three games, including 11 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Penn Manor. Hartman, who grabbed the defensive rebound and tossed the outlet pass to Neal, who hit the game-winning shot against the Comets, is averaging 10.5 points in her last four games, including 11 points against Penn Manor. Kendra Beittel is averaging 10.7 points with eight 3-pointers in her last six games, including 13 points and a clutch trey against Penn Manor. … Roller-coaster stretch of sorts for Manheim Township lately. The Blue Streaks lost two games in a row and then beat Cedar Crest in double-OT on Jan. 28 to force a first-place tie. But Manheim Township fell to Penn Manor at home last Tuesday, dropping a game behind the Comets in the race. Still, the Streaks are in the thick of the hunt, and can give the section yet another facelift with a win Monday at uber rival Hempfield. Kiersten Green has scored in double digits in 18 of 19 games, including 20 points in the 13-point loss to Penn Manor. Jordan Brewer is averaging 11.3 points in her last three games, including the game-winning free throw with no time left in the second OT against Cedar Crest. Audio Podcast interview with Manheim Township’s Lisbet Byler here. … McCaskey is riding a five-game losing streak, but the Red Tornado will have a major, major say in the section race with games Monday at Cedar Crest, Tuesday at Manheim Township and Wednesday at home with Hempfield. Wowzer. No postseason for McCaskey, but those three games might as well be playoff games; great chance for the Tornado not only to play spoiler, but to go out with some good vibes moving forward. Keisha Finnie has seven 3-pointers in her last four games, including three treys and a career-high 11 points in a 1-point loss to Warwick on Feb. 2. Freshman G Porscha Hunter continued her torrid debut season with a career-high 20 points in a non-league loss to Harrisburg on Wednesday. She had matcher her previous career-high of 19 points on Jan. 29 against Lebanon, giving her 41 points in her last three games. Josie Soto is averaging 10.0 points in her last five games. … Penn Manor had its six-game winning streak snapped on Friday, when Hempfield needed double-OT to knock the Comets out of sole possession of first place in the section race – which has been as-advertised, and more. Like Hempfield, Penn Manor will only have to play two games in the final week, but the Comets went 0-2 against the Knights, 1-1 against Manheim Township, and must play Cedar Crest on Wednesday. So Penn Manor is trailing in some of the tiebreaker criteria, and the Comets are thinking win-win if they want an outright title. Speaking of which … I mentioned in an earlier post that Penn Manor had never won a girls’ basketball section championship. I did some digging and realized the Comets won the Section 3 title in the 1974-75 season. I was also told that Penn Manor won Section 1 in the 1985-86 season, but couldn’t confirm that one. According to my records, Manheim Township won the Section 1 title in 1985-86. Guess I have some more digging to do. Julie Falk is averaging 16.0 points with five 3-pointers in her last three games. Bianca Ygarza is averaging 16.0 points in her last four games. Hanna Willet returned to the court vs. Hempfield after missing the previous four games with a bum ankle. Starter Katie Breneman missed the Hempfield game because of a field hockey trip; spot starter Maddy Hess filled in quite nicely. She hit a 3-pointer and played some inspired D. One last note from the Hempfield game: Penn Manor’s Caroline Lovett blocked a Knights’ shot on three possessions in a row during the fourth quarter. Haven’t seen that in a while – if ever. … Big final week on tap for Warwick, which will get a stab at three section leaders – Penn Manor at home Monday, at Cedar Crest on Tuesday and at Manheim Township on Wednesday – while needing to get one more win to clinch a spot in the District 3 Quad-A playoffs. The Warriors will likely have to do it without speedy G Mercedes Ortiz (thumb). But Warwick, which has won two of its last three games, has been hot from the perimeter as of late: Megan Hunt has five 3-pointers in her last three games; Emily Osborne has four 3-pointers in her last five games; and Whitney Reddig is averaging 11.6 points with five 3-pointers in her last five games, including a season-high 17 points in a 43-42 win over McCaskey on Tuesday. She also scored 17 points in a win over Cedar Crest on Jan. 11.
