The Donegal wrestling team came through with a 49-21 victory at Lampeter-Strasburg on Wednesday, January 4. the Indians defeated the Pioneers despite having to forfeit the first three weight classes.

"Unfortunately, that's how it's going to be this season," Nick Evans, the Donegal coach, stated. "It is going to have to be a team effort.

"We were down by 18 points, and they forfeited at 127, so Noah Hinkel got that forfeit," Evans continued. "They could have bumped up their 121-pounder to wrestle Noah or give us a forfeit at 127."

Mark Overlander posted four points in the first weight class that was actually contested. The Donegal junior earned a 9-1 major decision to cut the L-S lead to 18-10. Another forfeit by the Pioneers made it a two-point match at 18-16.

Senior Landon Baughman came through with a decision at the 145-pound class to give his squad its first lead of the night, 19-18.

"Landon is a three-sport athlete - football, wrestling and baseball," Evans noted. "He got taken down but battled back to win a 5-4 decision."

Returning junior Ruben Mumper earned a pin at the 152-pound class and sophomore Caidyn Leaf pinned at 160, making it 31-18.

Another sophomore, one which Evans described as "...an up-and-coming sophomore," came up short in the 172-pound bout. Sergio Garcia fell short in a 5-1 decision.

"His older brother Scott Garcia is a senior," Evans pointed out. "Scott weighs in at Sergio's weight class, but he always bumps up for us.

"He picked up a pin at 189," he added

Leading 37-21, the Indians collected another 12 points with a forfeit at 215 and senior Nikolai Brotzman's pin at 285. Brotzman improved to 15-1 on the year.

"When you look at the seven wrestled matches, we were 6-1," Evans noted. "You keep breaking it down until you get the positives."

The Indians were coming off a 41-21 loss at Ephrata back on December 22. It was a match that began with two forfeits from each side, making it 12-12 until the Mountaineers gained some momentum with a decision and a pair of major decisions to build a 23-12 advantage.

Mumper posted a pin at the 152-pound weight class, making it a two-point match at 23-21. However, three straight pins by the Mountaineers wrapped up the match.

BOYS BASKETBALL

With James Turbedsky pouring in 19 points and with the Indians taking advantage of opportunities down the stretch, Donegal edged Octorara in the L-L League boys' basketball contest on Tuesday, January 3.

Octorara pulled even with Donegal at the close of the third quarter at 33-33. Donegal managed to make the crucial shots in the final period to defeat the home team 49-46. It was Donegal's first league win (1-2) of the year as the Indians improved to 6-5 overall.

Elijah Hamilton poured in a game-leading 21 points, including four three-point baskets, for the Braves. Zachary Kirk drilled three treys for Octorara (5-4)

Also contributing to the Donegal offense were Dutch Good and DeAndre White with nine and seven points, respectively.

Donegal was coming off an impressive 54-47 comeback win over Greencastle-Antrim the previous week, outscoring the Blue Devils 20-8 in the fourth quarter to earn the victory. Greencastle held a slim 39-34 lead heading into that final period.

Turbedsky came through with 16 points in the game and Rohrer scored 11, including a 5-for-6 at the foul line. Good gave Donegal nine points in the comeback win.

The previous day's game at East Pennsboro was marred by the Panthers blanking the Indians 10-0 in the opening period. The Panthers managed to hang on for a 44-32 victory despite Donegal outscoring the home team 23-15 over the next two periods.

Rohrer and Good each scored seven points to lead the Indians.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

With a defense that held Octorara to single-digit scoring in each of the four periods, Donegal won o45-16 at home on Wednesday, January 4. The Indians improved to 4-7 on the year.

The shooting included five field goals made from three-point range. Mia Weaver had two of those treys as she finished with 12 points. Kara Heidlauf scored 10 for the Indians while both Bella Mackison and Remy White scored seven points.

McKenzie Muldoon led the Braves with nine points.

In the Donegal Holiday Tournament, the Indians played Red Land on Wednesday, December 28. The 48-17 victory by the visitors sent Donegal to the consolation contest against Chambersburg on Thursday.

The Trojans carried a 27-12 lead into the second half. Despite Donegal chipping away at the deficit in the third quarter, the Trojans went on a 25-10 run in the final period and posted a 68-34 win.

Mackison was on target three times from three-point range, finishing the game with 11 total points. Wissler scored 10 points, including a pair of treys, while Heidlauf finished with nine points.

Wissler and White each scored five points in the Red Land game.