CEDAR CREST Eagles
Coach: Gretchen Hall (Just completed her 1st season and is 28-5 overall).
League: 15-2 (1st place in Section 1).
Overall: 28-5 (Defeated McCaskey 44-43 in a one-game playoff for the section championship; defeated Lebanon Catholic 60-22 in a league quarterfinal; defeated Lebanon 38-33 in a league semifinal; defeated McCaskey 50-44 in the league championship; defeated Manheim Township 38-30 in a District 3 Quad-A first-round game; fell to Harrisburg 37-33 in a district quarterfinal game; defeated McCaskey 51-33 in a district playback game; defeated Hempfield 43-30 in the district fifth-place game; defeated Central Bucks East 41-36 in a PIAA Quad-A first-round game; fell to Emmaus 45-34 in a state second-round game).
Winning streak: 9 (Dec. 1 to Dec. 27).
Losing streak: 1 (five times).
Points for: 1,823 (55.2 per game).
Team 3-pointers: 66.
Individual 3-pointers: Carrie Sheffey (20).
Points against: 1,201 (36.4 per game).
Leading scorers:
Allison Smith (463 points, 14.0 per game).
Shannon Stokes (378 points, 11.5 per game).
Aubrey Hoover (319 points, 9.7 per game).
Season-high: 74 points (Jan. 5 in a 74-34 crossover win over Cocalico).
Best individual effort: Senior guard Allison Smith – 24 points in a 67-42 crossover win over Garden Spot on Dec. 19.
MVP: Senior guard Allison Smith – What a great season for Smith, who was the Falcons’ floor general and on-court leader. She did it all: score, defend, pass, crash. You name it. She more than lived up to her Division I status (Smith has committed toNiagara
University). She finished her career with 1,137 points – sixth in school history.
Unsung hero: Junior forward Shannon Stokes – She’s a perimeter threat in a post players’ body. At 6-1, she’s a force in the paint and on the glass. But her sweet jumper and uncanny range make her a matchup nightmare. Ask McCaskey.
Highlights: I doubt anyone will forget that Cedar Crest went 5-0 against McCaskey this season: 2-0 in the regular season, a win in the one-game playoff for the section crown; another win in the league championship game; and 5-for-5 in a District 3 Quad-A playback game, which sent the Red Tornado packing for the season. … Got off to a rip-roaring 9-0 start before falling to Wilson in the Wilson Holiday Tournament title game. Won the next six games in a row to stay with the lead pack in Section 1 before falling to upstart Warwick (57-52 in OT on Jan. 19) to drop a game behind McCaskey. Also fell to Hempfield (35-34 on Feb. 2) late in the season, but beat McCaskey on the last night of league play to force a tie, then won the next night on a neutral court (Penn Manor) to win the crown (Stokes hit the game-winner that night with time running out). Then defeated McCaskey in the Giant Center for the league title. … Got a ton of mileage out of Smith, who excelled on both ends of the court. She’s tireless. … Stokes blossomed into a true go-to player and will be a force next season, along with Hoover, Nicole Jordan and Sheffey, who played their roles to perfection – but who will be counted on to do more next season, especially with the loss of Smith. … And to think, the Falcons did all of that under a first-year head coach (former Cocalico standout Gretchen Hall). What a ride.
HEMPFIELD Black Knights
Coach: Lenny Groft (Just completed his 13th season and is 255-98 overall).
League: 13-3 (3rd in Section 1).
Overall: 23-7 (Defeated Reading 56-37 in a District 3 Quad-A first-round game; fell to Wilson 50-35 in a quarterfinal game; defeated Central York 44-34 in a playback game; fell to Cedar Crest 43-30 in the fifth-place game; defeated Altoona 51-41 in a PIAA Quad-A first-round game; defeated University City 47-40 in a second-round game; fell to Cheltenham 57-36 in a state quarterfinal game).
Winning streak: 10 (Dec. 1 to Dec. 29).
Losing streak: 1 (Seven times).
Points for: 1,357 (45.2 per game).
Team 3-pointers: 78.
Individual 3-pointers: Ellie Steward (28).
Points against: 1,104 (36.8 per game).
