Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

The boys' field at a glance

McCASKEY CEDAR CREST ELIZABETHTOWN LEBANON DONEGAL LAMPETER-STRASBURG LANCASTER CATHOLIC LANCASTER MENNONITE

Compiled by Ed Gruver

L-L League playoff history notes courtesy of Dick Myers of PA Scholastic Sports and LLHoops.com.

RECORD: Section One champion Red Tornado 16-0 L-L, 22-2 overall.

History vs. The Field: Beat Cedar Crest 99-48 Jan. 7 and 81-65 Feb. 1; Beat Lebanon 73-42 Jan. 15; Beat Elizabethtown 97-75, Jan. 18.

Projected Starters: G Diante Cherry (5-10 Sr., 13.1 ppg., 25 3s), G Aaron Swinton (5-10 Sr., 6.3, 11 3s), F Devonne Pinkard (6-6 Sr., 19.3, 37 3s), F Shaki Staten (6-2 Sr., 12.0), F Keyon Cowan (6-3 Sr., 11.9).

Key Reserves: G Luis Fuentes (5-8 Sr., 6.6), G Josh Montanez (5-6 Sr., 4.7), Derrick Dixon (6-3 Sr., 4.6), Keyvon Myers (6-0 Sr., 3.0), Kyaire Bynum (6-0 Soph., 2.6), Jalen Washington (6-4 Sr., 2.4), Trey Fletcher (6-5 Sr., 2.1), Alex Montanez (6-0 Jr., 1.1).

Resume: Winners of 20 straight, Red Tornado coach Steve Powell has said more than once this season that this is one of his deepest teams ever. McCaskey is second in the District Three Class AAAA power rankings. The Tornado's 1,777 points scored this winter are more than 300 more than the next highest-scoring team, Donegal. Tornado is in search of its second straight title and its league-best 13th title. McCaskey has split its two previous playoff meetings with Mennonite, losing 53-49 in 1997 and winning 73-48 in 2001.

Record: Section One runner-up Falcons 10-6 L-L, 14-8 overall.

History vs. The Field: Lost to Elizabethtown 62-56 Dec. 14; Beat Lebanon 49-46 Dec. 19; Lost to McCaskey 99-48 Jan. 7 and 81-65 Feb. 1.

Projected starters: G Killian Klopp (5-9 Sr., 13.5, 52 3s), G/F Clay Penchard (6-1 Sr., 12.8), C Andrew Eudy (6-5 Jr., 10.1), G Evan Horn (6-0 Fr., 6.9), G Seth Daubert (5-6 Jr., 3.0).

Key Reserves: G Josh Bucher (5-8 Soph., 2.5), F Tommy Black (6-1 Jr., 2.1), C Andrew Eberhart (6-6 Soph., 3.4).

Resume: The Falcons are red-hot, having won eight of their last nine with their lone loss coming to McCaskey. Coach Tom Smith's team is ranked 11th in District Three Class AAAA. Falcons have one league title to their credit, that coming in 1976 in their lone previous L-L playoff appearance. Crest's 1,217 points rank 10th in the L-L. Tonight marks the first L-L playoff meeting between Cedar Crest and Lancaster Catholic.

Record: Section Two champion Bears 13-3 L-L, 16-6 overall.

History vs. The Field: Lost to Donegal 61-51 Dec. 8; Beat Cedar Crest 62-56 Dec. 14; Beat Lebanon 55-50 Jan. 7 and lost to Lebanon 47-43 Feb. 1; Lost to McCaskey 97-75 Jan. 18.

Projected Starters: G Lucas Jewell (5-11 Sr., 15.7, 25 3s), G Jordan Jones (5-11 Sr., 6.8, 18 3s), G/F Kirby Breault (5-10 Sr., 4.7), F T.J. Stephens (6-1 Sr., 4.0), F Tyler Koser (6-1 Sr., 17.7, 15 3s).

Key Reserves: G Mike Kinderwater (5-10 Sr. 5.3, 17 3s), F Tyler Rosepink (6-3 Soph., 5.6), G Ryan Mascia (5-9 Sr.).

Resume: Coach Kevin Dolan has guided the Bears to a second straight Section Two title, the first time in program history E-town has repeated as champs. The Bears have gone to the league playoffs in five of Dolan's six seasons at the wheel. E-town has won five of its last six. The Bears are 3-1 under Dolan in first-round L-L games. Tonight marks the second league playoff meeting between the Bears and Pioneers. In 2009, E-town earned a 63-51 win in the first round.

Record: Section Two runner-up Cedars 9-7 L-L, 13-9 overall.

History vs. The Field: Lost to Cedar Crest 49-46 Dec. 19; Lost to Elizabethtown 55-50 Jan. 7; Lost to McCaskey 73-42 Jan. 15; Beat Elizabethtown 47-43 Feb. 1.

Projected Starters: G Jeremy De La Cruz (5-8 Jr., 0.6), F Jorian Ginnetto (6-2 Jr., 9.4, 19 3s), F Evan Zimmerman (6-3 Sr., 6.2, 27 3s), G Drey Murray (5-8 Sr., 11.9, 29 3s), F Josh Spaulding (6-3 Sr., 11.1).

Key Reserves: G Kristian Sanchez (5-11 Jr., 4.2, 19 3s), G Mark Pyles (6-1 Jr., 1.5), F Blayde Reich (6-5 Jr., 6.0).

