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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Saturday, February 7th
Octorara 76, Cedar Crest 63
On Saturday, the Cedar Crest Falcons traveled to Octorara for an L-L League Quarterfinal matchup. Cedar Crest entered as the Section 1 runner-up, while Octorara came in at 20-1 after capturing the Section 3 crown.
It was an intriguing matchup on paper. Cedar Crest is the two-time defending L-L League champion, but with last year’s starters having graduated, the Falcons have rebuilt with a young lineup that featured just one senior starter. Octorara, meanwhile, rolled out four seniors in its starting five — a group with years of chemistry and experience together.
The game got off to a favorable start for Cedar Crest, as the Falcons controlled the pace early behind 9 points in the 1st quarter from sophomore Jemar Pauleus. At the end of the quarter, Cedar Crest led 18-13.
In the 2nd quarter, junior Antonio Tirado stepped up with 11 points as the Falcons added to their lead and took a 35-28 advantage into halftime.
Octorara trailed at the break, but that wasn’t unfamiliar territory for the veteran Braves, who have rallied in several games this season and see themselves as a second-half team. That experience — along with halftime adjustments — produced a 3rd quarter that completely swung the game.
Coming out of the locker room, Octorara caught fire offensively while clamping down defensively. Junior Karter Lambert hit a trio of threes and scored 11 points in the quarter, while senior Vito Vespe knocked down two threes of his own on his way to 9 points. Cedar Crest struggled to respond, and Octorara flipped the script by outscoring the Falcons 26-10 in the frame.
Entering the 4th, Octorara led 54-45. Cedar Crest attempted to claw back, and sophomore Steven Reyes hit a pair of threes, but it wasn’t enough as Octorara hit critical free throws to slam the door. Senior Lazo Christou led that effort at the line, going 6-for-7 in the quarter and finishing 11-for-14.
For Octorara, the win marked its first-ever victory in the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs. The Braves were led by Vespe, who scored 21 points — hitting three threes and going 8-for-10 at the line — on his way to being named the Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster Player of the Game. Christou finished with 19 points, Lambert added 14, and Chase Fetrow hit two threes in the second half on his way to 12 points. In all, Octorara knocked down 10 threes and went 24-for-32 from the foul line.
Cedar Crest was led by Pauleus with 20 points. Sophomore Jackson Smith scored 14 points with three three-pointers. Tirado finished with 13, while Reyes also reached double figures with 12.
Octorara will be back in action Tuesday when it faces Conestoga Valley in the L-L League semifinals. Cedar Crest (13-10) will now turn its attention to District 3 playoff preparation — and likely learn from this one, as the young Falcons appear poised to be in the mix for more L-L titles in the years to come.
This game was broadcast as part of our LebCo Sports Live series. Check out the full replay right here.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest | 18 | 17 | 10 | 18 | 63 |
| Octorara | 13 | 15 | 26 | 22 | 76 |
Cedar Crest Scoring: J. Pauleus 20, J. Smith 14, A. Tirado 13, S. Reyes 12, J. Truss 4
Octorara Scoring: Vespe 21, Christou 19, Lambert 14, Fetrow 12, Thaler 8, Hamilton 2
Friday, February 6th
ELCO 34, Palmyra 31
On Friday evening, the regular season finale took place at Palmyra as the Cougars hosted ELCO in a game broadcast as part of our LebCo Sports Live series. For the Raiders, a win would cement their place in the District 3 playoffs. Palmyra was also seeking a win, but the scenario was much more dire — a win would get them in, while a loss would most likely force them out of the postseason picture. Making it even more difficult for the Cougars, they entered the game without key senior Braydon Bown, who suffered a serious leg injury in Wednesday night’s win over Mifflin County.
The game got off to a slow start offensively — a trend that persisted throughout the night — as the two teams scrapped for every point. The 1st quarter ended in an 8-8 tie, with Josiah Hayes scoring 5 points for ELCO and a three-pointer from Matt Johnson leading the way for Palmyra.
In the 2nd quarter, Palmyra struggled to produce points as ELCO built a 15-11 halftime lead. In the frame, James Dolan’sthree-ball for the Raiders was the highlight, while Micah Warner had Palmyra’s only field goal.
