When a successful and memorable sports season comes to a close - whether on a season-ending loss or hoisting of a trophy - the players, coaches and followers look back and reflect on the many achievements.

That is how Pequea Valley girls' basketball coach Jason McDonald looks upon the 2022-23 team.

"This season was a very successful season; it just wasn't the outcome we wanted," said McDonald, whose squad suffered a 60-37 loss on Friday, March 10, at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia, where the Braves fell to Imhotep Charter School in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A state playoffs.

"The team this year was a joy to coach," he added. "They worked and practiced hard on their game to get better."

The Braves trailed the Panthers by only 11 points heading into the fourth quarter of that playoff game. The Panthers outscored the Braves 20-8 in the final period.

This year's Pequea pack finished with a 22-5 record, tying the program's record for most victories in a season. Entering the PIAA's, the Braves had clinched third place in the District Three Class 3A playoffs, also tying the school's highest finish in district playoffs history.

"We tied the school record for most wins but had the best winning percentage this year," said McDonald.

Scoring 20 points on the night to lead the Braves was Shania Stoltzfus, who drilled six three-point baskets. The junior is one of the starters McDonald is looking forward to having on next year's team.

"I'm going to miss the senior class as they worked extremely hard and gave us excellent leadership," said McDonald. "We have a tremendous amount of talent coming back next year. We can have as great of a season as this year if we continue to work hard."

The seniors from this year's team were Sarah Arment, Madison Clark, Jana Coxta and Brooke Graham.

"These seniors made school history with most wins in a career with 63," McDonald pointed out. "In three out of four years, they made leagues, district and state playoffs."

While Brooke Graham led the team in three-point field goal percentage with 35%, Morgan Graham led the team in field goal percentage with 63. Shania Stoltzfus shot 32 percent from three-point range.

One underclassman who helped carry the offense was freshman Janae Patterson. She led the team with 12.2 points per game. She also grabbed 3.8 rebounds per game.

When the Lancaster-Lebanon League all-star selections came out, as voted on by L-L League coaches, Patterson made first-team all-star in Section Four.

Shania Stoltzfus and Katie Stoltzfus, who had 7.4 ppg and 6.8 ppg, respectively, both made second team all-star while Shania was named to the all-defensive team for the section. Arment made all-academic team.

Bre Beiler scored 4.7 points per game, hitting 48 percent of her field goal attempts. She averaged 6.8 rebounds per contest. Arment grabbed four rebounds per game.

SWIMMING

Representing Pequea Valley at the District Three Class 2A Swimming Championships, held at Cumberland Valley High School on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, were junior Ethan Wanner and his freshman brother, Aidan Wanner.

With Pequea Valley not having a swim team per se, the Wanner brothers, according to dad and swim coach Matt Wanner, worked hard throughout the season to qualify for the L-L League Championships and the District Three meet.

"With the independent swim schools, we have to find teams who will be willing to let us use their open lanes," Wanner explained. "Lancaster Catholic and McCaskey came in and allowed us to use their empty lanes."

So, for instance, in a meet with an L-L League rival, McCaskey might allow PV swimmers to use an empty lane.

"The times and scores for the teams count for their meet," Wanner went on. "But for Pequea Valley, your swimmers' times count toward qualifying. If you made some cut-off times, you go to leagues. If you made qualifying times there, you go to districts."

At districts, Ethan Wanner grabbed fourth place in the 100-yard breaststroke, registering a time of 1:01.48.

"The breaststroke is his favorite," Wanner said. "He earned a medal and qualified for states."

In the 200 Individual Medley, Ethan grabbed sixth place (2:05.93) and Aidan earned ninth with his time of 2:09.92.

"Aidan's time in the 200 IM was his best on the year," Wanner noted. "He also did the 100 backstroke and got his best time."

Aidan Wanner reached the podium with his eighth-place time of 58.17 in the 100 back.

Asked if he thought the boys' perception of the district championship setting may have been unnerving, Wanner replied, "I think they were just a little nervous. But they channeled that into adrenaline. It made for faster races for them."

TENNIS

The Pequea boys' tennis team won its season-opening match at Penn Manor on Monday, March 6, by a 6-1 score as Cole Stoltzfus, Hayden Winey, and Wade Stoltzfus helped lead the way.

In the first doubles match, Cole McEvoy, and Wade Stoltzfus teamed up for an 8-1 defeat of P.J. Fahey and Cole Troop.

Winey and Cole Stoltzfus won the second doubles match by the same margin.

At number one singles, Wade Stoltzfus posted a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Fahey. Cole Stoltzfus blanked Troop 6-0, 6-0 at number two singles. Winey came through in dominant fashion at third singles (6-1, 6-2) while McEvoy won the fourth singles 6-1, 6-4.

Jackson Hershey and Bailey Scott came up short at number three doubles in an 8-4 final.