BY JEFF FALK

HERSHEY – All championships are special. But there is absolutely, positively nothing like a state championship.

Not only does it stay with you for the rest of your life, it has the power to set the tone for adulthood. Win a state championship in a high school sport and you feel like there is nothing you can’t accomplish.

On Friday afternoon at Hershey’s Giant Center, the Lebanon Catholic girls’ basketball team ascended to the pinnacle of high school athletics by besting Juniata Valley 55-43 in the PIAA Class A championship contest. Following a slow start, the Beavers grabbed control of the outcome in the second quarter, then weathered a couple of Hornet swarms.

The state title was Lebanon Catholic’s third overall, but first in 22 years. The Beavers also won PIAA Class A championships in 1991-92 and 1994-95. The Annville-Cleona and Lebanon boys’ are the only other basketball programs from Lebanon County to win state titles.

The PIAA championship also concluded a four-month odyssey that began in November for the Beavers, one that was fueled by juniors Alexis Hill and Jasmine Turner transferring from Lebanon High. In fact, all six Beaver players who competed yesterday are juniors, a fact that will provide legitimacy for a run at a state championship repeat next season.

The Beavers, who finished third in Section Three of the Lancaster-Lebanon League and captured their 19th District Three crown three weeks ago at the same venue, concluded their year on an eight-game playoff win streak and with a 24-8 overall record. Juniata Valley, the runner-up from District Six, ended its campaign at 24-6.

“They’re all great,” said Lebanon Catholic head coach Patti Hower of the three state titles. “Every team I’ve had has been about great kids. I got a lot of notes this week from past players. They said they were ready to share the tradition. They wanted us to win. It’s nice to have that support.

“They (her players) can work on their foul shots,” Hower added. “But we hit some down the stretch. There’s always room for improvement, but we’re starting (next season) at a high level. They really came together as a team.”

“I love her,” said Hill of Hower. “She coaches really well. And I love this school. I’m glad I transferred. I was confident we’d get here. And I’m sure Jasmine is glad we both made the decision.

“The first couple of games we were a good team,” added Hill. “But then we started jelling together. Throughout the season we got better and better.”

The Hornets’ final push at Catholic came early in the fourth quarter, when they whittled the Beavers’ double-digit advantage down to 37-31. But Lebanon Catholic repelled that one the same way it had the previous.

During crunch time, the Beavers got two key hoops inside from Celine Mars and a put-back by Hill. Over the last three minutes – including 1:38 of which came with a fouled-out Neesha Pierre watching from the bench – Hill,  Mars, Hannah Callihan and Jayden Shellehamer combined to go ten-for-16 at the charity stripe.

“I finally felt comfortable when they had to foul us at the end,” said Hower. “Foul shooting is not that great for us. But we made some big ones down the stretch.

“We talked about boxing out,” continued Hower. “We come out of the zone and went man (-to-man). We’ve pretty much been playing man-to-man all year. But we thought they (the Hornets) had some players who could go to the basket strong. But their inside game wasn’t as strong as I thought it was going to be.”

“I feel great,” said Hill. “I’ve got a gold medal around my neck and I’m part of the best team ever. But I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet.”

After owning the first 16 minutes of play, the Beavers went the first 2:25 of the second half without a point, as the Hornets pulled to within 20-15 of their lead. Two minutes later, Juniata Valley moved to within 25-21, before Lebanon Catholic re-asserted itself with the final six points of the third stanza.

Pierre netted two buckets and Hill scored on a hard cut to the hole, as the Beavers extended their advantage to 31-21.

“I thought it was going to be an even game,” said Hower. “We had some spurts and they had some spurts. We just had more of them.

“That’s (attacking the basket) one of our strengths,” Hower continued. “Celine has a quick first step and I thought she played really well. That’s not just this game. That’s us all the time, especially when a team plays man (-to-man) like that.”

“I wasn’t concerned throughout the game,” said Hill. “Except at the end when Neesha fouled out. But we pulled through. I wasn’t worried, as long as we played defense.”

Hill, who established herself as one of the top Class A players in the state during the PIAA tournament, poured in a game-high 20 points on seven-for-12 shooting from the field and six-for-eight free throwing, and pulled down 14 rebounds. Mars recorded 14 points on five-of-eight shooting, while Pierre corralled a dozen caroms.

Lebanon Catholic held Juniata Valley to 23 percent shooting from the field, and won the rebound battle 42-35. The Beavers outscored the Hornets 20-11 at the foul stripe.

“I think our length does help us defensively,” said Hower. “They (the Hornets) had good guards and good big people. I was happy my team played competitively when they made runs. We didn’t give them second or third shots. They didn’t really crash the boards.

“In the first half, they (the Hornets) had some open looks, but they weren’t hitting their shots,” added Hower. “But we were getting rebounds. We thought zone was the way to go against this team.”

“It was just good defense,” said Hill. “We did play well. Everybody played good defense. It was just a good win.”

Juniata Valley scored the first six points of the contest. But after that, it was all Beavers.

In fact, Lebanon Catholic held the Hornets to a single point over an incredible 13:13 stretch, during which time Lebanon Catholic was opening a 20-7 second-period bulge.