SECTION 2
Lebanon (11-2, 15-3)
Solanco (11-2, 14-5)
Elizabethtown (6-7, 9-10)
Garden Spot (2-11, 4-14)
Conestoga Valley (1-12, 3-16)
Ephrata (1-12, 2-17)
THE RACE – Tied, but clear-cut. Lebanon and Solanco share the lead, and the Cedars and the Golden Mares have locked up both L-L League playoff spots from Section 2; it’s just a matter of who wins the title and who is second. Their first-place showdown was supposed to be Friday, but the snow kayoed that. That means both teams must sweat out Monday’s games – Solanco hosts Elizabethtown; Lebanon is at Conestoga Valley – before they knock heads Tuesday in Lebanon. So the Bears and the Buckskins have major shots to play spoiler on Monday.
DISTRICTS – Lebanon and Solanco clinched spots in Quad-A. Elizabethtown needs two more wins to get a bid in Quad-A.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY – Either Lebanon or Solanco will win the Section 2 championship. That is uncharted territory for Solanco, which has never won an L-L League girls’ basketball section title. Lebanon, on the other hand, has won 11 section titles, including the 2006 Section 2 crown and the 2007 Section 3 crown – before bouncing back up to Section 2 last season. The Cedars have also won three L-L League championships, but it’s been a while: Lebanon won league titles in 1976, 1978 and 1979.
SCORING LEADERS
Taylor Kreider, Solanco – 19 games, 309 points – 16.3
Jess Martin, Conestoga Valley – 19 games, 270 points – 14.2
Lauren Taylor, Garden Spot – 18 games, 216 points – 12.0
Emily Allport, Solanco – 19 games, 217 points – 11.4
Sarah Fairbanks, Elizabethtown – 19 games, 217 points – 11.4
Julia O’Brien, Garden Spot – 18 games, 196 points – 10.9
Mackenzie Keys, Solanco – 19 games, 203 points – 10.7
Mel Andrew, Ephrata – 19 games, 201 points – 10.6
3-POINT LEADERS
Janelle Frey, Conestoga Valley – 27
Brittany Padillas, Lebanon – 21
Lauren Taylor, Garden Spot – 18
Emily Allport, Solanco – 17
Mackenzie Keys, Solanco – 16
Ashley Uhler, Lebanon – 13
Liz Rios, Lebanon – 12
Anastasia Stratton, Conestoga Valley – 12
Bri Kuhn, Elizabethtown – 11
THIS WEEK
Monday, Feb. 8
Garden Spot @ Ephrata
Elizabethtown @ Solanco
Lebanon @ Conestoga Valley
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Conestoga Valley @ Garden Spot
Solanco @ Lebanon
Ephrata @ Elizabethtown
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Lebanon @ Elizabethtown
Solanco @ Garden Spot
Ephrata @ Conestoga Valley
NOTES – After snapping an eight-game losing skid with a 5-point win over Elizabethtown on Jan. 20 – eliminating the Bears from the Section 2 race in the process – Conestoga Valley took co-leader Solanco to the wire before falling 56-51 on Tuesday. Jess Martin, who is having a standout season for the Buckskins, had 22 points and Janelle Frey had 14 points and three 3-pointers against the Golden Mares. Martin, one of the top juniors in the league, is averaging 17.6 points in her last five games, including a career-high 23 points against Penn Manor on Jan. 19. Martin has scored 20 or more points in a game four times and she’s scored 19 points in a game four times. She doesn’t always get a lot of pub because the Bucks are struggling. But the low-post threat can board, block shots and score from all over inside the arc. Frey has five 3-pointers in her last three games. Anastasia Stratton has eight 3-pointers in her last five games. CV can play spoiler Monday when Lebanon comes to Witmer – one day before the Cedars host co-leader Solanco. … Elizabethtown snapped its seven-game losing streak with a 35-32 win over Garden Spot on Tuesday. The Bears were in a first-place tie with Solanco on Jan. 13 when the Mares