BY JEFF FALK
YORK – The Cedar Crest girls’ basketball team is like a rude, unwanted holiday guest. The Falcons show up, forget to use napkins, dribble all over the floor and generally spoil the spirit of the event for their hosts.
On Wednesday night, Cedar Crest ruined the York Suburban Holiday Tournament for the host Spartans by toppling them 42-26 in the title tilt. The fact that the Falcons weren’t at their best offensively was made irrelevant by the way they played defense.
Cedar Crest’s man-to-man defense really kicked in during the second quarter, it forced York Suburban into poor shot decisions, and eventually lengthy scoring droughts.
For the Falcons, it was their fourth straight Christmas season with a tournament championship, and their eighth straight win to begin this year. Cedar Crest has won every one of those contests by at least 12 points.
The loss left York Suburban 3-5 on the season.
Falcon catalyst Ariel Jones was selected as the tournament’s most valuable participant, while teammate Alyssa Austin joined her on the all-tournament team.
“We played in the Eastern York tournament and won it three years in-a-row,” said Cedar Crest head coach Jim Donmoyer. “After the first year they asked us, ‘Are you coming back?’ After the second year, they asked us, ‘Are you coming back?’ After the third year, they didn’t ask the question. From a scheduling standpoint, it’s tough sometimes. We like to get out of the county and play different teams. We don’t play those teams (York Suburban, SouthWestern) ever.
“To get to those scores and situations, you’ve got to be working hard and doing things right,” continued Donmoyer. “When you get some separation, you can try some different things. It’s been good. It’s always tough, regardless of the score. We got to play the way we play. Defensively, we’ve been playing well. Tonight I thought we took a step back offensively.”
With the 6-0 Austin patrolling the paint, the Falcons were able to turn up their defensive pressure, push the Spartans a half-step farther from the basket and generally make York Suburban uncomfortable with the ball.
During a 9:28 span from late in opening quarter to just before halftime, Cedar Crest surrendered just a single point to York Suburban. And with Austin pumping in five points, Jade Rolon drilling a three-pointer, Raven Morgan sticking back a deuce and Jones turning a steal into a lay-in, Cedar Crest turned a modest 10-9 deficit into a 21-11 lead it would not relinquish.
“We give up 26 points the rest of the way, we’re going to win every game,” said Donmoyer. “But we’re going to have tough games from here on out. Our goal defensively is 40 points or below each game, ten a quarter.
“When you know you have someone (Austin) in the lane, you can gamble up front,” added Donmoyer. “We know she’s in the lane. Yes, we can gamble up front. Yes, we can be aggressive up front. It’s a good thing to have. She’s the middle of our defense.”
The Falcons’ defensive prowess spilled over into the third quarter, when they all but put the outcome to rest.
York Suburban did not score over the opening 3:28 of the second half, and netted only four points during the entire third stanza. Meanwhile, the Falcons got four points from Morgan, a three-ball out of Rachel Witherite and a bucket apiece from Jones and Austin to extend their advantage to 32-15.
“Honestly, defensively, we played real well,” said Donmoyer. “You can never complain about giving up 26 points, and that was after giving up ten points in the first quarter. After trailing in the first quarter, I challenged the kids to play with more heart.
“I think at halftime, we had missed ten lay-ups – and 15 total for the game,” Donmoyer added. “You’re going to have off-nights offensively. But if you play defense like that, you’re going to win some games.”
Jones played a superior floor game, tallied 16 points, hauled down six rebounds and dished out five assists. Despite foul difficulties, Austin notched eight points, collected seven caroms and blocked seven attempts.
Cedar Crest yielded just seven buckets the entire game. The Falcons held the Spartans to 17 percent shooting from the floor and turned them over 21 times.
“She’s a defensive force,” said Donmoyer of Austin. “She’s our main rebounder and a shot blocker. She hasn’t been in foul trouble all year. I think she had a couple of blocks they (the officials) called fouls on. But I think there were a couple she got away with too.”
The closest the Spartans would come to the lead in the second half was 37-26. But that was before Jones registered the Falcons’ final five points.
“When we’re good offensively, we’re really good,” said Donmoyer. “You have those games. We have to clean some things up.
“But with that said, a win’s a win,” Donmoyer continued. “Going into the new year undefeated, you can’t ask for more.”
Cedar Crest got out of the gates sluggishly. But back-to-back three-pointers by Jones and Witherite seemed to energize the Falcons, and gave them an early 9-7 edge.
To purchase images in this article email jkfalk2005@yahoo.com, or to view more go to www.https://lebanonsportsbuzz.com/photo-gallery/.
2016-17 Cedar Crest Girls’ Basketball Schedule
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
RESULT |
|
|
12/09 # |
@East Pennsboro
|
6:00 PM |
W 61-44 |
|
|
12/10 # |
@Cedar Cliff
|
7:30 PM |
W 55-43 |
|
|
12/13 |
Wilson West Lawn
|
7:30 PM |
W 66-48 |
|
|
12/16 * |
@McCaskey
|
7:30 PM |
W 63-47 |
|
|
12/19 * |
Warwick
|
7:30 PM |
W 65-47 |
|
|
12/21 * |
@Conestoga Valley
|
7:30 PM |
W 41-27 |
|
|
12/28 # |
@South Western
|
6:00 PM |
W 52-34 |
|
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
LOCATION |
|
12/29 # |
@York Suburban
|
7:30 PM |
York Suburban High School |
|
01/03 * |
Manheim Twp.
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
01/06 * |
Hempfield
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
01/09 |
Lebanon
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
01/10 * |
@Penn Manor
|
7:30 PM |
Penn Manor High School |
|
01/13 * |
@Elizabethtown
|
7:30 PM |
Elizabethtown High School |
|
01/17 * |
McCaskey
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
01/20 * |
@Warwick
|
7:30 PM |
Warwick High School |
|
01/24 * |
Conestoga Valley
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
01/24 |
@Palmyra
|
7:30 PM |
Palmyra High School |
|
01/27 * |
@Manheim Twp.
|
7:30 PM |
Manheim Twp. High School |
|
01/31 * |
@Hempfield
|
7:30 PM |
Hempfield High School |
|
02/02 |
@Cocalico
|
7:30 PM |
Cocalico High School |
|
02/03 * |
Penn Manor
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
02/07 * |
Elizabethtown
|
7:30 PM |
Cedar Crest High School |
|
Lancaster-Lebanon League
Section One Standings