Leading scorers:
Analicia Evans (340 points, 11.3 per game).
Ellie Steward (276 points, 9.5 per game).
Chelsea Bowman (201 points, 6.7 per game).
Season-high: 69 points (Dec. 1 in a 69-45 win over Lampeter-Strasburg in the first round of the
Columbia Tip-Off Tournament).
Best individual effort: 21 points – junior forward Analicia Evans on Feb. 20 in a 56-37 win over
Reading in the District 3 Quad-A opener; junior guard Ellie Steward on March 1 in a 43-30 loss to Cedar Crest in the District 3 Quad-A fifth-place game.
MVP: Junior forward Analicia Evans gets my nod because she firmly established herself as one of the top clutch, go-to scorers in the L-L League. She’s tough on the boards, can dribble-drive and step back and drill a 3-pointer in your mug (she had 13 triples). Fearless rebounder who doesn’t shy away from contact in the lane. She will be a force next season.
Unsung hero: Senior forward Chelsea Bowman – Very quietly had a solid career for the Black Knights. Terrific rebounder with a pretty elbow jumper, she was the team’s leader and driving force during magical postseason run to the PIAA quarterfinals. Her grit, determination and fire will be missed.
Highlights: Went further than any team in the L-L League – boys or girls – after finishing third in Section 1, missing out on the league playoffs and falling in the second round of Districts. But got hot at the right time, upsetting Altoona, ranked No. 4 in the state, in the first round of States, then breezing past University City and into the state quarterfinals. It was the deepest trip in school history, but came to a halt with a loss to
Cheltenham in the Elite Eight. … Terrific defensive team known for its tenacity and ball-hawking in the half court. Led the league in total defense and made teams do things they didn’t like to do (ask Altoona). … Evans really blossomed into an offensive force, and Steward helped out from the outside. When she was on, she was hot. … Junior guards Steph Graver and Hannah Miller also made a name for themselves: Graver as a solid ball-handler and scrappy defender and Miller as an outside threat; she drilled 19 3-pointers in the final 14 games, including a pair of clutch treys vs. Altoona. … Will lose just one starter (Bowman) and will also return two top subs, so the sky is the limit for Hempfield next season. Get those bullseyes ready.
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP Blue Streaks
Coach: Lance Wagner (Just completed his 5th season and is 63-57 overall).
League: 7-9 (5th in Section 1).
Overall: 14-11 (Defeated New Oxford 65-38 in a pigtail game in the District 3 Quad-A playoffs; fell to Cedar Crest 38-30 in a district first-round game).
Winning streak: 4 (Dec. 15 to Dec. 22).
Losing streak: 4 (Jan. 19 to Jan. 30).
Points for: 1,253 (50.1 per game).
Team 3-pointers: 76.
Individual 3-pointers: Alyssa Avallone (34).
Points against: 1,232 (49.3 per game).
Leading scorers:
Alex Velasquez (354 points, 14.8 per game).
Alyssa Avallone (214 points, 8.6 per game).
Kelsey Curcio (141 points, 5.6 per game).
Season-high: 71 points (Dec. 22 in a 71-51 win over Cocalico in a crossover game).
Best individual effort: Senior forward Alex Velasquez – 25 points (Feb. 2 in a 61-50 Section 1 win over Penn Manor).
MVP: Senior forward Alex Velasquez – Dynamite performer on both ends of the court had a terrific senior season, averaging a team-best 14.8 points a game while getting it done on the glass, in transition and defensively. She’ll play at either DeSales or Alvernia next year. Warrior, team leader and all-around good egg.
Unsung hero: Senior guard Alyssa Avallone – She was quite the assassin from behind the 3-point line with a pair of four 3-point games, and combined with Velasquez for a formidable 1-2 scoring punch.
Highlights: Got off to a fast 3-0 start, including a victory over Lower Dauphin in the Conestoga Valley Tip-Off Tournament finale. … Hung with the lead pack in Section 1 until early January, when consecutive losses to McCaskey, Hempfield, Warwick and Cedar Crest (all teams that qualified for the postseason) derailed the Streaks’ L-L playoff plans. … Fast start did help Township reach Districts, and the win over New Oxford in a pigtail game was definitely a highlight. And the Streaks led Cedar Crest 10-9 at the half in the first round of Districts before falling by 18. … Will lose some firepower next season, so it’s tough to say where the Streaks stand for now. But with Wagner at the helm, never count Township out.
