At small schools, the roles on basketball teams are much more defined and structured. And when a player is missing, it sends shock waves through the entire organization.

It’s safe to say that the Annville-Cleona girls are a better basketball team with Alex Siebecker in the lineup.

On Friday night, the Little Dutchmen certainly welcomed the return of Siebecker from a minor injury, as it hosted Camp Hill in the quarterfinal round of the District Three Class AA postseason. In fact, the presence of the junior combo guard made all the difference in the world.

Siebecker’s free throw with mere seconds remaining proved to be the decisive point in A-C’s 34-33 triumph over the Lions. Out of a timeout and in-bounds play, Siebecker shook loose from her defender, accepted a pass and then went strong to the basket, where she was fouled – in the midst of a tie game with time running down.

Siebecker had missed the Little Dutchmen’s previous outing, a lop-sided loss to Manheim Township in the opening round of the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs.

Part of the so-called ‘Three Amigas’ in Annville – along with Elaina Wanamaker and Kayla Parks – Siebecker was a driving force behind the Little Dutchmen’s second-place finish in Section Four of the L-L this season, and A-C gaining the number-four seed in the District Three Class AA tournament.

– Jeff Falk