In a tough non-league loss on the road Tuesday, January 3, the PV boys' basketball team let one slip away in the final period.

The Millersburg Indians built a 31-22 halftime lead and needed an extra push in the fourth quarter to hold off the Braves by a 68-54 margin. Pequea Valley fell to 2-8 on the year.

Myles Furlong was on target four times from three-point range, finishing with 14 points on the night. Luke Rogers tied Furlong for the team lead in points, putting up seven baskets. Nathan Blank's nine points all came thanks to his three long-range jump shots. Joerick Irizarry also nailed a trey and finished with seven points.

Speaking of tough losses, the Braves suffered a 45-43 loss to Dayspring Christian Academy on Thursday, December 29. The Braves outscored the Warriors 18-11 in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get the game-tying bucket.

Jackson Neff had a game-high 24 points for Pequea, including five baskets from beyond the three-point arc. Rogers scored seven for the Braves.

The next day, the Braves said good-bye to 2022 with a non-league home game with Camp Hill. Outscoring Pequea 16-5 in the first and 17-11 in the fourth was the bookend output Camp Hill needed to post a 53-39 victory.

Neff and Landyn Mealey each scored nine for the Braves with all of Mealey's points coming on three treys. Ben Ellis of Camp Hill had a game-high 16.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The Pequea Valley Braves have charged out to a fast start for the 2022-23 girls' basketball campaign, winning eight of their first nine contests.

Head coach Jason McDonald attributed the strong start to a great work ethic by the players.

"The kids came in over the summer and worked hard," he said. "It carried over from the off-season to the season.

"We have installed some new things and the kids have bought into it," he added. "They have worked hard day in and day out."

The Braves closed out the calendar year with victories at the Brandywine Heights Holiday Tournament, defeating Executive Education Academy 30-14 on Tuesday, December 27 and topping the host school 37-28 the next day to claim the tournament trophy.

"Executive Education Academy played a zone we weren't accustomed to seeing," McDonald explained. "They tried to slow the game down and they succeeded.

"In the Brandywine Heights game, we didn't play well in the first half, but came out with more confidence in the second half," continued the coach.

The slow start against Executive Education Academy netted two points for the Braves in the first quarter. However, Pequea put up 14 points in the second quarter and finished with a dominant fourth quarter. Janae Patterson had a match-leading 12 points and Shania Stoltzfus scored seven for PV.

The Braves actually trailed 17-5 at intermission in the Brandywine Heights game. They outscored their opponent 32-11 in the second half.

Patterson poured in 20 points and Stoltzfus scorched a pair of treys for her six points of the game. Sarah Arment scored five points - all from the free throw line.

Asked about the leading scorers on the team, however, McDonald replied, "It seems like every game we have somebody different. It's amazing the kind of success you have when you're moving the ball well and looking for the open player."