ELCO came out in the 3rd quarter looking to create more separation, with Kaden Tillison scoring his first points of the night as he tallied 5 in the quarter. But a late Palmyra surge — sparked by reserve Dacian Hutchinson with 4 points — kept it from getting out of hand.
Entering the final quarter, ELCO held a 26-19 lead. But the 4th quarter was anything but boring. Palmyra made a push that had the score at 32-31 with just under 30 seconds left. A charging call then turned the ball back over to ELCO, and as the Cougars pressured the inbound, Griffin Kreider somehow found Tillison streaking down the floor for a layup to make it a two-possession game. Palmyra’s final attempt to tie it was off the mark, sealing the win for the Raiders.
For ELCO, Tillison led the scoring with 9 points, all of which came in the 2nd half. Palmyra was led by Luke Grumbein with 6 points.
ELCO finishes the regular season 13-9 and is currently slotted as the No. 13 seed in the District 3 5A rankings, meaning its season will extend into the postseason. Unfortunately, on the final play, ELCO’s Ellis Gensamer went down with an apparent leg injury while defending Palmyra’s three-point attempt.
Palmyra moved to 8-14 and is currently clinging to the 16th and final spot in the District 3 power rankings. The Cougars will now await results from upcoming games over the next few days to see how the final playoff picture shakes out.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELCO | 8 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 34 |
| Palmyra | 8 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 31 |
ELCO Scoring: K. Tillison 9, J. Hayes 7, A. Smith 5, J. Dolan 4, P. Williams 4, G. Kreider 2, Q. Rivera 2, C. Doster 1
Palmyra Scoring: L. Grumbein 6, L. Johnson 5, M. Warner 5, M. Johnson 5, D. Hutchinson 4, B. Kyper 4, T. Steelman 2
Thursday, February 5th
New Covenant 77, Lititz Christian 51
New Covenant finished the regular season with a road game at Lititz Christian on Thursday night.
The Flames jumped out early to take a 26-10 lead by the end of the 1st quarter. That early offensive attack was led by Talan VanderPloog, who knocked down three three-pointers on his way to 12 points.
Lititz Christian fought back in the 2nd quarter to cut New Covenant’s lead down to 38-33 at halftime. In the frame, the Flames were led by 5 points each from Ben Rhine and Braden Demler.
After a tough 2nd quarter, the 3rd quarter became a repeat of the 1st, with New Covenant again outscoring its hosts 26-10. VanderPloog scored 9 points in the quarter, while Rhine added 7.
Holding a 21-point advantage entering the 4th, New Covenant coasted to a comfortable victory, with Grant Canakisscoring 5 points down the stretch.
VanderPloog finished with 21 points to lead the Flames, including four three-pointers. Rhine scored 18 points, knocking down three threes, and Grayden Summers also reached double figures with 12 points, scoring in each quarter.
New Covenant (17-5) will play Tuesday in the CCAC Championship Tournament, facing the loser of Friday’s game between Linville Hill and High Point Baptist.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Covenant | 26 | 12 | 26 | 13 | 77 |
| Lititz Christian | 10 | 23 | 10 | 8 | 51 |
NC Scoring: T. Vanderploog 21, B. Rhine 18, G. Summers 12, G. Canakis 9, B. Demler 7, E. Schaetzle 4, A. Shaffer 3, L. Hess 3
Cocalico 88, Lebanon 58
On Thursday night, Lebanon hosted Cocalico in the final game of the season.
Though Manny Martinez led the Cedars with 32 points — an effort that included five three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 showing at the foul line — Lebanon was unable to keep pace as the Eagles brought heavy offensive firepower.
Cocalico was led by Timmy Hambright, who lit up the scoreboard with 43 points in just three quarters. Hambright knocked down seven three-pointers in the game.
Lebanon finishes the season 7-15. Cocalico improves to 17-5, closing the regular season as one of District 3’s top-tier teams.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 17 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 58 |
| Cocalico | 32 | 25 | 23 | 8 | 88 |
Lebanon Scoring: M. Martinez 32, E. Schappell 12, N. Jones 6, M. Williams 2, S. Gotay 2, G. Soliday 2, J. Paillas 2
Wednesday, February 4th
Central York 103, Cedar Crest 75
On Wednesday, Cedar Crest hit the road to face Central York for its final regular season game. It was a tough test for a young Falcons lineup, as the Panthers entered at 18-2. But Cedar Crest didn’t back down — and the matchup offered a clear look at the level the Falcons are chasing in the years to come.