McCASKEY Red Tornado
Coach: Brian McCloud (Just finished his 3rd season and is 69-20 overall).
League: 14-3 (2nd in Section 1).
Overall: 23-7 (Fell to Cedar Crest 44-43 in a one-game playoff for the Section 1 championship; defeated Lancaster Catholic 58-48 in a league quarterfinal; defeated Lampeter-Strasburg 60-51 in a league semifinal; fell to Cedar Crest 50-44 in the league title game; defeated Conestoga Valley 65-42 in the first round of the District 3 Quad-A playoffs; fell to Central Dauphin 46-38 in a district quarterfinal game; fell to Cedar Crest 51-33 in a district playback game).
Winning streak: 10 (Dec. 19 to Jan. 19).
Losing streak: 2 (Twice: Feb. 8 to Feb. 9 and Feb. 23 to Feb. 26).
Points for: 1,643 (54.8 per game).
Team 3-pointers: 81.
Individual 3-pointers: Cinthia Vazquez (28).
Points against: 1,434 (47.8 per game).
Leading scorers:
Teasia Myers (450 points, 15.0 per game).
Sasha Williams (379 points, 13.1 per game).
Cherelle Simmons (220 points, 7.3 per game).
Season-high: 73 points (Dec. 15 in a 73-61 win over Solanco in a crossover game).
Best individual effort: Junior guard Teasia Myers – 27 points (Dec. 9 in a 67-58 non-league victory over Reading High).
MVP: Junior guard Teasia Myers – She made the Red Tornado tick with her deft ball-handling skills and uncanny knack at getting in the lane and finishing shots – and more than holding her own on the glass. Savvy floor leader and very hard to rattle. And hard to believe she’s got another year. Will begin her senior season with 930 career points.
Unsung hero: Senior guard Sasha Williams – Finished her brilliant career with 1,027 points. Got off to a flying start this season with 124 points in the first seven games (17.7 per), then picked it up again in the playoffs with 87 points in six postseason games (14.5 per). Speed, speed and more speed. Fabulous in transition and a terrific trapper. Her guts and on-court, in-game moxie will be missed.
Highlights: Might as well get it out of the way first – McCaskey went 0-5 against Cedar Crest this season, which, unfortunately, is what most people will remember about this season for the Red Tornado. McCaskey did get back to the L-L League title game for the second year in a row, but could not defend its District 3 Quad-A title. Cedar Crest knocked McCaskey out of both of those games. … Still a nice season for McCaskey with 23 wins and a trip to the district quarters. … Myers was steady throughout, and teamed with Williams to form one of the quickest, most athletic backcourts around. … Junior forward Cherelle Simmons came into her own, developing some sweet baseline and wing moves, and senior guard Cinthia Vazquez again led the team in 3-pointers, although season-long nagging injuries kept her from shooting a good percentage. …Most pleasant surprise was senior forward Tyeshia Brooks, who became an inside force. … Losing Williams, Brooks and Vazquez will be tough, but with Myers, Simmons, Ciara Pagan, Brittany Christian, Danee Simms and Janaya Brown all coming back, McCaskey will still be a force to be reckoned with.
PENN MANOR Comets
Coach: Ashli Schwab (Just completed her 1st season and is 7-16 overall).
League: 4-12 (6th in Section 1).
Overall: 7-16.
Winning streak: 2 (Three times: Dec. 1 to Dec. 2; Dec. 15 to Dec. 19; Jan. 2 to Jan. 5).
Losing streak: 5 (Twice: Jan. 5 to Jan. 19; Jan. 26 to Feb. 7).
Points for: 1,058 (46.0 per game).
Team 3-pointers: 62.
Individual 3-pointers: Dani Busansky (45).
Points against: 1,232 (53.6 per game).
Scoring leaders:
Kelsey Caruthers (315 points, 13.7 per game).
Dani Busansky (209 points, 9.5 per game).
Allie Girvin (140 points, 6.1 per game).
