LebCo Athlete of the Week: Elli Malinoski

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Elli Malinoski

Lebanon County had no shortage of memorable moments this season, but Elli Malinoski delivered one that will be replayed for a long time. The sophomore guard from Cedar Crest earned LebCo Athlete of the Week honors after producing a clutch, all-around performance in the Falcons’ double overtime win at Lancaster Catholic in the Lancaster-Lebanon League Quarterfinals.

The headline sequence came at the end of regulation, when Cedar Crest trailed and Malinoski stepped to the line with everything on the line — three free throws, no time left. She calmly buried all 3 to force overtime, helping push the Falcons into a game they’d eventually win 46-41 in double overtime. In the victory, Malinoski finished with a game-high 18 points, including three 3-pointers, while also adding 8 rebounds and 2 steals despite playing through a lower-leg injury she battled for much of the final stretch of the season.

Even with such a nerves-of-steel performance at the line, Malinoski was just as proud of how she impacted the game beyond the final three shots — the rebounds, stops, and steady play that helped Cedar Crest finish the job.

For Malinoski, the moment was big — but it also reflected a season-long commitment to growth.

“My personal goals for this season was to improve in many areas like my shot and finishing around the rim and getting a better ball handler,” Malinoski said.

Those improvements showed up in how she fit into Cedar Crest’s team goals, too — especially on the defensive end.

“One goal for our team in getting less than 8 points in two quarters. I fit into that by playing defense and getting stops. Also limiting our turnovers. I fit into that because I try to take care of the ball and not turn it over so we get that goal,” Malinoski explained.

Cedar Crest would then go on to defeat Ephrata in the league semifinals before falling to rival Manheim Township in the finals. Their season later came to an end with a District 3 playoff loss to Dallastown, closing the year 14-12 and highlighted by the Falcons’ Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 co-championship.

Malinoski finished the season as the team’s leading scorer at 12.6 points per game, serving as part of a strong 1-2 offensive punch alongside senior Kaila Francis.

One of Malinoski’s biggest nights came on Jan. 23 against Lebanon, when she poured in a season-high 25 points — a performance that earned her Orthopedics Player of the Game honors during a broadcast on the LebCo Sports Live series.

When asked who she’d like to recognize, Malinoski kept it close to home.  “I want to thank my parents and my coaches for pushing me to do my best everyday and to put in the extra work even when no one is watching,” she said.

And while the lower-leg injury tested her late in the season, Malinoski was proud of the way she responded. Of the experience, she said, “Toward the end of the season I got a lower leg injury. I pushed through it and played and was there for my team and helped them in a lot of ways.”

Cedar Crest head coach Ashli Shay said that toughness — and Malinoski’s calm in the biggest moments — is exactly what her teammates have come to expect.

“Elli is consistently one of the hardest workers both in season and during the offseason,” Shay said. “She lives for moments like the Lancaster Catholic game.”

Shay added that Malinoski’s confidence has become contagious within the group, even as an underclassman.

“Her confidence is incredible for a sophomore and every one of her coaches and teammates knew she was going to make all 3 shots to send us to overtime,” Shay said. “We are excited to watch her improve and continue to evolve as a player through this offseason.”

Away from basketball, Malinoski is a multi-sport athlete who also plays softball, and she already has an eye on what comes next. Her long-term goal is to attend college, earn a strong education, and continue playing basketball. She comes from an athletic family as well — her dad, Mike Malinoski, played football at Penn State, serving as a captain for the 1993 team.

When she isn’t training, Malinoski enjoys time outdoors. “I like to go fishing and boating. And spending a lot of time with my family,” she said. And one more thing Falcon fans should know: she takes pride in her skill when she hits the ski slopes.

In the end, though, it always comes back to the best part of the ride. “Playing with my best friends and just having a lot of fun,” Malinoski said, describing what she enjoys most about sports.

And looking ahead, the excitement grows — with most of the core of the Falcons being sophomores, led by Malinoski, Cedar Crest’s future is already starting to feel like it’s arriving ahead of schedule.

Congratulations to Elli Malinoski on being named LebCo Athlete of the Week, and best of luck as her offseason begins and the work continues toward an even bigger junior season with the Cedar Crest Falcons.

Photos by Nicole Malinoski

LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Connor Troxell (coming soon)

Past Winners

McKenna Kantner (Week ending 2/8)

Elyse Ancharski (Week ending 2/1)

Kenzie Eckhart (Week ending 1/25)

Olive Brandt (Week ending 1/18)

Hayley Sheroky (Week ending 1/11)

Ryan Stopper (Holidays)

Qynne Demler (Week ending 12/21)

Kylee Trostle (Week ending 12/14)

Maddie Stout (Week ending 12/7)