“They seemed OK before the game, in the locker room,” said Hower of her troops. “I was very, very concerned about their (the Hornets’) team speed. But I don’t think we gave them a lot in transition.

“I think in the league playoffs I first thought this was possible,” Hower continued. “Maybe even before then. We played with Lancaster Catholic and we beat Northern Lebanon.”

“It was big,” said Hill. “We were ready for this game. When we tipped off, I was ready, all the nerves were out. We pulled it out. We got it.”

Hill netted seven straight Catholic points early, and when Turner laid in a deuce late in the opening period, the Beavers had themselves an 11-6 margin. Then a Shellehamer jumper capped a 9-0 that gave Lebanon Catholic a 13-point lead.

“I’ll remember the entire season and how we got better as a team,” said Hower. “How much we really improved.

“Obviously, Alexis is going to be a good addition for any team,” added Hower. “But the players had to make it happen. We played well and we came together. They’re great people.”

“That’s the thing,” said Hill. “I’m sure these teams didn’t play teams as good as Northern Lebanon and Lebanon Catholic. It helps.

“I do what my dad tells me to do – work hard and have fun,” Hill added. “I’m humble. I don’t let that (the publicity) get to me. I do what I do. My parents are proud of me. But before this game, my mom was more nervous than I was.”

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUNIATA VALLEY (43)

Sydney Reed 2-14 3-4 9, Hayden Taylor 2-9 2-2 7, Taylor Leidy 3-17 0-0 7, Halee Smith 3-14 3-4 9, Maddie Mattas 4-7 3-3 11, Lexie Reed 0-0 0-0 0, Emily Jefferis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-61 11-13 43.

LEBANON CATHOLIC (55)

Neesha Pierre 2-12 5-7 9, Alexis Hill 7-12 6-8 20, Jasmine Turner 2-6 0-0 5, Jayden Shellehamer 1-2 1-2 3, Celine Mars 5-8 4-7 14, Hannah Callihan 0 4-8 4. Totals: 17-40 20-32 55.

Juniata Valley 7 3 11 22 – 43

Lebanon Catholic 13 7 11 24 – 55

Three-point field goals: JV – Reed 2-13, Taylor 1-4, Leidy 1-4, Smith 0-1; LC – Turner 1-4. Rebounds: JV 35, LC 42. Turnovers: JV 12, LC 17. Fouls: JV 22, LC 12. Fouled out: JV – Smith, Mattas. LC – Pierre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016-17 Lebanon Catholic Girls’ Basketball Results

Date	Opponents	Results
12/13 7:00 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Mahanoy Area	29 44
12/14 7:30 pm	Trinity at Lebanon Catholic	33 56
12/16 7:30 pm	Pequea Valley at Lebanon Catholic	35 62
12/17 6:00 pm	Christian School of York at Lebanon Catholic	12 62
12/19 7:30 pm	Northern Lebanon at Lebanon Catholic	42 45
12/21 7:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Elco	63 46
12/27 1:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic Marian Catholic	39 52
12/29 7:30 pm	Linden Hall at Lebanon Catholic	39 53
12/30 7:30 pm	Donegal at Lebanon Catholic	51 43
1/03 7:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Lancaster Mennonite	60 37
1/06 7:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Columbia	52 42
1/09 6:00 pm	Lititz Christian at Lebanon Catholic	22 71
1/10 7:30 pm	Lancaster Catholic at Lebanon Catholic	42 41
1/13 6:00 pm	Annville-Cleona at Lebanon Catholic	26 48
1/17 7:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Pequea Valley	75 50
1/20 7:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Northern Lebanon	31 44
1/24 7:30 pm	Elco at Lebanon Catholic	35 59
1/27 7:30 pm	Lancaster Mennonite at Lebanon Catholic	43 57
1/31 7:30 pm	Columbia at Lebanon Catholic	38 57
2/03 8:00 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Lancaster Catholic	39 49
2/06 6:00 pm	High Point Baptist at Lebanon Catholic	16 71
2/07 7:30 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Annville-Cleona	46 27
2/09 6:00 pm	Lebanon Catholic Cocalico at Warwick	43 42
2/11 7:00 pm	Lebanon Catholic at Cedar Crest	54 63
2/24 7:00 pm	Christian School of York at Lebanon Catholic	35 58
2/28 8:00 pm	Lebanon Catholic Linden Hall at Lower Dauphin	53 31
3/03 3:15 pm	Lebanon Catholic Halifax at Giant Center	55 27
3/11 6:30 pm	Galeton Lebanon Catholic at Warwick	29 53
3/16 6:00 pm	Faith Christian Lebanon Catholic at Tulpehocken	33 68
3/18 1:00 pm	Pottsville Nativity Lebanon Catholic at Hamburg Area H.S.	38 58
3/21 6:00 pm	Jenkintown Lebanon Catholic at Garden Spot	37 41
3/24 12:00 pm	Juniata Valley Lebanon Catholic at Giant Center	43 55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Prolific Scorers in Lebanon Catholic Girls’ Basketball History 1. Becky Hower (2001) 2,445 points

Lebanon Catholic Girls’ Basketball: A History of Champions

PIAA Class A Championships

2016-17

1994-95