She’s last on the Northern Lebanon girls’ basketball team’s alphabetic roster. But she’s first in the hearts of the Viking faithful.

Affectionately known around Fredericksburg as Z.Z., Zoe Zerman’s play may be the biggest reason for Northern Lebanon’s amazing turnaround this year.

A heady, slick ball handling, poised point guard, Zerman has led the Vikings to a 12-5 overall mark to date. Last year, Northern Lebanon won a total of six games over the course of the entire season.

The Vikings have won five of their last six games, including a week in which they went 2-1. While Northern Lebanon may be a long shot to qualify for the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs out of rugged Section Three, the Vikes are a good bet to qualify for the District Three Class AAA postseason.

Last week, Northern Lebanon won 54-20 at Annville-Cleona and 63-53 at Columbia, but sustained a tough 55-54, overtime home loss to mighty Lancaster Catholic. Zerman, a 5-8 sophomore, led her side in scoring on each occasion.

Zerman poured in a career-high 27 points – on nine field goals and nine-for-14 free throwing – against the Crimson Tide. She notched a game-high 20 points against the Crusders, and tallied 16 points against the Little Dutchmen.

 – Jeff Falk