visited E-town. Solanco won that game 47-35, and that’s when the Bears went into hibernation for seven games in a row. Still plenty to play for in E-town: Bears need two wins to make Districts, and they’ll get a revenge shot at Solanco on Monday. E-town finishes up with Lebanon at home on Wednesday, and that game could also have some major implications. Still plenty on the table for the Bears. After scoring in double digits in 11 of her first 13 games, Sarah Fairbanks has only reached double figures just once since Jan. 15 – 10 points in a loss to CV on Jan. 29. She’s still tops on the team in scoring (11.4). Bri Kuhn has a 3-pointer in her last three games in a row, and Emily Carter has four treys in her last four games. … Ephrata has lost five games in a row, but freshman Sarah Shearer continues to light it up as arguably the top sub in the L-L League this season. She’s averaging 12.7 points in her last six games, including a career-high 21 points in a 2-point setback to Warwick on Jan. 26. She followed that up with 16 points off the pine against Solanco on Jan. 29, and 12 points in a gut-wrenching 3-point loss to co-leader Lebanon last Tuesday. Happy, happy days ahead for Shearer – and the Mountaineers – for sure. Mel Andrew is averaging 10.7 points with four 3-pointers in her last three games. Kristy Liebl had a career-high 13 points against Solanco on Jan. 29. … Garden Spot is riding a six-game losing streak, and closes Wednesday at home vs. Solanco, in a game that could have some section-championship implications. Julia O’Brien, who has firmly established herself as one of the top frontcourt players in the section this season, is averaging 12.7 points in her last three games, including a season-high 20 points against Penn Manor on Jan. 26. Lauren Taylor has four 3-pointers in her last three games. … Lebanon’s winning streak is up to 12 games in a row; the Cedars haven’t lost since a 51-32 crossover setback at Penn Manor on Dec. 23. Lebanon survived a scare in its lone game last week, edging Ephrata 31-28 behind Brittany Padillas, who had 11 points and three 3-pointers. She had six treys in her last three games, and Lebanon has 70 3-pointers – tops in the L-L League. Gemiqua Benjamin has been a force in the paint, averaging 10.5 points in her last four games. Liz Rios is averaging 11.8 points with four 3-pointers in her last four games. … Solanco has won three league games in a row and six of its last eight games overall. The only hiccups were a 3-point loss to Section 1 co-leader Penn Manor on Jan. 21 and a 2-point OT loss to Section 4 co-leader Lancaster Catholic. Taylor Kreider is sizzling for Solanco. She scored 25 points – while battling a head cold – against Lancaster Catholic, and pumped in 24 points in a 56-51 squeaker win over CV on Tuesday. Kreider is averaging 19.0 points in her last six games. Solanco is the only team in the league with three double-digit scorers – Kreider (16.3, tops in Section 2), Emily Allport (11.4) and Mackenzie Keys (10.7). Keys is averaging 17.0 points with six 3-pointers in her last three games.
SECTION 3
Manheim Central (10-3, 13-6)
Elco (9-4, 11-8)
Northern Lebanon (7-6, 9-10)
Cocalico (6-7, 9-10)
Lampeter-Strasburg (5-8, 6-13)
Donegal (3-10, 4-15)
THE RACE – Far from over. Manheim Central holds a narrow one-game lead over Elco, but the Raiders can force a tie on Monday, when the Barons visit Myerstown. Northern Lebanon is also mathematically alive, but the Vikings need multiple wins and multiple Elco losses to slip into the No. 2 spot. Elco is at Northern Lebanon on Wednesday. Stay tuned. This is the only race that isn’t tied, but there is plenty of intrigue.
