Playing without star player Maddie Knier, Manheim Central put up a great fight, but fell 42-32 to Lancaster Catholic on Jan. 21. The short-handed Lady Barons led by one going into the fourth but ran out of gas.

"It was a total team effort," Barons' coach Tyson Hayes said. "Players really stepped up and rose to the challenge. We had a fanatic defensive effort while also holding our own on the boards."

Abbie Reed had 11 points. Hayes said she is playing great at point guard right now.

Hayes said Rachel Nolt played a complete game on both the offensive and defensive end, while freshman Stella Higgins got her first career start and freshman Emma Herman scored five points. Cadence Getz scored three off the bench.

Central bounced back on Jan. 22 with a 37-33 victory against defending district champion Spring Grove. Knier was back from her injury and was able to play in the second half and scored 12 while Rachel Nolt had a team-high 15.

Central beat Cocalico 55-28 on Jan. 24. Knier paced the Barons with 26 points. Kaylie Kroll added 10 points and Redd netted seven. Central jumped out to a 16-5 lead after the first quarter. Their defense was strong.

They held the Eagles to three points in the second and only eight points in the first half. Coming out of the locker room after halftime, the Barons left no doubt, outscoring Cocalico 15-9.

Manheim lost a heartbreaker to Lampeter-Strasburg, 47-45, on Jan. 25. The teams were tied at 45 with 2.9 second left when Maggie Visniski nailed the game-winning shot.

Several Lady Barons made big plays. Nolt's put-back on a rebound gave Central a 36-35 lead and her free throws put Manheim on top 45-42. Knier had 14 of her 17 points after halftime.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

The Barons beat Cocalico 51-40 on Jan. 24. Trey Grube led Central with 24 points, including five 3-pointers. Judd Novak added seven and Jackson Tracy netted six.

This was a bounce back win after losing a 49-47 nail-bitter to Lancaster Catholic. After trailing 16-11 after the first quarter, the Barons outscored the Crusaders 14-9 in the second. The teams were tied at 25 at halftime. Grube finished with a team-high 19 points and Novak chipped in 15.

Central had little time to think about the loss, as they faced Cedar Cliff the next day, losing 58-42 in a non-league game.

Grube paced the Barons, who led 19-18 at halftime, with 23 points. The Colts used an 18-9 run in the third to pull away.

Lampeter-Strasburg defeated Manheim 62-39 on Jan. 25. The Pioneers jumped out to an 8-0 lead and led 17-2 at the end of opening quarter. The Barons trailed 31-10 at halftime. Grube paced Central with 17 points. Connor Fahnestock added six.

SWIMMING

Manheim posted some good individual performances, but team depth hurt both teams in losses to Ephrata on Jan. 20, Barons' coach Heather Fittery said. The girls lost 91-62 and the boys suffered a 123-37 defeat.

"Ephrata had a strong boys' team," Fittery said. "Our numbers are too low to compete.

The girls meet was better than I anticipated. We placed well in events."

Fittery said she was happy to have several place winners, including the medley relay team gaining first place with Makenna Enck, Reagen Nissley, Chloe Enck and Olivia Faulhaber. They also touched the wall first in the 200 freestyle relay with Nissley, Makenna Enck, Chloe Enck and Gabrielle Fittery.

The Barons were second in the 400 free relay with Fittery, Olivia Faulhaber, Alexandria Cox, and Michelle Giambalvo. Individually, Fittery was second in the 200 free and third 500 free, Nissley was second in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Makenna Enck was second in the 50 free and 100 free. Faulhaber was third in the 50 free and second in the 100 free. Chloe Enck was third in the 100 free and 100 backstroke.

For the boys, Bryce Garber was third in the 50 and 100 free. He was also part of the second place 200 medley relay team with Cayden Schwebel, Anderson Pisner and Ryan Moreno.

The 200 free relay team of Pislner, Caleb Bower, Moreno and Garber placed second. Pilsner was second in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly. Colton Falhaber was third in the 100 breaststroke.

RIFLE

Manheim won two matches last week. The Barons beat Garden Spot 494-492 on Jan. 20.

"It was great to have Rodney Sauder shoot a 99 on Thursday against GS along with Ellie McCabe, Trevor Frey and Nate Sauder," Barons' Steve Waddington said. "We have been fortunate to have different shooter come through when others might have an off night."

Nate Sauder, McCabe, Frey also registered 99. Kyria Martin had a 98.

On Jan. 25, the Barons beat Governor Mifflin 495-488. This time Martin led the way with a perfect 100. Anna Haldeman also posted a 100. Nate Sauder added a 99, while Frey and Ellie McCabe shot 98.

The current top five shooting averages are Haldeman, 99.57; McCabe, 98.78; Nate Sauder, 98.56; Genna Eberly, 98.13; and Frey, 98.11.

BOWLING

The Barons rallied for a dramatic 4-3 victory against Cocalico on Jan 17. With the win, Central jumped into first place in the section. In the third game the Barons were down 42 pins, but in the tenth frame pulled it out. Jesse Hurst needed two strikes or either an eight, nine or a strike in the third and he got a strike.

"It was an awesome finish," Barons' coach Alan Slides said. "I had my head down because of the pressure. Jesse was very calm. The tenth frame is the first time I saw any nervousness. He really came through."

Ethan Howard rolled a 196-189-203 for a three-game 588. Landen Statts had a 22-156-204 for a 582. Hurst had a 185-175-193 for a 553. Hailey Kowalski and Holly Hunt finished with 511 and 491, respectively.

Manheim lost to Cedar Crest 7-0 on Jan. 21. Hurst shot a 607 and Howard had a 515.

"We kept close with them and had the lead with eight frames," Slides said, "but they turned it on in the nine and tenth frames."

WRESTLING

The Barons came up on the short end of a 54-16 decision to Garden Spot on Jan. 19, in a battle for first place in Section Two.

At 106, Luke Gibble secured a 7-5 decision to get the scoring started. Other highlights included Braxton Keiffer earning a 21-7 major decision, Logan Forrest a 12-7 decision and Brett Barbush securing a fall in 1:21.

Manheim rebounded quickly from the loss by defeating Lebanon 49-6. Tyer Groff and Keiffer both gained pins, Keiffer's coming in 27 seconds.

AJ Hondru won 3-1, Barbush had a 6-4 decision, Jacob Hess gained a 10-6 win and Rocco Daugherty secured an 11-2 major decision.