Despite missing a few players from their lineup, the Lady Bucks proved they were more than ready to take the court when their season finally got underway on Friday, January 8, hosting a dynamic, season opening win over the Lebanon Cedars, 77-65.

"I'm pleased with the effort and play the first game," praised head coach Bill Moore. "The players have been working hard and it was nice to see their hard work payoff."

The Buckskins delivered their attack from all angles, with four CV athletes notching double digits and a total of eight athletes contributing to the scoreboard.

Junior, Taylor Hehnly led CV's scoring surge with 15, complimented by an additional 13 from sophomore Rebecca Hartranft, who's efforts also included a flawless four-of-four showing at the line.

Hartranft wasn't the only Buckskin player with free throw success, a pivotal aspect to the 12-point victory. The Lady Bucks made the most of their 24 collective trips to the line, netting a staggering 17 uncontested points, and earning a free throw percentage of just over 70 percent.

Alexis Goldsborough and Camdyn Mahler rounded out CV's offensive surge, chipping in 10 points apiece to keep the Lebanon defenders scrambling.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Making up for lost time, CV boys packed three games into four days' time to open their season, garnering a pair of wins during the three-game stretch on the road.

Opening night, January 8th, held a heartbreaking one-point loss, 58-57, at Lebanon.

The back-and-forth battle featured multiple lead changes with the Bucks clinging to a 43-42 advantage entering the final quarter, but the Cedars captured the final period, 16-14, barely pulling ahead for the one-point win.

"We played extremely tough on the defensive end of the floor and our full court press caused some havoc and created turnovers," noted head coach Jim Shipper. "Offensively, we struggled down the stretch."

Austin Wertz and Cameron Swinton each netted a dozen Buckskin points, with Luke Rumbaugh knocking down 11.

Free throw percentage was nearly identical for both teams, with CV shooting just over 56 percent (9-of-16) and Lebanon just under at 55 percent. But the vast number of Lebanon's trips to the line (19-of-34) paid off for the Cedars.

CV bounced back just 24 hours later with a one-point victory of their own, topping Eastern York, 64-63, in a nonleague showdown January 9th.

Rumbaugh was CV's high scorer in the Saturday night conquest, netting 21, including four 3-pointers. Swinton supplemented the attack with 18, and Wertz added 10.

"We got some clutch shooting throughout the game, and I felt our offense was fueled from our defensive intensity," credited Shipper. "We took care of the ball, ran some good sets, and our shot selection was 100 percent better than Friday night, which in turn helped us get the road win."

Capping the string of away games was a Monday night triumph over William Penn, 76-66, with Rumbaugh again paving the way on offense, registering 20.

Some fresh names were highlighted on the scoreboard with Cooper McCloud contributing 14, Wertz 13, and Gabe Matos 12.

Rumbaugh and McCloud extended the York defense with the three-point threat, netting three treys apiece, and Matos went 5-of-7 at the line.

SWIMMING

The CV girls' swimmers made quite a splash in their 95-58 triumph over Cocalico to jump start their season on Tuesday, January 12th. Once the water settled, the Lady Bucks had achieved top times in seven of the individual events as well as claiming two of the three relays.

Veteran Karli Raasch claimed the butterfly (1:01.66) and the 200 IM (2:16.36). Fellow senior Ashley Nolt touched first in both the 50 free (29.71) and 100 free (1:08.72), and junior Jordan Holmes also won two events with a 2:18.65 in the 200 free and 1:06.96 in the backstroke while

distance swimmer Kyla Pham posted a 6:58.01 to win the 500 free.

In relay action, Holmes, Pham, and Raasch were joined by Hollyn Helsel to claim the 200 medley, and Pham, Raasch, Nolt, and Holmes got the job done in the 400 free with a 4:17.3.

For the boys, the night ended in a narrow 77-71 loss, featuring five individual victories and one relay win for CV.

Micah Leaman pulled in big CV points with wins in the butterfly (59.14) and the 200 IM (2:08.08), as well as anchoring the winning 400 free relay team with Ashton Reese, Connor Ludwig, and Daniel Ivanchikov contributing.

Ivanchikov claimed both the 200 free (2:03.98) and 500 free (5:41.27), taking more than 10 seconds off his previous personal bests in both events.

Ludwig also took home an individual win in the 100 free (59.94), coming in under a minute for the first time for a new personal best.

"We had lots of really great swims in both meets," summarized head coach Barb Raasch.

WRESTLING

Also getting league head-to-head matches underway on January 12th, Buckskin wrestling experienced a tough 55-12 loss to Hempfield, leaving them eager to get back on the mat for their next dual.

While the evening heavily favored the Knights, CV junior Trent Ruble, last season's Section champion at 106, proved to be a highlight and provided the Bucks with a fall in his bout. Nate Kirchner (172) and Keaton Fischer (138) each garnered additional Buckskin points, winning by decision in their respective faceoffs.

The previous weekend the Bucks hosted an individual tournament in which Ruble was one of two CV grapplers to win their weight category. Ruble's triumph at 106 was complimented by Jonathan Lopez' first place at 215, with both wrestlers going undefeated for the day.

BOWLING

Buckskin bowling is off to a strong start, sweeping Warwick 7-0 in their inaugural match on January 13th at Dutch Lanes.

The evening's high roller was freshman Ryan Muckle who strung together a 205-203-268 for a 676 series. Robbie Jack contributed a 666 three-game score, and Haley Jack earned a 637.

RIFLE

The rifle squad will look to narrow the gap after a 495-492 opening loss at Manheim Central on the 12th.

CV's top shooters, Grady Ray, Edison Stauffer, and Sovannary Sok, produced a trio of 99s, but were not quite able to keep pace with a pair of 100s from the Barons.

Sierra Land shot a 98, followed by a 97 from Wyatt Stauffer to round out the top five CV scores.