BY JEFF FALK

NEFFSVILLE – In many ways, Lebanon Catholic is very much a favorite in the PIAA and District Thee Class A tournaments. But when it comes to the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs, the Beavers love to embrace the role of the underdogs.

The league postseason is a place where Lebanon Catholic has something left to prove.

On Saturday evening at Manheim Township High School, the Beavers flourished in their role as underdogs, holding off the host Blue Streaks 61-59, in a quarterfinal contest in the L-L League playoffs. After dominating the first three quarters of play and opening leads as large as 16 points, Lebanon Catholic withstood the Blue Streaks’ furious fourth-quarter comeback bid.

Actually, the Beavers didn’t secure what had looked like a certain victory until Blue Streak Katie Bushong’s runner with four seconds remaining slid off the front of the rim. Manheim Township had rallied late with three inside baskets from Megan Baldassarre, as Lebanon Catholic was going three-for-six at the charity stripe.

Class A Lebanon Catholic, the third-place finisher out of Section Three and now 18-5 on the year, advanced to Tuesday’s league semifinals opposite Section Two champion Lampeter-Strasburg, at a neutral site and time to be determined. Manheim Township, the top-seeded team in the District Three Class AAAAAA power rankings and the Section One champion, slipped to 18-5 on the season.

Lebanon Catholic, the reigning PIAA Class A champion, will be the top seed in its classification when the District Three postseason plays out later this month.

The Beavers haven’t won an L-L League championship since 1981.

“Anything in the league playoffs is icing on the cake for us,” said Lebanon Catholic head coach Patti Hower. “It’s great experience. It’s better than practice. Hopefully we can get through another game and we’ll see.

“Right now, they’re (her players) focused on leagues,” Hower continued. “They believe in themselves. We were a little disappointed we couldn’t compete better for the section. They’ve been looking forward to this time of the year. They remember how much fun it was last year.”

Lebanon Catholic enjoyed a 46-33 lead with 6:27 remaining, thanks to a three-pointer from Taylor Bossert and a foul shot from Alexis Hill. But despite key inside hoops from Hill and Celine Mars down the stretch, the Blue Streaks closed to within 58-53, with 1:11 showing on the clock.

In the fourth quarter, Lebanon Catholic went six-for-16 at the free throw line.

“I thought we were evenly matched,” said Hower of the talent level of the two teams. “I thought it was even going in. We got out to a nice lead, and sitting on a lead isn’t our thing. But we learned some things.

“We weren’t really holding the ball,” added Hower. “We shouldn’t slow down. And we made some lazy passes.”

Up ten points at the intermission, Lebanon Catholic tallied the first six points of the second half – two driving lay-ups by Hill and a bucket by Jasmine Turner – to open a 35-19 bulge. The Beavers also led 36-22, courtesy of a foul shot from Celine Mars.

“At the end of the game, we knew what we needed to do,” said Hower. “We needed to make foul shots to win the game. They (the Blue Streaks) were making their’s and we were splitting our’s.

“We’re happy,” Hower added. “Manheim Township is great preparation for us. I’m really proud of my team. They stuck together. I thought we played well. At halftime we didn’t have anything glaring.”

Hill poured in a game-high 27 points on 12 field goals and three-for-five free throwing. Mars supported her with 12 points.

Lebanon Catholic outscored the Blue Streaks 42-32 on field goals that came from inside the arc. But the Beavers only finished ten-for-23 at the foul stripe.

“I thought she played great,” said Hower of Hill. “She finished inside. She took it when it was there. Alexis and Neesha played great. And you kind of overlook Celine a little bit.

“I thought in transition, Neesha made some good decisions, some good passes,” added Hower. “I thought our transition game was good and our half-court defense was good. And we rebounded well.”

The Beavers got out of the blocks quickly.

With Hill, Pierre and Mars scoring, Lebanon Catholic opened a 10-3 lead five minutes in. But Manheim Township netted the next seven points to deadlock the score.

“I thought we did a good job defending,” said Hower. “I give Manheim Township a lot of credit. They played hard.”

Hill tallied the last two baskets of the opening quarter and the first one of the second, as the Beavers assumed a 16-10 lead. Then three minutes later, when Bossert drained a triple and Hill scored on a lay-in, Lebanon Catholic had itself a 27-14 advantage.

“It depends on how you look at it,” said Hower, when asked if the outcome was an upset. “If you say Manheim Township is the top seed in six-A and they’re playing the top seed in A, then yeah. I think we’re both very good. On their court, it’s a huge win for us.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2017-18 Lebanon Catholic Girls’ Basketball Outcomes