JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com

Lancaster Catholic senior standout Brittany Ryder has made her college decision — the Crusaders’ high-scoring forward will continue her basketball career at Juniata College.

Ryder, who was my pick for Section 4 MVP this past season, averaged 16.9 points and hit 19 3-pointers this past season for Catholic, which went 21-11 overall after finishing second in the section race following a loss to Lancaster Mennonite in a one-game playoff.

This is the capsule I put together on Ryder after the season, when I tabbed her as Catholic’s team MVP:

MVP: Brittany Ryder – The Crusaders’ senior forward saved her best for last, averaging a team-best 16.9 points a game while literally carrying the team on her back early in the season until some of the newcomers to the lineup got their feet wet. Known for her baseline game after averaging 10 points a game as a junior, Ryder added a perimeter game to her repertoire this season, popping in 19 3-pointers. Also an ultra clutch foul shooter who wanted the ball in her hands in crunch time. Had three straight 20-plus point games late in the regular season – including a season-high 25 in a 62-58 win over Lancaster Mennonite, which tied up the Section 4 race – and she finished with a flourish, pumping in 23 points and three 3’s in Catholic’s season-finale, a 61-43 setback to Villa Maria in the first round of States. Ryder finished her career with 862 points – 540 of those this season. If she would have played a smidge more in her sophomore season, she might have eclipsed 1,000 points. But it’s not always about the numbers. And even though Ryder’s numbers were mighty nice, I was more impressed with her leadership qualities, and how she willed the Crusaders to 21 victories and into the postseason.