The Lady Pioneer swimmers posted their first win of the season with last Tuesday's 111-59 win at Cocalico (2-2). The visitors won all but two events to cruise to the victory.

"This meet we focused on returning to competition after overcoming some obstacles," said head coach Kylie Turner. "We want each member of the team to swim like it's their last race, and to look to improve each of their times in each of their events. We had multiple best times but two individuals, Zara Paisley and Christian Rota, stood out," the coach continued. "Zara was pushed by a talented Cocalico swimmer to break her previous 1:18 in the 100 breaststroke. She broke that mark with a 1:16.53 and finished second.

"Christian dropped time in both the 100 backstroke, where he finished second, and in the 100 fly, finishing third. His hard work in practice is showing."

Paisley also anchored the winning 200 free (Abby Welchans, Kara Scranton and Ashley Prouse) and the 200 medley (Kylie Gerhardt, Scranton and Prouse).

Scranton went on to win the 100 fly (1:07.17) and the 200 IM (2:28.54) while Welchans earned a first in the 200 free (2:17.07). Gerhardt added a victory in the 100 back (1:10.09) and Krista Lambert led a 1-2-3 finish in the 500 free with Grace Schonour and Liliana Bacon grabbing second and third.

Andrew Reidenbaugh was the top point-getter for the boys who bowed out 100-59. The senior sprinted to victory in the 50 free (24.35) and the 100 free (53.68).

L-S, small in numbers this season, also claimed the 400 free relay with Ryan Smecker, Rota, Kyle Spaulding and Mitchell Livengood teaming for a 3:49.27.

Smecker was also solid individually, earning seconds in the 200 free and the 100 fly.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

In back-to-back contests last week, the Lady Pioneers posted mixed results, opening the week with a 55-40 non-league loss at Spring Grove but bouncing back with a lopsided 44-27 romp over Northern Lebanon.

L-S set the tone early against the Vikings, sprinting to a 14-3 first quarter advantage. They held the visitors to single digits in three quarters, maintaining the lead throughout and pushing their league record to 3-2.

Jenna Daveler's 15-point night featured a pair of triples and a couple of steals that led to fastbreak layups. Kiersten Hostetter just missed double figures, settling for nine points while Katie Ranck (6), Ella Horst (6), Maggie Visniski (5) and Kelsey McTaggart (3) added to the balanced attack.

"We're still missing too many layups," said head coach Tony Fink. "Our defensive activity created turnovers and run outs.

"We've been up and down this season," he continued. "Hopefully, we can be more consistent going forward."

The Pioneers were coming off a 15-point loss to Spring Grove Monday night. The Rockets used an 18-8 run through the second quarter to extend a 15-12 first quarter lead, sparking the 55-40 home win.

Daveler's 14 points were tops for the visitors. Visniski added 11, including 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the second half. Ranck and Hostetter combined for 13. For photos see townlively.com

WRESTLING

On the wrestling mats, forfeits continue to hamper Lampeter's team total efforts, but their individual success has not gone unnoticed. The Pioneers forfeited four bouts in a 51-9 loss to Donegal January 6 but did find some positives. Andrew Cramer (132) and Joel Bitler (172) both pulled out 2-1 thrillers while Jaiden Newton's hard-earned 9-7 decision over Andrew Small at 160 accounted for Lampeter's point total.

On Saturday, January 8, the Pioneers traveled to Hamburg to compete in the 10-team Hawk Mountain Duals. They were one of four teams finishing with a 2-3 record on the day. Faith Christian Academy went 5-0.

L-S picked up a 42-35 win over Upper Perkiomen in their fourth match of the day and closed out the action with a 45-21 nod over Bensalem after suffering losses to Abington (52-18), Littlestown (34-30) and Dallastown (55-9).

Ryan Bonholtzer (120) went 4-1 with three falls and a tech fall while Conner Erb (113) matched that record with a pair of falls, a major decision, and a forfeit win. At 145, Josh Heisey climbed to 4-1 with three decisions and a fall.

Treson Spahr (285) and Joel Bitler (189) both went 3-2 with Spahr recording a trio of falls and Bitler picking up two. Owen Witmer also pinned twice at 172.

Back in Section play last Wednesday, the Pioneers put together four straight wins, including three falls to pull away for a 45-16 victory over visiting Cedar Crest. Both teams came in looking for their first Section Two win.

Bonholtzer (126) opened with a 2:24 fall and two bouts later, Heisey pinned in 2:31 to put L-S in front 12-10. The teams traded a forfeit and a fall before Joel Bitler (172) worked a 5-1 decision over Erik McLaughlin, extending the lead to 21-16. Liam Feister (189), Spahr (285) and Elijah Myers (120), after Crest forfeited at 113, all put their opponents on their backs to quickly expand the lead.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Northern Lebanon, winless in Section Four, was no match for the undefeated Pioneers last Tuesday. L-S pumped in over 70 points for the fifth time this season and sailed past the Vikings 74-44, collecting their third 30-points-or-more victory of the season.

Knocking down a season-high 37 points in the opening quarter, L-S dominated early, holding the visitors to nine. That proved to be the difference as the remaining three quarters left L-S in front 37-35.

"We were 15-for-17 in the first half when shooting 3's and made 11 in the first quarter alone," said head coach Ed Berryman.

Ty Burton and Berkeley Wagner put on a three-point shooting clinic, canning six each as L-S poured in 15 for the game. Burton, with five treys in the first quarter, finished with a game-high 24 points while Wagner added 18, all on first half threes.

Luka Vranich (8), Ben Wert (7), Isaiah Parido (5), Chase Smucker (5), Hunter Hildebrand (3), Luke Hines (2) and Tim Holmes (2) contributed to the balanced effort.