These rankings are for fun, and have absolutely nothing to do with the District 3 rankings, or any other rankings out there. They are based solely on my observations. I have no secret formula. I just like to rank the teams every week - for fun. And now, on with the rankings …
If you squint, you can almost see the finish line. Incredibly, we’re down to just eight L-L League games to go – three in the always-popular crossover round, then five more head-to-head section games to the wire.
So here it is: Reinhart’s Rankings at the midway point of L-L League Girls’ Basketball: 2008-09 …
1. Lampeter-Strasburg (8-0 league, 13-1 overall; last week: 1st) – Pioneers remain atop my heap after rampaging through three games last week (beat Northern Lebanon by 23; beat Cocalico by 22; beat Manheim Central by 30). Still plenty to like here, and now that Danielle Rittenhouse (knee) is back in the rotation, depth is a plus. Can’t say enough about Renee Fritz, who continues to dominate in the post. Pound-for-pound the best team I’ve seen in the league this season. THIS WEEK: Tuesday at home with Lancaster Catholic (hang three stars next to that one) and Friday at Annville-Cleona.
2. Lancaster Mennonite (7-1 league, 11-2 overall; last week: 4th) – I bumped the Blazers up to No. 2 after last week’s No. 2, Donegal, and last week’s No. 3, Cedar Crest, both lost last week. Survived Lebanon Catholic on the road last Monday (55-51) before steamrolling Pequea Valley (75-47) and Annville-Cleona (71-22) to run winning streak to four in a row. Figured LMH would pick up some steam after the loss to York Suburban over the holidays. And the Blazers have; they’re even ranked No. 1 in the first District 3 Double-A poll. Speaking of which … three-time defending state champ York Catholic pays a visit to Mennonite on Saturday. Do not miss that one. THIS WEEK: Tuesday at Northern Lebanon (circle that one), Friday at home with Donegal (circle that one) and Saturday at home with York Catholic (circle that one in ink; should/could be a district-playoff preview).
3. Manheim Township (7-1 league, 9-2 overall; last week: 5th) – Blue Streaks’ winning streak is up to four in a row after three clutch section wins last week: McCaskey (by 25), Hempfield (by 13) and Warwick (by 7), and moved into a first-place tie with Cedar Crest when the Falcons fell to Penn Manor 41-40 on Friday. Township is also the highest-ranked District 3 Quad-A team among L-L League entrants (4th). Pegged these guys as my sleeper Section 1 team, and the Streaks certainly have everyone’s attention now, don’t they? THIS WEEK: Monday at home with Lebanon (Cancer Benefit Night) and Friday at Elizabethtown.
4. Donegal (6-2 league, 12-2 overall; last week: 2nd) – Since opening the season 10-0, the Indians have gone 2-2. But when hard-charging Elco knocked off Northern Lebanon last Friday, Donegal moved back into sole possession of second place in Section 3 – two days after falling to Northern Lebanon and slipping into a tie for second. With 12 wins, the Indians have clinched a spot in Districts. And here they are in the thick of the section chase. Easily the most pleasantly surprising team this season. THIS WEEK: Tuesday at home with Lebanon Catholic (keep an eye on that game) and Friday at Lancaster Mennonite (mighty interesting game there).
5. (tie) Cedar Crest (7-1 league, 10-3 overall; last week: 3rd) – Falcons suffered their first league setback last Friday, when Penn Manor pinned a 41-40 loss on Cedar Crest. So there will be no undefeated teams in Section 1 this season. Not a huge shocker there. Meghan Phillips continues to sizzle (19.0 points per game in three games last week), but the Falcons are also dealing with some nagging injuries. When’s that Township game? THIS WEEK: Tuesday at home with Ephrata (battle of first-place teams in that one) and Friday at Garden Spot.
5. (tie) Lancaster Catholic (7-1 league, 9-4 overall; last week: Honorable Mention) – Crusaders are hot, with four wins in a row, good for a first-place tie with Lancaster Mennonite with one half of the regular season in the books. Catholic needed a bounce-back after a three-game skid over the holidays, and the Crusaders’ have definitely picked up some speed, thanks to a spirited, new-found, half-court defensive set. And Reina Hill, Madeline Sloan and Ariana Nazario are becoming quite a handful in the post. The better this team defends, the trickier they’re going to be in a month or so. Stick that in your memory banks, won’t you. THIS WEEK: Tuesday at L-S (I’ll be in Lampeter for that one; save me a seat) and Friday at home with Manheim Central.
5. (tie) Ephrata (6-2 league, 9-5 overall; last week: Honorable Mention) – See, the beauty about having your own poll is that you can do things like have a three-way tie for fifth place. I love my job. … Couldn’t leave out the Mountaineers here. Hey, they’re alone in first place in Section 2 and they’ve won four games in a row. Really like the balance and the team-first attitude here. Nothing flashy. But Ephrata has been pesky as sin, and owns a pair of crossover wins, which no other Section 2 team can claim. THIS WEEK: Tuesday at Cedar Crest (circle it) and Friday at home with Hempfield (circle it). Not an easy week for the Mounts. If Solanco can navigate Warwick on Tuesday and Penn Manor on Friday, Section 2 could have a different look come this time next week. Stay tuned.
HONORABLE MENTION: Hempfield (6-2, 8-6), Lebanon Catholic (4-4, 8-6), Northern Lebanon (5-3, 8-6), Penn Manor (4-4, 7-7), Solanco (5-3, 8-6).