Central York set the tone early, taking a 26-20 lead after the 1st quarter. Cedar Crest kept pace offensively behind a balanced effort led by sophomores Jemar Pauleus (6 points) and Steven Reyes (5).
In the 2nd quarter, the Panthers added to their advantage and carried a 47-37 lead into halftime. Cedar Crest again relied on shared scoring, with Pauleus, Jayden Truss, and Antonio Tirado each scoring 4 points in the frame. The bigger story, though, was Central York’s outside shooting, as the Panthers knocked down seven threes in the first half.
Central York exploded in the 3rd quarter with 35 points, creating separation. Even then, Cedar Crest continued to score, putting up 21 points in the quarter — a pace that would win most nights.
Central York’s scoring slowed in the 4th, but the Falcons still finished with 75 points in the game. Pauleus was a key part of that, scoring 13 of his points after halftime.
Pauleus led Cedar Crest with 23 points. Reyes also reached double figures with 15 points, going 9-for-12 at the foul line. Central York finished with 14 three-pointers in the game.
Cedar Crest (13-9) will now turn its focus to postseason play, beginning Saturday with the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs, where the two-time defending champions will look to make noise again.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest | 20 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 75 |
| Central York | 26 | 21 | 35 | 21 | 103 |
CC Scoring: J. Pauleus 23, S. Reyes 15, J. Truss 9, K. Speaks 8, J. Smith 7, A. Tirado 6, J. Bechtold 4, C. Tirado 3
Mifflin County 45, Palmyra 42
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmyra | 9 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 42 |
| Mifflin Co | 14 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 45 |
Palmyra Scoring: M. Warner 11, L. Grumbein 10, B. Bown 6, L. Johnson 6, B. Kyper 6, T. Steelman 2, M. Johnson 1
Blue Mountain 69, ELCO 39
Tuesday, February 3rd
Cedar Crest 63, Penn Manor 52
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Crest | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 63 |
| Penn Manor | 8 | 10 | 14 | 20 | 52 |
CC Scoring: A. Tirado 19, J. Pauleus 19, C. Tirado 11, J. Truss 5, J. Bechtold 4, K. Speaks 2, J. Smith 2, J. Gentry 1
New Covenant 84, Harrisburg Academy 46
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Covenant | 21 | 21 | 29 | 13 | 84 |
| Harrisburg Academy | 24 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 46 |
NC Scoring: B. Rhine 27, T. Vanderploog 15, G. Summers 10, B. Demler 9, E. Schaetzle 7, A. Shaffer 6, G. Canakis 5, L. Hess 3, Kantner 2
Hershey 52, Palmyra 42
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmyra | 10 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 42 |
| Hershey | 17 | 8 | 16 | 11 | 52 |
Palmyra Scoring: M. Warner 8, M. Johnson 6, L. Johnson 6, B. Bown 5, L. Grumbein 5, T. Steelman 4, M. Kyper 4, B. Kyper 4
Manheim Township 70, Lebanon 47
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 12 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 47 |
| Manheim Township | 11 | 14 | 30 | 15 | 70 |
Lebanon Scoring: M. Martinez 22, N. Jones 8, D. Rodriguez 5, G. Soliday 5, D. Franco 4, M. Williams 2, E. Schappell 1,
Monday, February 2nd
ELCO 61, Lancaster Catholic 47
On January 9th, ELCO suffered a one-point loss on the road at Lancaster Catholic. On Monday night, the Raiders had a chance to exact some revenge in hopes of improving their chances at a District 3 playoff berth. The senior-heavy lineup was also celebrating Senior Night in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
ELCO rode that energy to an 18-13 lead in the 1st quarter. Kaden Tillison scored 7 points, while Paul Williams added 6, including a three-point play.
It was much of the same in the 2nd quarter, as ELCO carried a 38-27 lead into halftime. In the frame, Tillison and Austin Smith each scored 6 points, with Smith going a perfect 4-for-4 at the line.
Lancaster Catholic attempted to claw back in the 3rd quarter, but ELCO held strong, only seeing its lead trimmed by two. Josiah Hayes knocked down a three as part of a 5-point quarter.
