An impressive string of victories came to a close Tuesday, Jan 10 when host Octorara toppled Lampeter-Strasburg 56-45 in a Section Three victory. The loss was Lampeter's first in league play, ending a 17-game regular season win streak that started back in 2021.

L-S led just twice in the first half and fell behind 28-21 at the half. The second half was a bit closer, but the Braves prevailed, 28-24. Ben Wert paced the offense with 21 points, including 7-of-8 free throws. Luke Hines added 11 points.

The Pioneers were coming off a 66-61 double overtime thriller over Red Lion as part of the War of the Roses Tournament Saturday, Jan. 7. Wert poured in 26 points and Smucker added 23 and both went 8-for-8 at the free throw line to lift L-S to victory.

Despite the close finish, L-S actually held a 29-19 lead at the half but then managed just six points in the third quarter. Down four late in the game, L-S created a couple of turnovers and converted at the other end to close the gap. Wert's layup, prior to Red Lion missing two free throws with .4 left, tied the game at 49.

Smucker scored six points in the first OT, including a pair of free throws with 6.4 remaining to tie the score again.

"We got a little but lucky," said Berryman. "They missed those free throws at the end of regulation and just after the first OT buzzer sounded they drained a three. Luckily that was waved off."

Up five with 42 seconds left in the second OT, Red Lion knocks down a three to cut it to two before Smucker sinks a pair of freebies with 18.5 left and Hines (4 points, 5 rebounds) adds another to close out the win.

"We're finding ways to win," said Berryman. "Hitting 22-of-26 free throws was the difference."

Yasin Abdi (7 points, 4 rebounds), Trent Wagner (6 points) and Tim Holmes (3 rebounds) also contributed.

WRESTLING

The Pioneers competed in the Hawk Mountain Duals at Hamburg Saturday, Jan. 7 and came out on the short end twice. L-S fell 67-6 against Faith Christian Academy and 53-15 against Conestoga Valley.

Josh Heisey earned an 8-3 decision at 145, and both Trey Spahr (285) and Riley Bonholtzer (121) added a pair of falls to account for the scoring against the Buckskins.

In league action Wednesday, Jan. 11, the Pioneers gave up six falls and a pair of forfeits in a 51-21 loss at Cocalico. Down 27-0 Justice Lugo's 3:17 fall at 160 put LS on the scoreboard. Spahr picked up a 2:26 fall at 285 before Dillon Jannone was awarded a forfeit.

BOWLING

With a team-high 564 series from Peter Mecouch and a strong 559 from Ethan Snyder, who rolled the best single game at 204, the Pioneer bowlers overcame Morgan Kline's game-best 695 and blanked visiting Elco 7-0 last Monday, Jan. 9.

"We rolled a 959 in the first game which is our highest to date," said head coach John Achille. "We have more depth this year. Probably four different players have already rolled team highs."

Katie Pope chipped in with a 527, Maddux Harsh added a 509 and Nick Bukowski rounded out the top five with a 497.

Elco marks the end of the first half of the season. The Pioneers sit on top of the standings at 35-7. Central is two points back (33-9).

Wednesday, Snyder's 586 series led a sweep over Cocalico. Bukowski (549) and Pope (517) each rolled three games while Harsh, Mecouch and Tino Allegretti contributed to the Pioneers 2665 pin total, surpassing Cocalico's total by 376 points to wrap up the shutout.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

The girls' basketball team slipped to 6-5 overall with a pair of tough non-league losses over the last week. Thursday, Jan. 5 the Pioneers got off to a slow start and never recovered in a 63-51 loss at Northeastern York. Two days later, they were outpointed 44-40 against York Suburban.

"We lost Leigha Saurbaugh in the first quarter with a back injury at Northeastern and had to shift our game plan," said head coach Steve Villbrandt. "Once we figured it out at halftime (35-21) it was too late and the lead was too great. We also have two JV players injured, so our numbers were limited and some of the girls coming off the bench already played a full JV game."

With field goals and three pointers yielding just a two-point difference, the hosts pulled away with an 18-for-30 effort at the free throw line. The Pioneers were 8-for-19.

The hosts placed four players in double figures. Katie Ranck dropped a season-high 23 points. Anna Horner added 9.

"She's amazing," said Villbrandt of Ranck. "Any time she touched the ball they swarmed her with two defenders and she still scored at will. She also led with 11 rebounds."

Saturday's loss was even tougher as each quarter was determined by just a point or two.

"We battled the entire game, but it came down to experience," Villbrandt stated. "We panicked at the end of the game and gave up the lead with less than a minute left. Ava Leonard really worked hard rebounding and Anna had to handle the press most of the game by herself because Leigha was still banged up.

"On the bright side, Molly Gochnauer has started to find her place in the lineup," he continued. "She usually plays a full JV game and has really provided a spark off the bench. She does not pad the stat sheet. She does the dirty work and rebounds very well."

Ranck netted 16 points, including a 10-for-12 effort at the foul line. Leonard added 10, Horner finished with 9 and Ava Vaughn and Kelsey McTaggart combined for five.

SWIMMING

With the holidays causing a 28-day layoff since their last meet, the Pioneer swimmers hit the water last Monday and swept the visiting Crusaders. The girls' cruised to a 128-37 victory while the boys' won 89-57 against the short-handed Crusaders.

L-S dominated, winning 10 of 11 events.

Zara Paisley (100 free and 50 free) and freshman Madelyn Juba (500 free and 200 IM) earned a pair of firsts and contributed to the relay sweep. Paisley team with Kylie Gerhardt, Ashley Prouse and Claire Ecker in the 200 medley with and with Prouse, Krista Lambert and Juba in the 400 free relay. Juba also anchored the winning 200 free with Addie Rodriguez, Gerhardt, and Eckert chipping in.

Other winners included Prouse in the 100 fly, Gerhardt in the 100 back and Jocelyn Wolff in the 100 breaststroke.

Matt Rota (breaststroke and butterfly), Ryan Smecker (backstroke and freestyle) and Kyle Spaulding (500 free and 200 IM) each won two events to lead the way. Christian Rota added a 100 free win.

The Pioneers also won two of the three relays. Christian and Matt Rota, Spaulding and Smecker claimed not only the 200 free but the 400 free as well.

Wednesday L-S posted mixed results against visiting Conestoga Valley. The girls moved to 3-1 overall with a lopsided 110-43 while the boys fell to 2-2 with a 96-64 loss.

The girls won all but two events with Gerhardt taking the 200 and 500 free events and swam in two of the three winning relays. Juba swam on two relays and won the 100 back while Prouse anchored the 400 free relay and won the 200 IM.

Eckert wrapped up the individual wins with the top time in the 100 free. Wolff anchored the 200 medley and 200 free relays with Liliana Bacon swimming legs on both the 200 free and 400 free relays. Rodriguez and Rachael Mann also were relay contributors.

The boys won five of the eight individual events but the Bucks swept the relays to pull away. Smecker doubled with wins in the 100 free and 200 IM. Spaulding won the 500 free, M. Rota took the 100 fly and C. Rota was tops in the 50 free.