Playing three games over four days proved to be a tough stretch for Solanco as they suffered losses to Manheim Central (71-40 on Saturday, Feb. 5), Octorara (79-43 on Monday, Feb. 7) and Warwick (62-26 on Tuesday, Feb. 8).

The Mules hosted second place Manheim Central on Feb. 5 knowing that Baron sniper Trey Grube needed just 16 points to join the 1,000 career-points club. The junior highlighted an impressive shooting performance by the Barons with a game-high 32 points that included six triples. Teammate Collin Thompson also dropped six treys and added 20 points in the Barons' 71-40 road win.

"That was a tough game," said head coach Dave Long. "Central is a talented team and they shoot the ball well. We did not do a great job of keeping them out of the middle which led to them getting some easy looks.

"Defensively, we need to improve," he added. "We gave up 45 points in the first half."

The visitors netted 11 of their 14 three-pointers in the first half and held a commanding 45-26 advantage. Solanco, try as they might, and getting decent looks, finished with six treys, four in the first half, and three from Jaydon Yoder who led the Mules with 13. Noah Bailey added all ten of his points in the first half. He hit back-to-back treys in the second quarter.

"Trey Riley came off the bench and did a nice job," said Long. "He works hard at practice and has earned some time."

The visiting Octorara Braves placed three players in double figures and cruised past the Mules last Monday. They held a slim 10-13 first quarter edge but took control in the middle frames, outscoring the hosts 44-20.

Bailey knocked down a team-high 13 points, including seven of Solanco's 10 third quarter points, and Trent McDowell added 10, scoring five in the fourth quarter.

At Warwick last Tuesday, the Section Two champs and playoff bound Warriors set the pace early, exploding for 29 points while holding the visitors to one field goal and a pair of free throws.

The Mules generated the bulk of their offense in the fourth quarter when Osborne canned five of Solanco's 10 points.

As the only double-figure scorer, Bailey finished with 10 points.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The girls' basketball team put together its most successful week of the season, picking up a pair of wins against a single loss in a hectic four-day period.

Looking to play spoiler as their season winds down, Solanco traveled to Manheim Central Saturday, Feb. 5. The Barons, vying for at least a share of the Section Three title, needed a strong second half to pull away with a 45-25 victory.

Realizing that stopping league leading scorer Maddie Knier was the key, Solanco employed a couple of rotating defenses to keep her in check. Averaging 22.5 ppg, Sarah Landis, Jaelyn Olmeda and Kendal Janssen, with weakside help, held Knier to 14.

"I thought we did a good job frustrating her and forcing her to take shots she normally doesn't take," said head coach Chad McDowell.

Knier netted eight of those 14 in the first half but two of her teammates provided a third quarter spark. After a bucket by Olivia Lasko cut the lead to 27-17, Manheim's Kaylie Kroll and Abbie Reed buried back-to-back triples. The Barons won the frame 14-7 for a 35-20 lead heading into the final quarter.

Lasko, who hauled in 13 rebounds and dished out four assists, dropped a trey of her own in the fourth, capping her 11-point outing while Josie Janssen supplied Solanco's final two points of the game.

"If we could find some consistent offense, we would have had several different outcomes this season," said McDowell.

Hanna Wood backed Lasko with five points, five rebounds and two steals. Kara Peace (4 points), Kendal Janssen (3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) and Josie Janssen (2 points) rounded out the stat leaders.

Two days later, the team made the trek to Northern Lebanon (6-13 overall) and, despite shooting 11-of-21 from the free throw line, used a strong first and third quarter to pull out a 37-25 victory, their second of the season.

"This was a complete team effort from start to finish," said McDowell. "For the first time this season we played man-to-man the entire game and NL did not expect that. They had two standout players and we held them to a combined 17 points. The intensity was high on the defensive end, and everyone did their job."

Lasko netted double figures for the sixth straight game, pumping in a game-high 17. She was 5-for-6 from the free throw line, scored seven of Solanco's 10 first quarter points and hauled in 10 rebounds.

The Vikings played even in the second quarter, but Solanco gained some breathing room with a 10-5 third quarter advantage.

K. Janssen finished with eight points, seven boards and two steals. Wood (5 pts, 5 rebounds), Ehlers (4 pts), Paige Althoff (2 pts) and Olmeda (1 pt, 4 rebounds, 4 steals) helped pad Solanco's lead.

The girls crossed over with Section Two's Warwick last Tuesday and posted a come-from-behind 37-33 thriller. Down 13-0 in the first quarter, Solanco started its comeback with a 9-4 run through the second frame.

In a nip-and-tuck second half, Solanco, leading by as many as eight (25-17), outscored the Warriors 10-9 in the third and, breaking several ties, 8-7 in the fourth to grab the 'W'. Rebounds and free throws were instrumental. Tied at 33, Wood grabbed three offensive boards, finally got fouled, and made one-of-two free throws. Warwick missed two foul shots, and Lasko snagged a defensive board and got fouled. She went 2-for-2 for a 36-33 edge. The Warriors missed a trey, Lasko rebounded again and made another trip to the line, hitting one-of-two to secure the victory.

Though Solanco struggled at the free throw line, hitting just 12-of-24, they were 6-for-11 in the fourth while the Warriors were 5-for-12. "Down the stretch, when we needed to, we went 4-for-6 from the line," said McDowell.

"Our defensive executing these past two games was the difference," he continued. "And everyone contributed. "Kendal and Kara capitalized on key steals, and Jenna and Sarah gave us a spark off the bench just to name a few. Kara was also our emotional leader."

Lasko finished with a game-high 12 points and grabbed 10 boards. Peace (4 steals) and Ehlers (3 rebounds) combined for 16. Wood led with eight offensive boards and added five points, J. Janssen (3 pts, 2 steals) and J. Janssen (1 pt) rounded out the scoring.