Solanco's wrestlers earned their second league win of the season with a dominating 42-21 win over visiting Conestoga Valley on Friday night, January 22. The Mules led from start to finish, winning nine of 13 bouts and recording four falls. They are 3-1 overall.

"It was a total team effort," said head coach Tony Mendez. "Each guy is doing their job and they're backing each other. And our younger kids are wrestling well and not giving up."

After recognizing seniors Ronnie Fulton, Dominic Flatt and Jackson Houghton, Fulton opened the action at 145 with a 19-4 tech fall over Luke Needham.

Steven Williams (152) with a 7-4 decision and Wade Adams (160), who broke open a 2-1 second period lead over Robby Swift with a 7-2 third period, picked up a major decision that extended the lead to 12-0.

The visitors responded with a decision at 172 and a fall at 189 but Solanco countered. Robert Castagna earned a 9-5 decision over Jonathan Lopez (215), John Sankus picked up a 1:27 fall over Brayden Egerter and Flatt held off Trent Ruble, earning a tight 3-0 decision at 106.

"John is a football player and a first-year wrestler," noted Mendez. "He's working hard. This was his second pin. And Dom picked up a big win. He had to grind out that match. It wasn't an easy win."

Both teams sandwiched forfeits around Weston Bare's 1:20 fall at 120 and Houghton capped the Solanco scoring with a 2:49 fall over Payton Peace before the Mules forfeited the last bout of the night.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

At home last Monday, Jan. 25, the Mules, looking to move up in the Section Three standings, hosted Garden Spot. Free throws played a key role in the Spartans 53-41 win over the Mules. Rallying from a four-point first quarter deficit, Garden Spot outscored the Mules in each of the next three quarters to slowly pull away. Solanco held an advantage from three-point range, hitting one more than the visitors, but Spot, coming off a one-point win over Twin Valley, connected on 13-of-23 three throws. The Mules shot 80% from the same line but attempted just five shots.

"Another tough one," said head coach Dave Long. "I thought we played well defensively but just could not finish possessions with a rebound. We gave up 17 offensive boards so that was the key. And not getting to the foul line as much as we have in other games also hurt. Garden Spot (2-4) is better than their record appears."

Tyler Burger sparked Solanco's scoring with 13 points and Ethan Cleary, with ten in the first half, also hit double figures with 12, including 3-for-3 from that foul line. Zed Baker (6), Colesen Sheaffer (5) and Ayden Maggs (5) rounded out the scoring.

In a game where both the Mules and the Barons connected on nine field goals, visiting Manheim Central did not need a home court advantage to pull away. The Barons drilled an impressive 11 three-pointers, nine by Trey Grube who drained a career-high 33, and rolled to a 59-36 win on Thursday, January 21.

Grube canned four triples in the first quarter and the Barons (5-2 overall) jumped to an 18-10 first quarter lead. Solanco, determined, won the second frame 12-9, and cut the lead to 27-20 at the break. But the visitors closed the game with a 32-16 run that included holding the hosts to five fourth quarter points.

Burger continues to fuel the Mule offense, netting 10 of his 13 points in the second quarter. Maggs chipped in with seven points.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

With Jade Eshleman (16 points, 7 rebounds) and Nikki Trout (13 points) each knocking down season-high point totals, Solanco captured its first win of the season last Monday, Jan. 25, holding off winless Garden Spot.

"It was long overdue," said head coach Chad McDowell of the win. "We have played some tough games this season. We are battle tested every night."

The hosts opened with a 9-0 run but found the game tied at 23-23 at the half. Spot opened the second half with the first bucket and its first lead, and last, of the game. Solanco ran off 23 second half points and held the visitors to nine, including a single field goal in the fourth quarter.

"Taylor Shoener took over the second quarter in the post," recalled McDowell. "We needed halftime to make an adjustment on her. Jade did a great job in the second half defensively, limiting Shoener and keeping her off the boards.

"Our unselfish play was also a key to the win," he continued. "We had assists on 13 of our 18 made baskets. We made the extra pass to get the easy shot.

"I also thought Olivia Lasko was a spark off the bench and did the job as our sixth man. She picked up five points but more importantly had seven rebounds."

Trout and Eshleman combined for 11 of the team's 13 points down the stretch. Arianna Seiberlich chipped in with seven and Olivia Lasko and Paige Phillips combined for nine.

On the road Thursday, January 21, the girls' basketball team got off to a solid start against Manheim Central. The visitors outscored the hosts in each of the first three quarters, pushing a 20-16 halftime advantage to 25-18 with one quarter left to play.

The Barons, who lean heavily on sophomore Maddie Knier (25 ppg average), picked it up a notch down the stretch, ending the game on a 14-2 run and handing Solanco its fifth straight loss. Knier, who faced a box-and-one and was held to 11 points, got loose for six in the final frame.

"Knier was the focus on our scouting report," stated McDowell. "Nikki Trout and Kendal Janssen did an outstanding job defending her. They also had a lot of help on some double teams from the other girls that were in the box."

Manheim took its first lead of the game, 26-25, with 2:30 left to play. Jade Eshleman answered with a bucket in the paint but the Barons ran off six straight points, including four free throws, to finish on top.

"I thought we were in good shape after three quarters," said McDowell. "Manheim picked up its pressure and we lost our composure. And when we were forced to foul, they made their free throws.

"We were just 1-for-6 in that quarter," he added. "We missed a few layups that could have changed the momentum back to our favor. We just did not execute very well down the stretch. We need to do a better job with end of game situations."

Eshleman controlled the boards with 12 and was the top scorer with nine points. Phillips finished with six points and was scrappy on defense with five steals. Sammi Jackson (4 rebounds), Trout and Seiberlich each added four points.