Resume: The Cedars clinched a playoff spot in the penultimate game of the regular season. Lebanon is making its 20th L-L playoff appearance, second most in the league. Coach Tim Speraw has guided the Cedars to the L-L playoffs in two of his three seasons at the helm. Lebanon is 0-2 in its last two appearances and last reached the semis in 2007. Cedars' eight titles are second most in the L-L. Lebanon and Donegal last met in the L-L playoffs in the 1996 quarterfinals, the Cedars winning 80-59 en route to the league title. It is their lone previous L-L playoff meeting.

Record: Section Three champion Indians 16-0 L-L, 22-0 overall.

History vs. The Field: Beat Elizabethtown 61-51 Dec. 8; Beat Lancaster Catholic 64-41 Dec. 14; Beat Lampeter-Strasburg 38-28 Dec. 21 and 49-42 Jan. 22.

Projected starters: G Dylan Houseal (6-0 Sr., 11.4, 32 3s) G Jason Dietrich (6-2 Sr., 12.8, 23 3s), G/F Martin Dietrich (6-3 Sr., 14.6, 24 3s), F Matt Foltz (6-6 Sr., 11.2), F Michael Banwell (6-2 Jr., 5.7, 12 3s).

Key Reserves: F Tommy Hatt (6-3 Sr., 2.9), G Chris Robinson (5-9 Sr., 1.2).

Resume: The No. 2 team in the district's Class AAA rankings, Coach Ryan Butt's Indians are 42-2 over the past two regular seasons. In its 22 games this season, Donegal has won 18 times by 10 points or more. Tribe's 1,408 points scored ranks second in the league to McCaskey. Donegal is making its second straight trip to league playoffs and fifth overall. Tribe has made it to one title game, losing in 1983 to McCaskey. Indians host first-round game tonight, and are one of just two teams in the league (along with McCaskey) with at least 10 homecourt wins.

Record: Section Three runner-up Pioneers 12-4 L-L, 15-7 overall.

History vs. The Field: Lost to Donegal 38-28 Dec. 21 and 49-42 Jan. 22; Lost to Lancaster Catholic 49-46 Jan. 15.

Projected Starters: G/F JD Achille (6-3 Sr., 11.8, 12 3s), F Jake Sweger (6-4 Sr., 15.0), G Austin Smucker (6-0 Sr., 8.7, 19 3s), F Jesse Dostal (6-3 Sr., 2.9), G Jesse Herner (6-0 Sr., 2.3).

Key Reserves: G Shawn Singh (5-9 Sr., 5.9, 21 3s), F Jordan Cunningham (6-5 Sr., 5.1, 15 3s), G Alec Groff (5-11 Jr., 3.8).

Resume: Coach John Achille and the Pioneers are making their fifth straight L-L playoff appearance and the program's 11th overall. They reached the semifinals in 2011. L-S and E-town met in the opening round of the 2009 L-L postseason, the Bears winning 63-51. Pioneers enter the postseason having won five straight and six of their last seven. L-S is ranked 13th in the district in Class AAAA.

Record: Section Four champion Crusaders 13-3 L-L, 16-6 overall.

History vs. The Field: Lost to Donegal 64-41 Dec. 14; Beat Lancaster Mennonite 56-49 Jan. 9 and 51-49 Feb. 5; Beat Lampeter-Strasburg 49-46 Jan. 15.

Projected Starters: G/F Erik Goldbach (5-11 Sr., 13.5, 29 3s), G Eric Schneider (5-9 Jr., 1.5) G Randolph Speller (5-7 Fr., 8.1), F Omar Lopez (6-2 Jr., 15.1), F Evan Purvis (6-2 Jr., 7.1).

Key Reserves: G/F Pat Kenney (6-2 Sr., 6.3), F Harry Heise (6-4 Jr., 2.9), G Josh Riley (6-0 Jr., 1.6), G Jack Schedleski (5-10 Jr., 1.1).

Resume: Crusaders went to the final day of the regular season before clinching their fifth straight section title and 12th in 13 seasons. Catholic has won one league title, in 2003. The Crusaders reached the semis last season, their first trip since 2009. Coach Joe Klazas and Co. has won five straight against L-L opponents. Crusaders are ranked No. 8 in the district's AAA power rankings.

Record: Section Four runner-up Blazers 11-5 L-L, 15-7 overall.

History vs. The Field: Lost to Lancaster Catholic 56-49 Jan. 9 and 51-49 Feb. 5; Lost to Donegal 71-41 Jan. 15; Lost to Lampeter-Strasburg 55-40 Jan. 18.

Projected Starters: G Julian Collazo (5-10 Soph., 15.3, 39 3s), G Matt Hess (5-10 Jr., 11.4, 11 3s), G Paul Frederickson (5-11 Jr., 3.3, 15 3s), Jon Snader (6-3 Sr., 7.1, 16 3s), Zach Lehman (6-2 Jr., 11.9).

Key Reserves: F Darris Bair (6-2 Jr., 5.7), D'angelo Daniels (6-1 Soph., 2.3), Marc Hall (6-2 Soph., 4.9), Aaron Flanders (6-0 Sr.), G Christian Kemp (5-6 Soph.).

Resume: The Blazers are making their 11th trip to the league playoffs and second since 2010. They're seeking their first opening-round victory since 2003. Coach Geoff Groff's squad is ranked 15th in the district's Class AAA. Prior to a loss in their regular-season finale, the Blazers had won five straight. Mennonite ranks fifth in the league in points scored with 1,294. The Blazers are one of just three teams in the L-L (along with Donegal and Lancaster Catholic) to have at least 10 road wins.