The Pequea Valley Braves defeated Oley Valley in a big non-league girls' basketball game on Monday, January 10. The Braves improved to 5-6 on the year with the close 42-39 win.

Winning the close ones has been a challenge for the young Pequea squad this year, according to head coach Jason McDonald

"We make some young mistakes near the end of our games, which make the end of games very interesting," said McDonald.

An example of McDonald's observation came in Monday' game where the Lynx battled back from a 35-25 deficit by outscoring the Braves 14-7 in the fourth quarter.

"In the last quarter we stumbled," he said. "To their credit, the kids didn't fold. We made the plays we needed to make at the end of the game.

"We are competing and we're playing great defense," McDonald said. "Our defense has been phenomenal. We are holding teams to 40 or 41 points per game."

The defense held the Lynx to only two points in the opening period of this game.

"We might play them in the district playoffs," McDonald said.

Breanne Beiler led the Braves with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"As far as rebounding and finishing around the basket, she has been having a good year," McDonald said.

Shania Stoltzfus poured in nine points while Katie Stoltzfus and Sarah Arment scored eight and seven points, respectively.

"Sarah Arment, who's a junior, is a team leader and go-getter," commented the coach. "She leads our team in rebounding and is one of our leading scorers.

"She always takes the best player on the opposing team," McDonald added.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

The Braves faced the undefeated Columbia Crimson Tide in a Section Five game on Wednesday, January 12. The Tide held the Braves scoreless in the opening period and went on to post a 101-35 victory. They raised their unbeaten mark to 10-0 (3-0 league) while the Braves fell to 2-8 (1-2 league).

Dominic Diaz-Ellis and Kerry Glover each scored 21 points for the Tide. Jordan Poole poured in another 18.

Nevin Stoltzfus had a remarkable game for Pequea, topping his team in scoring with 16 points. Stoltzfus connected four times from three-point range.

Myles Furlong nailed a pair of three-point jumpers and finished with six points. Fellow sophomore Jackson Neff also finished six points.

WRESTLING

The Braves competed in the Line Mountain Duals on Saturday, January 8 where they went 0-5. Their best match was a tough 42-30 loss to Palmerton.

Pequea's depleted roster forced six forfeits, giving Palmerton 36 uncontested points.

The Braves earned six points early on with Liam McGinley's pin at the 126-pound bout. Damon Mancino also notched a pin, turning the trick 1:22 into the 215-pound battle.