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L-L LEAGUE GIRLS' BASKETBALL FIELD AT A GLANCE
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP HEMPFIELD EPHRATA COCALICO LAMPETER-STRASBURG ELCO LANCASTER CATHOLIC ANNVILLE-CLEONA
Compiled by Jason Fulginiti
L-L League playoff history notes courtesy of Dick Myers of PA Scholastic Sports and LLHoops.com.
Record: 16-0 L-L, 19-2 overall
History vs. the field: Beat Cocalico, 41-32, Dec. 14; beat Ephrata, 46-38, Dec. 19; beat Hempfield, 43-28, Jan. 7 and, 41-27, Feb. 1.
Projected starters: G Jamie Relin (5-4 Jr., 3.6 ppg), G/F Molly Hendrick (5-8 Sr., 5.5), F Alex Ross (5-10 Sr., 10.1), F Alexandra Leslie (6-2 Jr., 12.9), F Kaitlyn VanTash (6-0 Jr., 8.4).
Key reserves: F Olivia Braswell (6-1 Sr., 2.0), F Caitlin Shultz (5-8 Jr., 3.2), G Nicole Files (5-5 Jr., 3.2), F Ebonee Pompey (5-9 Sr., 4.6).
Resume: After going 16-0 in the league for the second straight year, the two-time reigning Section One champion Blue Streaks are hoping for a chance to avenge a 53-49 loss to Lancaster Catholic in last year's league semifinals. That opportunity would come in the league final, should both teams advance. Blessed with plenty of height, Township has held the opposition to an average of 30.0 points per game this season, during which its won by an average margin of 19.4 points. The Streaks, whose only two losses were to Red Lion and West York, allowed less than 30 points in 11 of their 21 games. Township's program has won six L-L titles, tying it with Cedar Crest for the second-most next to Lancaster Catholic, with the last of those coming in 2011 (48-42 over Solanco).
Record: 12-4 L-L, 17-5 overall
History vs. the field: Lost to Lancaster Catholic, 57-23, Dec. 8; lost to Cocalico, 47-25, Dec. 19; lost to Manheim Township, 43-28, Jan. 7; beat Ephrata, 42-33, Jan. 15; lost to Manheim Township, 41-27, Feb. 1.
Projected starters: G Hannah Kelly (5-8 Sr., 8.4), G Annie Hartman (5-4 Jr., 4.3), G Sarah Helgeson (5-7 Jr., 7.7), G Nikki Rhoads (5-4 So., 5.0), F Alecia Rohrer (6-0 So., 8.2).
Key reserves: G Haley Eager (5-7 Jr., 3.0), F Blair Duscha (5-9 Jr., 3.2), G Dani Bland (5-4 So., 0.7).
Resume: The Black Knights have won 15 of their last 17 games, their only losses during that stretch being to Section One champion Manheim Township. Known for defensive tenacity, Hempfield held opponents to an average of 36.5 points per game in those 17 aforementioned outings and allowed 40 points or more just five times. The Knights, who are in the playoffs for the third straight year, have two L-L titles to their credit, the last coming in 2008 (46-42 over Lancaster Mennonite).
Record: 14-3 L-L, 18-5 overall
History vs. the field: Lost to Manheim Township, 46-38, Dec. 19; lost to Lampeter-Strasburg, 59-36, Dec. 28; lost to Cocalico, 46-43, Jan. 7; lost to Hempfield, 42-33, Jan. 15; beat Elco, 58-55 in overtime, Jan. 19; beat Cocalico, 38-28, Feb. 1; beat Cocalico, 37-28, Feb. 8.
Projected starters: F Sarah Haddon (5-10 Sr., 15.7), C Sarah Hoffer (5-9 Sr., 7.9), G Kelly Liebl (5-2 So., 9.2), G Hannah Reimel (5-6 Sr., 7.1), F Irene Lascarides (5-6 Jr., 2.3).
Key reserves: F Kirsten Uebberoth (5-8 Jr., 0.9), G Olivia Rickenbach (5-6 Sr., 1.9), F Kenzie Horst (5-9 Fr., 0.8).
Resume: The Mountaineers enter the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak, which was capped by a 37-28 victory over Cocalico Friday night in a playoff for the Section Two title. Ephrata's only losses since the turn of the new year were to Cocalico and Section One runner-up Hempfield. Priding themselves on defense, the Mounts have held their opponents to an average of 34.5 points per game and allowed 40 or more just five times, four of which resulted in losses. Ephrata, which has never won an L-L crown and hasn't played in an L-L final since 1991 (a 46-44 loss to Warwick), is in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Record: 13-4 L-L, 18-5 overall
History vs. the field: Lost to Manheim Township, 41-32, Dec. 14; beat Hempfield, 47-25, Dec. 19; beat Ephrata, 46-43, Jan. 7; lost to Ephrata, 38-28, Feb. 1; lost to Ephrata, 37-28, Feb. 8)
Projected starters: G Natalie Sukanick (5-2 So., 4.3), G Emily White (5-10 Fr., 6.7), F Marissa Gingrich (5-9 Jr., 14.0), F Taylor Esterly (5-9 Sr., 4.2), C Kristen Boyer (5-11 Sr., 9.1).
Key reserves: F Megan Gingrich (5-11 Fr., 3.0), F Rebecca Grube (5-9 Sr., 1.8), G Carly Showalter (5-9 Jr., 0.9).