Entering the 4th quarter with a 51-42 lead, ELCO put together a strong team effort on both ends of the floor to pull away, closing out a 14-point win.
Tillison finished with 19 points, while Smith scored 12. Two other Raiders reached double figures as well, with Williamstallying 11 and Hayes adding 10.
ELCO (12-8) will be back on the road Thursday night at Blue Mountain before finishing the regular season Saturday at Palmyra.
Also worth noting: Williams announced Tuesday that he has committed to continue his football career at Shippensburg.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELCO | 18 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 61 |
| Lanc. Cath | 13 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 47 |
ELCO Scoring: K. Tillison 19, A. Smith 12, P. Williams 11, J. Hayes 10, C. Doster 4, D. Gutierrez 3, E. Gensamer 2
New Covenant 67, Fairfield 56
On Monday evening, New Covenant hosted Fairfield, a AA team from Adams County. For the Flames, it was Senior Night as they set out seeking win No. 15 of the season.
Fairfield wasn’t going to make it easy, as the visitors took a 22-18 lead through the 1st quarter. New Covenant was led early by Ben Rhine with 7 points and Talan VanderPloog with 5, with each of them knocking down a three.
In the 2nd quarter, Fairfield’s scoring pace slowed as New Covenant pulled within one by halftime. Rhine added 10 points in the quarter, aided by two treys, to make it a 33-32 game at the break.
In the 3rd, the Flames tipped the scales ever so slightly, winning the frame 16-14 to take a 48-47 lead heading into the 4th. Rhine scored 5 in the quarter, while Grayden Summers added 4.
As the game entered the final eight minutes with the score 48-47, it could have gone either way. But just as they’ve done all season, the Flames put down the hammer late — outscoring Fairfield 19-10 in the 4th to secure the win. VanderPloog scored 7 points in the quarter and Summers added 6 as New Covenant closed it out.
For the game, Rhine finished with 26 points, including four three-pointers. Summers tallied 14 points with two threes, and VanderPloog had 12 points with one three.
New Covenant (15-5) will travel to take on Harrisburg Academy on Tuesday before wrapping up the regular season Thursday at Lititz Christian before turning their attention to the postseason.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Covenant | 18 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 67 |
| Fairfield | 22 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 56 |
NC Scoring: B. Rhine 26, G. Summers 14, T. Vanderploog 12, B. Demler 6, G. Canakis 4, L. Hess 3, A. Shaffer 2
Annville-Cleona 50, Bermudian Springs 39
On Monday evening, Annville-Cleona hosted Bermudian Springs. While the season has not gone the way the Dutchmen would have wanted, the young crew had a chance to play spoiler as Bermudian Springs hangs on the District 3 playoff qualification bubble.
Early on, the game was tightly contested, with Bermudian Springs taking a 10-9 lead after the 1st quarter. Annville got that point back — and then some — as the Dutchmen pulled even at 21-21 heading into halftime. In the 1st half, Annville was led by Hudson Sellers with 7 points.
The 3rd quarter proved to be the difference. Annville outpaced their guests 19-8 in the frame behind a sudden offensive outburst. John Ditzler hit a pair of threes on his way to 8 points in the quarter, while Sellers added 5 more and James Garney chipped in 4 as the Dutchmen seized control.
Holding a lead heading into the 4th, Annville was able to protect it down the stretch, with Ditzler and Zari Hogue each going 3-for-4 at the foul line to help close it out.
In the win, Sellers led Annville with 14 points, while Ditzler added 13.
Annville-Cleona (6-15) will finish the season Wednesday with a road game at Lancaster Mennonite.
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annville-Cleona | 9 | 12 | 19 | 10 | 50 |
| Bermudian Springs | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 39 |
AC Scoring: H. Sellers 14, J. Ditzler 13, Z. Hogue 8, J. Garney 6, D. Shay 4, L. Peters 4, L. Custer 1
Northern Lebanon 58, Gettysburg 50
NL Scoring: C. Moyer 26, A. Via 12, B. Martin 9, C. Anspach 4, K. Erdman 3, J. George 2, R. Clemmer 1
Anchor Christian 57, Our Lady of the Cross 36
OLC Scoring: C. Hatzfeld 16, J. Wuensche 8, C. Gill 6, J. Shuey 4, L. Hardebach 2
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