BY JEFF FALK

 FREDERICKSBURG – They look out for each other.

 They look to each other.

 They look for each other.

 Yeah, the Annville-Cleona boys’ basketball team has got some pieces.

 On Friday evening, during the consolation game of the Northern Lebanon Christmas Tournament, the Little Dutchmen took a step forward and into the new year, with a 56-38 demolition of Tulpehocken. Annville-Cleona broke quickly, employing some strict defense and hot shooting to take command of the outcome early.

 The result moved the Little Dutchmen to 4-6 overall. Annville-Cleona will now take a mini five-day break, before resuming Lancaster-Lebanon Section Five play on the third day of 2019.

  “I really like our team,” said Annville-Cleona head coach Jason Coletti. “We have some outside shooting, and we have some rebounding with Caden (Horning) and Deshaun (Archer). I really like our balance. We just need a little more depth.

 “A New Year’s resolution would be for us to get into the weight room,” Coletti continued. “The weight room will help us get better. We just need to get stronger. It’s just something the kids need.”

 The Little Dutchmen posted 25 opening-period points, which included the game’s first six – three-pointers from Archer and Andrew Long. Then over the next six minutes, Annville-Cleona hit Tulpy with a crushing 19-2 spurt that gave it a 21-point advantage.

 Archer added two more three-pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play in the sequence, while Adam Long and Horning each scored four points, and Andrew Long tossed in a deuce.

 “We started off shooting the ball really well,” said Coletti. “That gave us a lot of confidence early. We were able to start well and get a nice lead.

 “It was just having energy right from the tip,” added Coletti. “And we got some open shots. Defensively, we got after them. When we got a ten-point lead, we saw blood in the water.”

  After the Trojans tallied the first six points of the second stanza, the Little Dutchmen re-established themselves behind a Horning bucket and an Andrew Long three-ball. And when Adam Long converted a three-point play 3:25 before the break, Annville-Cleona was sitting on a 33-12 cushion.

 “Every timeout, the message was ‘We want to win the quarter,'” said Coletti. ” ‘It’s zero-zero.’ That’s what I was most impressed with, winning the quarters.

  “We needed to come ready to play,” Coletti added. “Consolation games are no fun, but these guys were ready to play.”

  On six deuces, a pair of three-pointers and three-for-six foul shooting, Adam Long poured in a game-high 21 points. His efforts earned him a spot on the all-tournament team.

 Adam Long was supported by 14 points from Archer, 11 points from Andrew Long and ten by Horning. The Little Dutchmen outscored the Trojans 24-0 from three-point land.

 “He’s gotten so much better since Day One, making decisions and getting the ball in the right guy’s hands,” said Coletti of Adam Long. “As he goes, we go. And he’s not afraid of contact.

 “We talked after the game, and tomorrow, we’re going to be in the weight room,” continued Coletti. “I know it’s still early, but we’re very close to a district playoff spot. We’re going to do whatever we can to get there. The message was, ‘We needed a bounce-back win, because games are going to become more important.'”

 With the outcome still in doubt, Annville-Cleona settled the affair late in the third period. A 7-2 spurt inspired by Adam Long’s three-pointer, Junior Bours’ foul shot and Andrew Long’s buzzer-beating trey gave the Little Dutchmen a commanding 48-26 margin, heading into the final eight minutes of action.

 “At the beginning of the season, we really didn’t know what we had,” said Coletti. “When you look at the other teams in the district, we think we’re competitive with them. We’ve had a very tough schedule and it’s going to prepare us down the road.

 “These kids have got to have carrots to shoot for,” continued Coletti. “It’s (the postseason) motivation. It’s why we continue to go hard, and it’s a realistic goal.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to view more go to https://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/photo-gallery/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2018-19 Annville-Cleona Boys’ Basketball Schedule