DISTRICTS – Manheim Central and Elco clinched spots in Triple-A. Cocalico needs two more wins to clinch in Quad-A and Northern Lebanon needs two more wins to clinch in Triple-A. Big week for the Eagles and the Vikings if they have postseason aspirations.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY – It’s been a few years since Manheim Central has been in this spot. The Barons won Section 2 championships in 2002 and 2003. Elco, under veteran coach Dave Meyer, is no stranger to big games in early February. The Raiders won Section 3 titles in 2001, 1999 and 1998, and won the league title in 1999.
SCORING LEADERS
Kala Yoders, Elco – 19 games, 345 points – 18.2
Kelsey Souders, Lampeter-Strasburg – 19 games, 300 points – 15.8
Carly Leitzel, Manheim Central – 19 games, 203 points – 13.5
Alecia McNiff, Donegal – 19 games, 243 points – 12.8
Lexie Lantz, Lampeter-Strasburg – 19 games, 203 points – 10.7
Leah Wilhelm, Northern Lebanon – 19 games, 193 points – 10.2
Jordan Page, Cocalico – 19 games, 190 points – 10.0
3-POINT LEADERS
Heather Kahl, Elco – 26
Leah Wilhelm, Northern Lebanon – 25
Jordan Page, Cocalico – 23
Emelie Good, Lamepter-Strasburg - 17
Taylor Shaak, Elco – 17
Carly Leitzel, Manheim Central – 16
Bethany Noll, Cocalico – 16
Courtney Hess, Northern Lebanon – 13
Morgan Mummau, Manheim Central – 13
Kala Yoders, Elco – 13
THIS WEEK
Monday, Feb. 8
Lampeter-Strasburg @ Cocalico
Donegal @ Northern Lebanon
Manheim Central @ Elco
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Elco @ Donegal
Cocalico @ Manheim Central
Northern Lebanon @ Lampeter-Strasburg
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Lampeter-Strasburg @ Manheim Central
Cocalico @ Donegal
Elco @ Northern Lebanon
NOTES – Cocalico, stinging after two losses in a row on the heels of winning five out of six, still has a ton on the table. Falling to Elco 44-31 on Tuesday derailed the Eagles in the Section 3 hunt, but they need two wins to qualify for Districts, and they’re at Manheim Central on Tuesday. Depending on the Barons’ outcome against Elco on Monday, Manheim Central will either be tied for first or will be two games ahead, looking to clinch at least a tie for the section championship. So that will be a big game for sure. Still no Bethany Noll, who has missed the last seven games with an ankle injury. She was averaging 8.8 points with 16 3-pointers in 12 games before going down against Lampeter-Strasburg on Jan. 13. Jordan Page had definitely picked up the pace in the scoring/3-pointer department. In her last nine games, Page is averaging 12.7 points with 14 treys. Page is averaging 11.4 points with 10 3-pointers since Noll’s injury, including 18 points and three treys against Northern Lebanon on Jan. 29. Amber Daub had a career-high 14 points in a 17-point win over Columbia on Jan. 26. … Donegal snapped its unlucky 13-game losing streak Tuesday with a much-needed 51-44 victory over Lampeter-Strasburg. Alecia McNiff (13 points), Katie Robinson (11) and Olivia Leaman (10) paced the balanced attack. McNiff is averaging 14.5 points in her last four games, and Leaman is averaging 10.3 points in her last three games, giving the Indians a nice 1-2 inside-outside combo. Could be a spoiler week of sorts for Donegal: Indians have Northern Lebanon on Monday (Vikings need two wins for Districts and are still alive in Section 3), Elco on Tuesday (Raiders are a game behind Manheim Central, and could be tied for first when Elco heads to Mount Joy) and Cocalico on Wednesday (Eagles might need to win that game to make Districts). … Elco keeps hanging around, and its 44-31 win over Cocalico on Tuesday – coupled with Northern Lebanon’s 53-42 victory over front-running Manheim Central – slid the Raiders just one game behind the Barons. And Elco will host Manheim Central on Monday, which should bring the Section 3 race into sharper focus. Kala Yoders is averaging 17.0 points in her last five games, including a career-high 30 points in a win over Lebanon Catholic on Jan. 21. She also scored 18 in the win over Cocalico, which all but knocked the Eagles out of the Section 3 hunt. Heather Kahl has 11 3-pointers in her last six