In scholastic athletics, there are very few stories that conclude with happy endings. Sam Light’s story was certainly no exception.

Light’s season and career came to an end this week during the Northern Lebanon boys’ basketball team’s  loss at Susquehanna Township, in the opening round of the District Three Class AAA playoffs. And one couldn’t help but feel that Light and the Vikings deserved a better fate.

Light poured in 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent that the Vikings from falling to the home-standing Indians 71-47. While Light was hampered by an injured left hand sustained at practice two days prior, one was left wondering how much the injury affected the outcome.

Two weeks prior, Light had become Northern Lebanon’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing a mark set by Travis Ludwig 24 years earlier. Light finished his career with 1,655 points, a total that left him out of Lebanon County’s all-time top ten.

Light, who was the leading scorer in the Lancaster-Lebanon League for three years running, did his damage with fearless drives to the basket, dead-eye three-point shooting, an uncanny knack for getting to the foul line and the composure to knock down critical free throws.

– Jeff Falk