Boys Basketball Outlook: Northern Lebanon

  Northern Lebanon Vikings 2022-2023 Boys Basketball

Northern Lebanon was 8-14 a season ago, but remained competitive throughout the season.  They were actually a very dangerous team and scored key wins over Lancaster Cathoilic, Garden Spot, and ELCO.  That squad relied on a lot of senior firepower, with Mitch Hetrick, Simon Grimes, Peyton Wolfe, and Tyler Wolfe now having graduated in June.  This foursome were all starters and accounted for ninety percent of the Vikings’ scoring.  Grimes was a true floor general, as the offense ran through him, and Peyton Wolfe was a 1,000 point scorer.  This will be tough to replace, but there is hope that they will have a lasting impact as their younger teammates now carry-on this season.

This season, Northern Lebanon will have to rely heavily on its young talent, with only a couple of seniors returning.  Those key upperclassmen are senior James Voight and junior Riley Clinger, which are both key two-way players that will allow for different rotations of younger players Coach Chris George hopes will develop at a rapid pace.  Coach George is well-aware that this team has a different identity than last season, so he is anticipating having to adjust the offense to meet the needs of his team.  This could mean a wider variety of ball distribution for the time being.  There is a large group of players that will see key minutes and fit into what will hopefully be a winning equation for the Vikings: Riley Messinger, Kade Erdman, Donovan Brandt, Collin Wolfe, Brian Bicksler, Colin Wall, and Luke Shaffer.  The rate of development will be the key variable in this plan.

Lancaster Lebanon League – Section 3

Head Coach: Chris George, 8th season

2021-2022 Record: 8-14

Key Losses: Simon Grimes; Mitch Hetrick; Peyton Wolfe; Tyler Wolfe

Roster:

#1          Planken, Ben  G  Freshman

#2          Messinger, Riley  F  Sophomore                      

#3          Bicksler, Brian  G  Sophomore            

#4          Wall, Collin  F  Senior  

#5          Erdman, Kael  G Freshman                 

#10        Via, Andrew  G  Freshman      

#11         Wolfe, Collin  G   Junior          

#12        Clinger, Riley  G  Junior  

#14        Brandt, Donovan  G  Sophomore

#15        Krall, Brady  F   Freshman                   

#20        Shaffer, Luke  F    Junior                      

#21        Ryan, Brendan   F   Sophomore          

#22        Erdman, Kade G    Junior                   

#30        Stoltz, Conner F   Freshman   

#33        Voight, James   F  Senior

#34        Smoker, Zane  G   Sophomore

#42        Lesher Nolan  F   Freshman    

Season Schedule:

12/5/22           AWAY  vs  Tri-Valley

12/7/22           AWAY  vs  Solanco

12/10/22         HOME vs  Pine Grove Area

12/16/22         HOME vs  Cocalico

12/17/22         AWAY  vs  Octorara

12/21/22         AWAY  vs  Williams Valley

12/27/22         HOME vs  Tulpehocken

12/28/22         HOME vs  Tournament

1/3/23              HOME vs  Eastern Lebanon County

1/5/23             AWAY  vs  Donegal

1/7/23             AWAY  vs  Upper Dauphin

1/9/23            AWAY  vs  Annville-Cleona

1/10/23           HOME vs  Lancaster Catholic

1/13/23           AWAY  vs  Lampeter Strasburg

1/19/23           AWAY  vs  Cocalico

1/21/23           HOME  vs  Octorara

1/24/23           HOME vs  Hamburg

1/27/23           AWAY  vs  Eastern Lebanon County

1/30/23           HOME vs  Donegal

2/3/23            AWAY  vs  Lancaster Catholic

2/4/23            HOME vs  Schuylkill Valley

2/6/23            HOME vs  Lampeter Strasburg