games and Taylor Shaak had three treys in her last two games. … Lampeter-Strasburg has lost two in a row after winning two in a row, and the Pioneers have officially been eliminated from the postseason. So no repeat run to the state title game for L-S. But I’ll kindly remind you again that there are no seniors here. So keep an eye on Lampeter. Kelsey Souders continues to light it up; she scored 19 points in the Donegal game and is averaging 20.4 points with five 3-pointers in her last five games, including a career-high 31 points in a win over Pequea Valley on Jan. 26. Souders, the lone holdover from last season’s team, has scored in double digits in 17 of her 19 games. Freshman Lexie Lantz, a budding low-post star, is averaging 14.5 points in her last four games, including 19 points in a win over Annville-Cleona on Jan. 21 and 17 points in the Donegal game. Emelie Good has 11 3-pointers in her last six games. … Manheim Central has been in first place since Day 1, but the Barons’ lead was sliced to one game when Northern Lebanon picked off Manheim Central 53-42 on Tuesday despite a career-high 14 points and a pair of 3-pointers from PG Morgan Mummau. Be there Monday in Myerstown, when Manheim Central and Elco square off for first place. A win, and the Barons’ will be in the driver’s seat for the crown. Carly Leitzel is averaging 12.5 points with four 3-pointers in her last four games, and Rachelle Wiegand is averaging 12.3 points in her last four games. Manheim Central should also benefit from the return of glass-crasher Renee Wiegand, who missed some time recently with an illness. … Northern Lebanon is smoking with five wins in a row. And the Vikings remain in the Section 3 hunt and need two wins for Districts. Their game Wednesday in Fredericksburg against Elco could have some major implications. Circle that one, especially if first place will be up for grabs on that night. Leah Wilhelm has been scorching for Northern Lebanon. She’s averaging 14.3 points with 15 3-pointers in her last seven games, and during the Vikings’ five-game winning tear, Wilhelm is averaging 13.4 points with 13 3-pointers, including 13 points and three treys in the clutch 11-point win over Manheim Central on Tuesday. Mikayla Diangelis matched her career-high with 15 points against the Barons, and Courtney Hess scored a career-high 12 points and hit a pair of treys against Manheim Central. Tons on the table for the Vikings this week.
SECTION 4
Lancaster Catholic (13-1, 15-5)
Lancaster Mennonite (12-1, 16-3)
Lebanon Catholic (9-4, 13-5)
Pequea Valley (3-11, 7-13)
Annville-Cleona (2-11, 4-15)
Columbia (0-13, 0-19)
THE RACE – Wickedly tight. Lancaster Catholic caught a break when Pequea Valley bumped up their meeting to last Thursday night because of a gym conflict. That meant the Crusaders, with a victory, took a ½-game lead over Lancaster Mennonite in the race. And it meant Lancaster Catholic only has to play two games in the final week, while the Blazers have to play three in three nights – and win Monday and Tuesday to keep pace with Lancaster Catholic until the games-played meter jives again. And the Blazers are at Lebanon Catholic on Tuesday, and that’s never an easy trip. Plus, the Beavers are still mathematically alive in the chase, but need to go 3-0 to have a shot at second place. Lebanon Catholic is at Lancaster Catholic on Wednesday. Bottom line: If Lancaster Catholic goes 2-0 and if Lancaster Mennonite goes 3-0, the Crusaders and the Blazers will square off in a one-game playoff for the section crown – just like two seasons ago.
DISTRICTS – Lancaster Catholic clinched in Triple-A; Lancaster Mennonite clinched in Double-A; Lebanon Catholic clinched in Single-A. Annville-Cleona and Columbia have a shot in Double-A; will come down to how many .500 teams make the bracket.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY – Lancaster Mennonite is the two-time defending champ here, including a one-game playoff victory over Lancaster Catholic for the crown in 2008. The Crusaders, under coach Lamar Kauffman, are the queens of L-L League postseason, with a record nine league championships, plus 16 section titles.
