Boys Basketball Results Tracker: December 29 – January 2

In this post, we’ll provide updates on Boys Basketball action from across Lebanon County. This will be a rolling summary, continually updated as we receive new details, giving you a one-stop place to stay informed on all the latest happenings.

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Friday, January 2

New Covenant 55, York Christian 52

The Flames opened the 2026 calendar year looking to build on a strong start to the season, entering Friday night’s road trip to York Christian riding a four-game winning streak and holding a 6-2 record overall.

The opening quarter saw the home team get the better of New Covenant, as York Christian edged ahead 10-8. The Flames responded in the 2nd quarter, reclaiming momentum and carrying a 25-23 lead into halftime. By the break, it was clear that Ben Rhine was setting the tone offensively, as the senior poured in 16 first-half points.

York Christian stayed within striking distance in the 3rd quarter, trimming New Covenant’s lead by a single point to set up a tightly contested final frame. In the 4th quarter, Rhine took over once again, scoring 9 points, including his third three-pointer of the night. Talan VanderPloog provided a timely boost as well, knocking down two three-pointers to help the Flames fend off the late push.

Rhine finished with a game-high 35 points, an effort that included four three-pointers and a 5-for-6 performance from the free-throw line. VanderPloog added 15 points, highlighted by three triples of his own.

New Covenant (7-2) will look to extend its winning streak when it travels to face West Shore Christian on Saturday.

NC Scoring: Rhine 35, Vanderploog 15, Demler 3, Summers 1, Canakis 1

Lebanon 55, Donegal 48

Following six straight losses, the Cedars turned things around with Monday’s win against E-Town. On Friday night, they looked to make it two in a row in a non-league matchup at home against Donegal.

The game got off to a strong start for Lebanon, as the Cedars built a 16-11 lead in the 1st quarter. Early on, Lebanon showed they would be dangerous from beyond the arc, with Derek Franco knocking down a pair of threes, while Daryan Rodriguez and Noriah Jones each added one of their own.

In the 2nd quarter, Lebanon continued to add to the advantage, taking a 36-20 lead into halftime. Franco and Rodriguezagain connected from deep, but it was Manny Martinez who helped break the game open. Martinez buried two three-pointers in the quarter on his way to 9 points.

Donegal made a push in the 3rd quarter, limiting the Cedars to just five points. Despite the challenge, Lebanon did not fade. Instead, they went toe-to-toe with Donegal in the 4th quarter to keep the visitors at arm’s length. Solid free-throw shooting proved to be the difference, as Martinez, Franco, and Jones combined to go 8-for-10 from the line down the stretch.

Martinez led Lebanon with 20 points, including three three-pointers and a perfect 5-for-5 effort from the free-throw line. Franco finished with 19 points, while Jones added 10.

Lebanon (5-6) will look to move back to .500 when they host Garden Spot on Monday evening.

Lebanon Scoring: M. Martinez 20, D. Franco 19, N. Jones 10, D. Rodriguez 6

Cedar Crest 67, Conestoga Valley 63

Cedar Crest Scoring: J. Pauleus 14, A. Tirado 11, S. Reyes 9, J. Smith 9, K. Speaks 8, J. Bechtold 7, C. Tirado 5, O. Outman 2

ELCO 46, Pottsville 41

Salem Christian 63, Our Lady of the Cross 26

OLC Scoring: Shuey 7, Hatzfeld 7, DeCristofaro 5, Elw 5, Carl 2

Tuesday, December 30

Palmyra 48, Cedar Crest 38

With Cedar Crest defeating Manheim Central and Palmyra taking down Exeter, the two Lebanon County teams earned the right to meet in the Cedar Crest Holiday Tournament Championship Game on Tuesday night.

The opening half was a defensive grind, with Cedar Crest holding a slim 12–11 advantage through two quarters.

The game opened up in the 3rd quarter, as Palmyra found its rhythm offensively. The Cougars poured in 18 points in the frame, aided by 8 made free throws. Micah Warner went 4-for-4 at the line and scored 8 points in the quarter. Cedar Crest stayed within striking distance behind Jemar Pauleus, who scored 6 in the period, but Palmyra carried a 29–23 lead into the 4th.

The offensive pace continued to intensify in the final quarter. Pauleus again led the Falcons’ charge with 10 points, but Palmyra countered with balance, as six different Cougars scored in the frame to fend off the comeback attempt and secure the tournament championship.

Luke Grumbein led Palmyra with 14 points, including 6 in the 4th quarter, while Warner finished with 12. Pauleus was the lone Falcon in double figures, scoring 19 points and accounting for one of just three three-pointers made in the game.

With the victory, Palmyra improves to 5–5 and will carry momentum into Saturday’s matchup against Penn Manor. Cedar Crest falls to 4–5 and will look to rebound Friday against Conestoga Valley.

