After dropping a three-point contest against Manheim Central just two days prior, the Comets were looking at another nail-biter Friday, Jan. 14 in Millersville. This time Manor got the job done as Sydney Shepos canned the game-winning three pointer with four seconds remaining in a 31-28 triumph over Ephrata.

"We previously called a timeout and didn't get the shot we wanted," said head coach Megan Collins, "so we ran a different play out of bounds. The ball made its way to Issy Kligge who became double-teamed. She kicked it to Sydney who was wide open in the corner."

Clinging to a 23-22 lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Comets prevailed with a slim 8-6 advantage over the final eight minutes. Shepos scored five of her eight points, including the game-winner, and Lily Sugra, who opened Manor's 12-9 first quarter lead with six points, netted 3-of-4 free throws and finished with a game-high 11.

The Comets managed just one shot in the second quarter, a triple by Kamia Goodley (7 points) but outscored the Mounts 8-5 in the third to erase a 17-15 halftime deficit.

At Red Lion less than 24 hours later, the Comets fell to 8-6 overall with a 31-22 loss. Sugra again ignited another strong first quarter by the Comets, netting 7 of her 11 for an 11-7 lead over the hosts. But the visitors managed just two field goals over the next 16 minutes and fell behind 27-16. They got two points back with a 6-4 fourth quarter but it wasn't enough.

"We played well defensively but struggled against their press," said Collins.

Despite missing their first seven shots, the Comets converted turnovers and controlled the boards in a 73-41 runaway win over visiting Elizabethtown last Tuesday. Up 36-20 at the half, Manor used a 21-11 run through the third to pull away.

The hosts canned eight treys with Shepos (15 points) hitting three, including two back-to-back in the third. Sugra (25), Morgan Miller (13) and Goodley (12) also hit double figures.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Tied at 35-35 after three quarters, the Comets knocked down four triples and went 6-for-8 from the free throw line to spark a 22-18 run over the final eight minutes in a 57-53 victory over Ephrata on Friday, Jan. 14.

After building an 18-10 first quarter lead, the Comets found themselves down 43-38 late in the fourth but regained the lead 49-48 before finishing on an 8-5 run to capture their second win of the season. Ephrata's Mason Hagen almost single handedly denied the Comets. He scored 15 of his game-high 29 in the fourth quarter.

"We had some of our best possessions of the season to regain the lead," said head coach Larry Bellew. "Kamrin Carroll played a great floor game scoring and creating offense for others. Ethan Benne and Cameron Scholl made some big shots late in the fourth and our forwards Dhamir Wesley and Nate Schmidtke contributed 15 points. This is really the first game this year we've had this nice balance on offense," he continued. "It was a nice boost."

Benne's team-high 16 points led a trio of double-figure scorers as Carroll (14) and Wesley (10) also contributed.

Both teams knocked down 14 field goals and each netted six triples leaving free throws as the determining factor. The Comets hit 11-of-18 attempts while the Mounts were 7-of-13.

On the road again Saturday afternoon, the Comets found themselves in another tight game. This time they fell short 37-32 to a 4-8 Cocalico squad.

Despite holding an 11-5 lead early in the first, the Comets fell behind 12-11 at the close of the quarter and never went back in front. Down by as many as 8 in the third, they managed to cut it to one, 33-32 but couldn't grab the lead.

"Poor shooting sums it up," said Bellew. "We were 1-for-13 in the third and 3-for-8 in the fourth. We gave up 37 points and only had six turnovers. Strong play in both those areas couldn't cover up shooting 11-for-42 from the floor. It was frustrating because the effort was there."

Carroll tied Rey Rios with a game-high 19 points. Seventeen came in the first half.

At Elizabethtown last Tuesday, the Comets held a brief 5-4 lead in the first but couldn't hold on. The Bears outscored the visitors in every frame to pull away 53-37.

Schmidtke and Boone combined for 21.

WRESTLING

At the Dallastown Duals Saturday, January 15 the Comets won three bouts and picked up 12 forfeit points in a 48-30 loss to Catasauqua. It was their closest score of the day as they suffered a 72-5 loss to Cumberland Valley and a 60-18 result against Susquehannock.

"We're still giving up five forfeits," pointed out head coach Brandon Vernalli. "Travis Clawson, Manor's lone winner against CV, had a great day, going 3-0 with two pins and a tech fall. I think he will make a run in the post-season.

"Ty Grassel went 2-1 dropping a tough one to Gabe Belga from CV," he continued. "I think Ty will also made a deep post-season run along with Teagen Rogers."

The Comets found themselves in their tightest league match of the year last Wednesday at McCaskey but fell just shy, 42-36, of the win. Every bout was either a forfeit or a fall.

With forfeits in each of the first four bouts, the Comets fell behind 18-6 but then made a run. Riley Evans (106), Gabriel Midile (113) and Clawson (120) all recorded first period falls to charge in front, 24-18. Unfortunately, two more forfeits and a pair of falls by the hosts were enough to sneak ahead.

Dylan Wenger's fall at 145 cut the lead to six but McCaskey returned the favor at 152 to clinch the win. Grassel capped the scoring with a 2:33 fall.

BOWLING

The Comets secured its third straight shutout Thursday, January 13, with a dominating performance at Lebanon.

"This was a good opportunity to get a lot of bowlers involved," said head coach Chris Vitale. "We didn't have anyone bowl three games and got the shutout."

Eva Brubaker and Charlie Hull rolled the first two games and recorded a 373 and 358 series, respectively. Billy Green and Joe Hull rolled the last two games, posting identical 358 scores. Corinne Smith stepped on for the last game and posted Manor's high game of the day, a 226.

Other contributors included single games by Lacey Slaymaker (173), Zach Carroll (184), Josh Stock (177), Chris Hull (188), Hope Leaman (142) and Kayla Wasche (172).