Coming down the home stretch in the Lancaster-Lebanon League boys' basketball schedule, Garden Spot found itself facing Elco and an unbeaten Lampeter-Strasburg squad on the road.

In the final week of the 2021-22 campaign, the Spartans (6-7 league) saw themselves having to settle for third place in Section Three, despite coming off an impressive defeat of second-place Manheim Central the previous week.

On Monday, February 7, the Elco Raiders had an answer for the Spartans' third-quarter surge by going on a 17-10 fourth quarter run and coming away winners, 53-42. The Spartans' spark early in the second half was an attempt to overcome an early 14-3 deficit. Garden Spot did gain some momentum before halftime.

"In the first half we missed five layups and we were one-of-seven on three's," head coach Nate Musselman pointed out. "The inconsistency kept us from getting over the hump."

Luke Steiner scored all 12 of his points from three-point range, hitting four treys on the night. Michael Heisley scored eight points, hitting a pair of treys in the process. Ryan Conrad also finished with eight.

Four different Elco players finished in double digits, including Corey Attivo, who led all scorers with 15.

The L-S contest was a close one heading into the second stanza. That was where the Pioneers went on a 23-4 run and headed into the half with a 37-16 lead. They went on to top the Spartans 69-41.

"We lost our wheels, and they did what great teams do," Musselman said, giving credit to the Pioneers' play. "They make you pay quickly for your mistakes.

"We congratulated their kids after the game," he added.

Steiner had a team-high 11 points, hitting three triples. Brendan Weaver finished with eight points and Ryan Conrad with six.

The Pioneers' Ty Burton led the scoring with 16 points while Ben Wert finished with 13.

Garden Spot fell to 8-13 on the year while Lampeter-Strasburg improved to 20-0 (13-0 league).

Overall, the Spartans did finish stronger this season compared to how they started out, which included six losses in their first seven games.

"For us, looking back, had we started out the way we ended the season - two or three league games early in the season going our way would have changed our outlook," Musselman said. "Ifs and buts don't do anything for you. Looking back on the season and also looking ahead to our next game, our boys are hoping to end up with our ninth win and get the underclassmen in the right direction heading into next year.

"We have a bunch of good young players," continued the coach. "Our ninth-grade team was also a good one this year."

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The Spartan earned an impressive 52-42 victory over Elco in a Monday night match at New Holland. The Spartans took this February 7 Section Three game with a strong second half in which they outscored the Raiders 30-22.

The visitors were led by Kailey Eckhart, who scored a game-high 17 points. Erin Gonzalez led Garden Spot (10-10, 6-5 league) with her 15-point game while Taylor Soehner poured in 11. Morgan Pavelik also reached double digits, scoring 10, while Nicole Zeiset tallied nine points.

The Raiders fell to 10-11 (5-6 league).

With the regular season ready to wind down, Lampeter-Strasburg handed Garden Spot a setback at New Holland on Tuesday, February 8. With a high-pressure defense, the Pioneers won 46-26 as Ella Horst scored a game-high 16.

Gonzalez and Soehner each finished with eight points for the Spartans.

AIR RIFLE

Garden Spot's air rifle team won two straight matches, improving to 10-4 on the year. In their Thursday meeting with Governor Mifflin on the road, the Spartans rebounded from a loss by a 10-point deficit the previous week by topping the Mustangs 496-489.

The Spartans went on to post another win on Tuesday, February 8, edging Wilson 491-488 at New Holland. They managed to hold off the Bulldogs in this meeting despite not having any shooters that hit the 100-point mark.

In the Mifflin match, Matt Sauder came through with a 100 while Curtis Nolt, Jack Werner, Veronica Fox and Majdalene Martin all recorded 99s.

Leksi Bender led her team in the Wilson contest, finishing with a 99. Nolt, Fox, Werner, and Sauder each shot 98 on the day.

BOWLING

The Spartans fell to 33-44 on the year, losing 7-0 to Manheim Central in a Section Three clash at Dutch Lanes on Tuesday afternoon, February 8.

Lacey McCalicher bowled a 204 in the second game of the day, leading the Spartans with an overall score of 507

The Barons improved to 70-14, keeping a strong hold on first place in Section Three.