Sports

by Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc

4- ADVERTISER - Solanco Edition - January 26, 2022 SPORTS Conestoga Valley • Donegal • Elizabethtown Garden Spot • Hempfield Lampeter-Strasburg • Manheim Central Penn Manor • Pequea Valley • Solanco MORE SPORTS PICTURES and other high school sports news at

Mules Take Lancaster Catholic to Overtime

BY MONA STEINHAUER

More often than not, the sign of a successful season is a winning record. But sometimes, if you pay attention, other signs of success can be found. Such might be the case for the boys’ basketball team. At Lancaster Catholic Friday, January 14, the Mules turned the ball over six times and quickly fell behind 10-0. Instead of giving up, Solanco battled back, cut the lead to 15-11 on Brock Osborne’s stick back at the buzzer, and eventually forced overtime before coming up short 55-51. “Turnovers hurt us early, but we turned that around in the second half,” said head coach Dave Long. “We had 17 turnovers in the first half, just trying to survive Catholic’s pressure, and only six in the second half and overtime. We became the aggressor in the second half and our rebounding, including nine offensive boards in the fourth quarter, helped.”

The Crusaders (4-8 overall), confident in the confines of their small gym and encouraged by a boisterous student section, got another seven points from Jack Engle (game-high 22), kept the pressure on the Mules and extended the lead to 31-18 at the half.

Enter Trent McDowell. Saddled with three first half fouls and well rested, McDowell hit back-to-back treys and followed with a layup, while Austin Wenger hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to 35-29 with 2:20 left in the quarter. Catholic had the last say, however, and finished the third frame on top, 39-29.

With a balanced effort in the fourth quarter, Solanco quietly rallied. Elijah Cunningham ignited the quarter with a fastbreak layup, Wenger dropped in a three-ball that cut the lead to seven, Noah Bailey scored in the paint and McDowell came up big not once, but twice. The senior scored on a putback with 1:00 left to play, cutting the lead to 45-43. Ayden Maggs caused a turnover at the defensive end giving Solanco another opportunity. Running an out-of-bounds play under their basket, McDowell grabbed the miss and scored again, knotting the game at 45-45. The Crusaders missed their final attempt, sending the game into overtime.

Cunningham’s layup with 2:50 left put the Mules in front 49-48. The Crusaders responded with a triple to regain the lead and then slowed things down. They hit three of their last six free throws and Solanco’s final shot of the game was off the mark.

McDowell, who also grabbed ten boards, scored all 16 of his points in the second half. Wenger hit double figures with 11. Jaydon Yoder (7), Cunningham (5) and Bailey, Osborne and Maggs all added four to round out a balanced effort.

The Mules were a stellar 12-for13 from the charity stripe. The Crusaders were 17-of-23.

On the road last Tuesday, Jan. 18, a 21-2 third quarter deficit put Solanco in a 52-18 hole against Elco. They did, however, buckle down in the fourth, outscoring the hosts 16-14 but it wasn’t enough in a 66-34 loss.

“Elco has some size and some good shooters,” said Long. “We have had multiple games where we played great for one half. We must put two halves together to pick up some wins here down the stretch.”

Noah Baber led the Mules with 11 points. For more photos, see www.townlively.com

WRESTLING

The top two teams in Section One faced off in Landisville last Wednesday. With 11 of 13 bouts determined by bonus points, the Black Knights maintained their lead in the section with a 57-18 victory over Solanco.

“They’re a solid team and I knew we’d have our work cut out for us,” said head coach Tony Mendez. “But I didn’t quite expect that outcome. I don’t think the score reflected how we competed. This opened up some of our weaknesses so now we know what techniques we need to work on in order to improve overall.”

Hempfield opened with a fall at 106 but the Mules came back with a fall by Nathan Smith (113) and a 3-0 decision by Weston Bare (120). The hosts went back in front with a fall at 126 only to see Solanco match that effort with Jared Fulton’s fall at 132. The 15-12 lead was the last of the night for the Mules as Hempfield won three of the next four bouts, two by fall and one major.

Blaine Plastino’s double overtime win over Grant Hoover cut the lead to 34-18. The Knights capped the action with a tech fall and two pins.

“Blaine’s win was big,” praised Mendez. “And Nathan came up with a big win too. Steven Williams (126) was doing a nice job, up one point in the third when he got turned. That’s just how the night went. The coin toss gave them a couple more favorable matchups.”

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

In league action in Quarryville Friday, Jan. 14, Solanco hosted Section Four leader Lancaster Catholic. The Crusaders, undefeated in league play, improved to 10-3 overall with a 51-31 win.

Catholic held Solanco to single digits in three of the four quarters played, including a 16-4 first frame.

“We were prepared for their full court pressure and several times we broke their press with ease,” stated head coach Chad McDowell. “Our turnovers, however, led to some easy transition points, especially in the first half.”

Solanco doubled its offensive output in the second quarter, held the Crusaders to 13 and looked at a 29-12 halftime deficit.

The hosts put together their best quarter of the half after the break. Jenna Ehlers netted all seven of her points in the third and Josie Janssen chipped in with four as Solanco outscored Catholic High 13-9. That momentum however, stalled in the fourth frame and the Crusaders pulled away for good.

“We made some adjustments in our defense, created some steals and got some easy transition points,” explained McDowell of the turnaround. “They switched to a 3-2 trapping zone, and we executed well. We cut the lead to nine points late in the quarter.”

For the game, Solanco attempted 24 free throws but converted just eight. The visitors were 11-for-17.

“When you play a team like Lancaster Catholic you have to take advantage of the free points,” said McDowell. “We make half of what we missed and it’s a different game.

“We were a little shorthanded again with some injuries and quarantine situations,” he continued. “But everyone that stepped on the court contributed.”

Ehlers added nine rebounds to go with her team high seven points. Kendal Janssen led with 11 rebounds, dished out two assists, grabbed a pair of steals and scored five points along with Sarah Landis. Olivia Lasko (9 rebounds), J. Janssen (2 steals) and Kara Peace (5 rebounds) all added four points each.

A hot shooting Elco Raiders’ team rode a 30-4 first half lead to a 46-20 victory at Solanco last Tuesday.

“It seemed like everything they shot went in,” said McDowell. “We did a much better job in the second half with each team scoring 16 points. We still need to find a way to put together four consistent quarters.”

Lasko led the way in points and rebounds with six and five, respectively.

photo by Mona Steinhauer

Elijah Cunningham drives past Lancaster Catholic’s Mason Moore in Solanco’s 55-51 overtime loss to the Crusaders Friday, January 14.

Inside, Inside, It’s So It’s So Delightful... Delightful...

We Do: • Installation of stainless steel chimneys & chimney liners • Chimney inspection & sweeping • Rain Cap installation

Call Today! 717-925-7272

Safer Chimneys protect your family!