SCORING LEADERS
Hailey Carangelo, Lebanon Catholic – 18 games, 330 points – 18.3
Amber Stoltzfus, Pequea Valley – 17 games, 275 points – 16.2
Jen Roehm, Lancaster Catholic – 20 games, 307 points – 15.4
Erin LaVenice, Lancaster Mennonite – 19 games, 251 points – 13.2
Marissa Ferris, Pequea Valley – 19 games, 246 points – 12.9
Steph Rheinheimer, Lancaster Mennonite – 19 games, 239 points – 12.6
Victoria Siebecker, Annville-Cleona – 19 games, 220 points – 11.6
Reina Hill, Lancaster Catholic – 20 games, 224 points – 11.2
Emily Nobile, Columbia – 18 games, 193 points – 10.7
3-POINT LEADERS
Marissa Ferris, Pequea Valley – 28
Hailey Carangelo, Lebanon Catholic – 26
Jenna Plastino, Columbia – 25
Emily Nobile, Columbia – 21
Steph Rheinheimer, Lancaster Mennonite – 20
Alisha Wengert, Annville-Cleona – 17
Molly Westwood, Lancaster Catholic – 15
Stevie Fortna, Lebanon Catholic – 10
THIS WEEK
Monday, Feb. 8
Annville-Cleona @ Lebanon Catholic
Lancaster Catholic @ Columbia
Pequea Valley @ Lancaster Mennonite
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Lancaster Mennonite @ Lebanon Catholic
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Lancaster Mennonite @ Annville-Cleona
Lebanon Catholic @ Lancaster Catholic
Columbia @ Pequea Valley
Friday, Feb. 12
Columbia @ Annville-Cleona
NOTES – Annville-Cleona will get two of the leaders this week: Lebanon Catholic on Monday and Lancaster Mennonite on Wednesday. Those games should have a playoff feeling because those will be must-wins for the Beavers and the Blazers. Alisha Wengert has seven 3-pointers in her last five games for A-C. … Columbia remains the lone winless team in the L-L League, but Emily Nobile has been a major bright spot for the Crimson Tide. She’s averaging 15.0 points with 11 3-pointers in her last seven games, including 21 points and four 3-pointers against Pequea Valley on Jan. 15 and 20 points and three treys against Cocalico on Jan. 26. Jenna Plastino has also been deadly from beyond the arc with 25 treys – third-most in the section. … Lancaster Catholic has a ½-game lead over Lancaster Mennonite and, perhaps more importantly, will only have to play two games this week – at Columbia and home with Lebanon Catholic – while the Blazers have three games in three grueling nights. The Crusaders have won five games in a row, keyed by Jen Roehm, who is averaging 17.0 points over that clip, including 24 points in the pre-snowstorm win over Annville-Cleona on Thursday. Reina Hill also remains hot, averaging 11.8 points in her last four games, and PG Victoria Brito popped in 11 points with a pair of 3-pointers in the A-C game. … Lancaster Mennonite needed a few days off; the Blazers have been shorthanded lately with Val Heisey (concussion) and Eileen Barker (ankle) on the shelf, and those two will definitely be needed in the final week, when Lancaster Mennonite will try and erase Lancaster Catholic’s ½-game lead and perhaps force a one-game playoff for the section crown. Big game Tuesday at Lebanon Catholic, where the Beavers will likely need a win to have any chance in the race. Steph Rheinheimer had 18 points and a 3-pointer in Tuesday’s win over Columbia; she’s averaging 14.4 points with nine 3-pointers in her last five games. … Lebanon Catholic has won three games in a row and is still mathematically alive in the Section 4 race, although the Beavers are long shots. They’ll need to go 3-0 this week, with a date Tuesday against Lancaster Mennonite and a trip to Lancaster Catholic on Wednesday. Lebanon Catholic’s non-league clash against reigning PIAA Single-A runner-up Pottsville Nativity on Saturday was cancelled because of the snow. That game was also snowed out in