Emily Long (140 points, 6.1 per game).
Season-high: 72 points (Dec. 15 in a 72-52 crossover win over Cocalico).
Best individual effort: Junior forward Kelsey Caruthers – 37 points (Dec. 22 in a 61-59 loss in OT in a crossover game againstConestoga
Valley).
MVP: Junior forward Kelsey Caruthers – One of the most underrated players in the L-L League has a soft touch and is super around the glass. Had five games of 20-plus points, including the league-best 37-point night against CV. Will begin her senior season with 874 career points.
Unsung hero: Spunky sophomore guard Dani Busansky, who exploded on the scene with 45 3-pointers in 22 games. She hit at least one trey in 19 of those games, including five in a game twice: Dec. 29 against South Western and Dec. 15 against Cocalico, when she scored a career-high 27 points.
Highlights: Got off to a great start in Schwab’s first season on the bench by winning the Penn Manor Tip-Off Tournament. But dipped to under .500 for good on Dec. 22, and finished the season riding a five-game losing streak. … Still kept teams honest with the inside-outside duo of Caruthers and Busansky, who hit 45 of the team’s 62 3’s. But a foot injury to veteran post threat Nicole Wojtusik didn’t help matters much. … Girvin and Long proved to be steady complementary players, but youngster Julie Falk (tibia) missed the first eight games, so the Comets never really had any continuity. But with Caruthers back (and her pursuit of 1,000 career points), here’s guessing the Comets will make some more noise next season, especially now that Schwab (the former Elco and Penn State standout) had a year under her belt.
WARWICK Warriors
Coach: Matt Reber (Just completed his 4th season and is 39-55 overall).
League: 10-6 (4th in Section 1).
Overall: 15-9 (Fell to
Central York 38-32 in the first round of the District 3 Quad-A playoffs).
Winning streak: 11 (Dec. 7 until Jan. 9).
Losing streak: 3 (Jan. 30 to Feb. 5).
Points for: 1,156 (48.2 per game).
Team 3-pointers: 52.
Individual 3-pointers: Ana Cruz (19).
Points against: 1,085 (45.2 per game).
Leading scorers:
Kaitlyn Ober (285 points, 11.9 per game).
Ana Cruz (202 points, 8.4 per game).
Gabrielle Whitley (176 points, 7.7 per game).
Season-high: 63 points (Twice: Dec. 15 in a 63-27 crossover win against Elizabethtown; Jan. 5 in a 63-57 OT crossover win againstConestoga
Valley).
Best individual effort: Senior forward Kaitlyn Ober – 19 points (Dec. 2 in a 54-41 non-league loss to
Wilson).
MVP: Senior forward Kaitlyn Ober – Steady player who had a steady season for the Warriors, who came out of the middle of the pack to scare the living daylights out of everyone. Ober, who was my first-half Section 1 MVP, was the leader. She can crash and dribble-drive and step back and hit the 15-footer. Very, very active; she’s always in the middle of the pile. Finished her scholastic career with 847 points, and she’ll continue her playing career at Lycoming.
Unsung hero: Senior guard Gabrielle Whitley – Reached double-digits nine times and gutted out a late-season elbow injury to score 10 points in the regular-season finale against Penn Manor and play effectively in the loss to Central York in Districts.
Highlights: After a 0-2 start, the Warriors caught fire, winning 11 games in a row before being tripped up by Hempfield on Jan. 12. Win streak included a victory over Conestoga Valley in the Warwick Holiday Tournament finale. … Biggest win was 57-52 OT triumph over eventual section and league champ Cedar Crest on Jan. 19 in Lititz. At the time, it tossed a major monkey wrench into the proceedings. Losses to Hempfield, McCaskey and Cedar Crest (in the rematch) down the stretch hurt, but the Warriors gained everyone’s r-e-s-p-e-c-t. … Made Districts for the first time since 2000, but flamed out in the first round after a cold shooting night vs. Central York. … Spunky, close-nit bunch that made basketball fun in Lititz again. And with the lightning-quick Cruz sisters (Ana and Carmen) back in the fold next year, it could be another fun season for the Warriors.
JEFFREY REINHART