Palmyra Scoring:  L. Grumbine 14, M. Warner 12, B. Bown 7, J. Meley 6, T. Steelman 4, L. Johnson 4, B. Kyper 1

Cedar Crest Scoring: J. Pauleus 19, K. Speaks 8, C. Tirado 5, J. Smith 3, O. Outman 2, A. Tirado 1

Littlestown 61, Annville-Cleona 32

AC Scoring: J. Garney 13, L. Peters 7, H. Sellers 6, J. Ditzler 2, C. Bailey 2, Z. Hogue 2

Monday, December 29

Lebanon 56, Elizabethtown 54

On Monday, the Cedars traveled to Elizabethtown to make up a game that was originally scheduled as the season opener before being postponed due to winter weather. Coming in, Lebanon was looking to snap a six-game losing streak, but facing a 5-3 Bears squad would be no easy task.

Lebanon got off to a strong start, taking a 13–10 lead in the 1st quarter behind early three-pointers from Manny Martinezand Noriah Jones. Elizabethtown answered in the 2nd quarter, but the Cedars maintained a slim 26–24 advantage at halftime. During the frame, Martinez added four points while Daryan Rodriguez joined the perimeter attack with a three of his own.

The 3rd quarter saw both teams heat up offensively. Martinez took over for Lebanon, scoring 14 of the Cedars’ 17 points in the quarter, including two more three-pointers. Despite the outburst, the Bears were able to match the scoring, sending the game into the 4th quarter tied at 43–43.

In the final quarter, Elizabethtown focused on limiting Martinez, but Jones stepped up in a big way, scoring nine points down the stretch. Strong defensive play the rest of the way helped Lebanon close out the tight, two-point victory.

Martinez finished with a game-high 21 points, including four three-pointers. Jones added 16 points with two treys, while Derek Franco also reached double figures with 13 points, going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, including a perfect 2-for-2 in the 4th quarter.

Lebanon (4-6) will look to build on the momentum when they host Donegal on Friday night.

Lebanon Scoring: M. Martinez 21, N. Jones 16, D. Franco 13, D. Rodriguez 4, M. Williams 2

Cedar Crest 65, Manheim Central 41

The Falcons opened play in the Cedar Crest Holiday Tournament on Monday evening with a matchup against Manheim Central.

After a close 1st quarter that saw Crest take a 13–10 lead behind 7 points from Jemar Pauleus, the Falcons used the 2nd quarter to break the game open before halftime.

Limiting the Barons offensively while continuing to score at the other end, Cedar Crest built a 27–15 halftime advantage. Antonio Tirado led the way in the quarter with 9 points, including a pair of three-pointers.

In the 3rd quarter, the Falcons continued to pull away, outscoring Central 22–13. Scoring came from all over the floor, with Cam Tirado contributing 7 points as six different Crest players found the scoresheet in the frame. Cedar Crest carried that momentum into the 4th quarter to close out the win and punch its ticket to Tuesday’s tournament championship.

Antonio Tirado finished with a team-high 18 points, while Pauleus added 13 and Cam Tirado chipped in 10.

Cedar Crest (4-4) will look to defend its home court on Tuesday evening when it faces Palmyra with the tournament title on the line.

Cedar Crest Scoring: A. Tirado 18, J. Paulus 13, C. Tirado 10, K. Speaks 6, J. Gentry 6, O. Outman 4, S. Reyes 3, J. Smith 3, J. Truss 2

Palmyra 59, Exeter 53

Competing in the Cedar Crest Holiday Tournament, the Cougars entered Monday night’s matchup against Exeter hungry to get their season back on track after dropping several close games to open the year.

Palmyra came out clicking, spreading the scoring around with five different players contributing in the 1st quarter. Entering the 2nd quarter holding a 16-11 lead, the Cougars continued to add to their advantage behind steady offense and, more importantly, a suffocating defensive effort that limited Exeter to just 6 points in the frame. By halftime, Palmyra led 29-17, paced by Micah Warner with 9 points and Brady Kyper with 7.

Exeter responded by winning each of the final two quarters, but Palmyra’s strong first half proved to be enough to preserve the victory. Timely three-pointers from Julian Meley, Braydon Bown, and Kyper, along with a strong second half from Luke Grumbein, who scored 14 points after the break, helped seal the win.

Warner, who has recently been studying Chris Webber’s game, led the Cougars with 15 points, scoring in all four quarters and going 3-for-5 from the free-throw line. Grumbein finished with 14 points, while Kyper added 11 to give Palmyra three players in double figures.

Palmyra (4-5) will face Cedar Crest in the tournament championship on Tuesday night.

Palmyra Scoring: M. Warner 15, L. Grumbine 14, B. Kyper 11, B. Bown 8, T. Steelman 5, J. Meley 4, L. Johnson 2

Oley Valley 54, Annville-Cleona 32

AC Scoring: H. Sellers 10, J. Garney 7, Z. Hogue 6, J. Ditzler 5, L. Custer 2, M. Ortwein 2

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Previous Results

December 22-27

December 15-20

December 8-13

December 3-6