December and now it won’t be played at all. After a mini slump, Hailey Carangelo seems to have her stroke back. She’s averaging 21.0 points with five 3-pointers in her last three games, including a season-high 29 points and four treys in a non-league win over Reading Central Catholic on Jan. 30. If she remains hot, watch out. … Pequea Valley will only have to play twice in the last week since the Braves squeezed their game in Thursday against Lancaster Catholic. Big one Monday at Lancaster Mennonite, where PV can play spoiler. Amber Stoltzfus has been outstanding since missing three games with a concussion. In her last six games she’s averaging 18.7 points, including 24 against L-S on Jan. 26 and 26 against Annville-Cleona on Jan. 29. Stoltzfus has scored in double digits in 15 of her 17 games, including a career-high 28 points against Lancaster Country Day on Dec. 14, and six games of 20 or more points. Sniper Marissa Ferris missed the Lebanon Catholic game last Tuesday with an illness, but returned and scored 14 points – with a 3 – against Lancaster Catholic. She’s averaging 15.0 points with eight 3-pointers in her last six games.
STILL CHASING A GRAND – The snow and the postponements have stunted the pursuit of 1,000 career points for a pair of L-L League players.
Lancaster Mennonite senior Erin LaVenice has 950 points.
Manheim Township junior Kiersten Green has 928 points.
They’ll each get three games this week to add to those totals.
L-L League 1,000-career-point list here.
RANKINGS
Alrighty … no ties this week. I promise.
Most teams only played one game last week, so I didn’t have much to go on.
But here’s what I came up with …
1 – Lebanon (11-2 league; 15-3 overall; last week – 1st) – Cedars won their lone game, pushed their winning streak to 12 in a row and remained in a first-place tie with Solanco, so I left them atop my rankings for the week. Monster game Tuesday: Solanco at Lebanon. See you there.
2 – Lancaster Catholic (13-1 league; 15-5 overall; last week – 2nd) – Also kept the Crusaders in the No. 2 slot after a 2-0 week. Lancaster Catholic caught a break when Pequea Valley moved their game up a night to Thursday, so the Crusaders won’t have to contend with a three-game-in-three-night stretch. Don’t underestimate that.
3 – Hempfield (10-4 league; 13-7 overall; last week – honorable mention) – Hello, Black Knights, who joined my top 5 after a scintillating 53-52 double-OT win over Penn Manor on Friday, forcing a two-way tie with the Comets for the Section 1 lead. Hate to admit this, but I pretty much wrote off Hempfield when it was 0-2, and spent the last month two games out in the section race. Huge mistake. Never count out the Knights. Ever.
4 – Lancaster Mennonite (12-1 league; 16-3 overall; last week – tied for 4th) – Blazers took care of business in their lone game last week, dispatching Columbia. They’ll open this week ½-game behind Lancaster Catholic in the derby. Call me crazy, but I’m sensing Mennonite-Catholic III on Friday night.
5 – Solanco (11-2 league; 14-5 overall; last week – tied for 4th) – Kept the Golden Mares in my top 5 after they topped Conestoga Valley on Tuesday and remained in a tie for first with Lebanon in Section 2. Gutsy win over CV; Taylor Kreider was still playing sick and Solanco was stinging a bit coming off an OT loss to Lancaster Catholic three days earlier. Tuesday at Lebanon should/could be for all the Section 2 marbles. Hopefully the snowdrifts on 72 will be plowed out by then.
HONORABLE MENTION – Listed alphabetically: Cedar Crest (9-4, 14-5), Elco (9-4, 11-8), Lebanon Catholic (9-4, 13-5), Manheim Central (10-3, 13-6), Manheim Township (9-4, 13-6), Penn Manor (10-4, 15-5).