Resume: The Eagles have won 16 of their last 19 games, their only losses during that stretch being to Solanco and Ephrata (twice), which outlasted them 37-28 Friday night in a one-game playoff for the Section Two title. Marissa Gingrich's 140 free throws made was second best in the league this season, helping the Eagles get back to the playoffs for just the second time in the last 10 years and for the first time since 2006. Cocalico has never won an L-L title and hasn't played in the league final since 1996 (a 61-60 loss to McCaskey).
Record: 15-1 L-L, 20-1 overall
History vs. the Field: Beat Ephrata, 59-36, Dec. 28; beat Elco, 45-39, Jan. 2; beat Annville-Cleona, 45-36, Jan. 11; lost to Lancaster Catholic, 60-38, Jan. 15; beat Elco, 51-28, Jan. 24.
Projected Starters: C Lexie Lantz (6-0 Sr., 15.2), F Bailey Corbin (5-10 Jr., 8.6), G/F Taylor Lininger (5-8 Jr., 7.4), G Isabella Miranda (5-6 Jr., 5.7), G Krista Mellinger (5-5 So., 7.6).
Key Reserves: F Tori Shultz (5-11 So., 4.7), F Brianna Miranda (5-7 Sr., 2.0), G Ashley Braungard (5-3 Sr., 1.2).
Resume: The Pioneers' only loss this year came on Jan. 15, when they gave up a season-worst 60 points in a 60-38 setback to Section Four champ Lancaster Catholic. L-S's 38 points scored that night were also a season-low. Otherwise, using their defense-first approach to get things started on the offensive end, the Pioneers have outscored their opponents by an average of 23.2 points per game. Lantz, a 1,000-point scorer, is a major threat in a halfcourt set. L-S, which last appeared in the L-L playoffs in 2001, has never won an L-L title.
Record: 11-5 L-L, 14-8 overall
History vs. the Field: Lost to Annville-Cleona, 48-43, Dec. 17; lost to Lampeter-Strasburg, 45-39, Jan. 2; lost to Lancaster Catholic, 72-58, Jan. 11; lost to Ephrata, 58-55 in overtime, Jan. 19; lost to Lampeter-Strasburg, 51-28, Jan. 24.
Projected Starters: G Halie Parker (5-3 Sr., 6.8); G Sydnie Parker (5-8 Jr., 4.0), G Cheyenne Hassler (5-7 Jr., 16.3), F Victoria Sweatlock (6-0 Jr., 7.6), C Celeste Shimp (6-0 Sr., 2.1).
Key Reserves: G Andria Harpold (5-3 So., 0.5), F Hayley Witmer (5-6 So., 1.3).
Resume: Since the turn of the new year, the Raiders' only losses have been to Section Three champion Lampeter-Strasburg (twice), Section Two champ Ephrata and Section Four champ Lancaster Catholic. They enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. Hassler led the league with 52 3-pointers this season. Elco, which has one L-L title to its credit (1999) is returning to the playoffs for just the second time in the last 10 years, their last appearance coming in 2010.
Record: 16-0 L-L, 22-0 overall
History vs. the field: Beat Hempfield, 57-23, Dec. 8; beat Annville-Cleona, 66-40, Dec. 21; beat Elco, 72-58, Jan. 11; beat Lampeter-Strasburg, 60-38, Jan. 15; beat Annville-Cleona, 64-48, Jan. 22.
Projected starters: C Emily Martin (5-11 Sr., 10.4), G Porscha Speller (5-6 Sr., 18.4), G Danielle Atkinson (5-7 Jr., 9.1), F Elizabeth Veronis (5-10 So., 8.5), F Caroline Scarff (5-11 Fr., 7.3).
Key reserves: F Kirsten Werner (5-9 Sr., 2.9), G Erin Holt (5-2 So., 5.4), G Emily Colon (5-7 Jr., 4.5), F Hannah Knowlton (5-9 So., 2.7).
Resume: Powered by Speller, a 1,000-point scorer, the defending L-L champion Crusaders have scored 1,537 points this year, which is by far a league best. Catholic, which is third in the District Three Class AAA power rankings behind Palmyra and West York, is averaging 69.9 points per game this winter, during which it has outscored its opponents by an average of 31 points per contest. The Crusaders' 10 L-L titles is a league record. You have to go back to Feb. 17, 2011 to find the last time Catholic, which just completed its third consecutive undefeated season in Section Four, lost to an L-L opponent -- that being a 57-44 decision to Solanco in that year's L-L semifinals. Aside from their 52-33 loss to Archbishop Wood in last year's PIAA Class AAA final, the Crusaders haven't lost since Feb. 4 of 2012 (67-56 nonleague decision to Delone Catholic).
Record: 11-5 L-L, 14-8 overall
History vs. the field: Beat Elco, 48-43, Dec. 17; lost to Lancaster Catholic, 66-40, Dec. 21; lost to Lampeter-Strasburg, 45-36, Jan. 11; lost to Lancaster Catholic, 64-48, Jan. 22.
Projected starters: F Elaina Wanamaker (5-8 Sr., 13.6), G Barb Inman (5-3 Sr., 2.9), G Alexandria Siebecker (5-8 Jr., 13.8), G Kayla Parks (5-8 Jr., 9.0), G Meredith Bachman (5-6 Fr., 3.3).
Key reserves: F Gabrielle Battle (5-10 Jr., 3.3), F Taylor Winters (5-7 Fr., 1.3).
Resume: After starting the season 6-5, the Little Dutchmen won eight of their last 11 games, including their last four, to move into fourth place in the District Three Class AAA power rankings. The inside-outside punch of Siebecker and Wanamaker have combined to score 601 of Annville's 1,041 points this season (57.8 percent). The Dutchmen, who have never won an L-L title, are making their first trip to the L-L playoffs since 2006.
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