Ty Erisman hit back-to-back threes and Jakob Matias dished a cross key pass to Anthony Rosario who scored what proved to be the game-winning bucket, lifting last place Penn Manor over then first place Cedar Crest 43-41 in Millersville last Monday.
The come-from-behind victory started with an 11-0 run by the Falcons. The Comets answered, engineering a 19-2 run that started with 3:17 left in the first and ran all the way through the 3:40 mark of the second quarter. Erisman and Kevin Roldan each tossed in five points during the run and Ethan Hine chipped in with the last four, putting the Comets in front, 19-13.
But the section leaders weren't going to go down easy, scoring seven straight for a 20-19 lead at the half.
The third frame went bucket-for-bucket, was tied twice and the Falcons remained in front 29-28.
An Erisman trey with 4:10 left cut the lead to 34-33 before Crest went on a 7-2 run for a 41-35 advantage with 2:20 left and setting the stage for Erisman, whose second trey, after taking a charge that fired up the student section, tied the game at 41-41 with 1:12 left. Crest turned the ball over, and Rosario scored in the paint. Both teams traded turnovers after that and the visitors had possession with 4.7 left but failed to get off a shot.
"The kids showed the spirit and heart they played with the entire season," said head coach Larry Bellew. "Down six with over two minutes to play and Kevin Roldan fouls out and we find a way to win.
"When we played them the first time, their on-ball defense against our point guards totally disrupted us and kept us from getting into a rhythm," Bellew explained. "We put in a set to have our forward bring the ball up to alleviate that pressure. That helped us get into our sets and slowed the game down."
Erisman, with five triples, splashed in a game-high 17. Hine followed with a dozen and Roldan chipped in with ten.
Playing their fourth game in five days, the Comets ended their season with a 56-51 Tuesday night loss to visiting Octorara. Despite holding a 30-24 lead at the half, and a 42-37 edge after three, the hosts were outscored 17-9 down the stretch.
"Not being able to finish the season with a win was a temporary disappointment," said Bellew. "Ethan was sent home with a stomach bug so I knew before it started that we would have to play well. Octorara's big, Naji Hamilton, was exceptional against us. We struggle to guard most bigs and a 6'7" kid that is athletic was a challenge. Regardless, we held a lead heading into the fourth," he continued. "We tried to pressure their guards but they held up and Hamilton was able to finish at the other end with a couple emphatic dunks. We had some chances to cut it to one or tie the game but the shots wouldn't fall."
Erisman poured it on with 23 points, including six treys, while Joel Modesto and Jaden Matias both scored ten. Rosario (7) and Roldan (1) also contributed.
The Comets started their string of four games with a Friday night, 69-63 overtime heartbreaker at Manheim Township, February 1.
The visitors played one of their best quarters of the season, jumping to an 18-4 lead after eight minutes. Township closed the gap in the second frame with a 16-9 run that left the score at 27-20 at the break. The hosts continued their run through the third quarter, doubling Manor up, 18-9, for a 38-36 advantage.
Erisman got hot in the fourth quarter, netting ten of Manor's 20 points, including a three-ball at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
"We played well when we moved and shared the ball but with the lead, we got sloppy," noted Bellew. "We had some turnovers and a couple bad shots that led to some runouts. And in the overtime, we couldn't get the stop when we needed it and combined that with another bad shot or two. When we had to trap Tyler Crespo, he made us pay by getting the ball ahead and scoring on us."
Crespo, Township's new all-time scoring leader, poured in a game-high 32 points.
Hine knocked down 20 points, Erisman netted 19 and Roldan settled for 16.
Saturday afternoon, despite a strong first half, the Comets ran out of gas, dropping a 52-43 final to West York.
"We played well through the first half but struggled to score against their zone in the second half," recalled Bellew. "And in the fourth they started feeding their big, wide body, Gabe Mummert the ball. He had eight of his 16 points that quarter. Jakob Matis was out with an injury and we saw the lack of legs down the stretch, missing some really good looks that we usually knock down."
Erisman posted a team-high 12 points with Roldan and Hine adding 10 each and Rosario finishing with 7.
"I can't express how proud I am of this team," said Bellew. "I was impressed by how much they cared about each other and the sacrifices many players made for the good of the team. They carried themselves with class and dignity and were competitive in all but one of our 22 games. This is a testament to their resolve and determination," he continued. "Sadly, we won't be able to suit up for another game together, but they accomplished something special. They bought a lot of excitement and joy to the Penn Manor community and created an energy and bond that brought everyone together. They won't hang a banner in the gym for that, but it is something special they can hold in their hearts forever."
BOWLING
The Comet bowlers celebrated their seniors (Jimmy Mahler, Riley Neuman, Mark Smith, and Lisa Strausner) in their last home match of the season, Tuesday, February 5 when they hosted fourth place Hempfield at Leisure Lanes. The Knights, however, rose to the occasion in this one, hanging a tight 4-3 loss on the Comets.
Smith's 237 first game led three Comets over 200 and Manor picked up a 1060-860 win. The momentum changed in the second game as the Knights heated up and pulled out a 969-939 victory and went on to win the third game as well 989-923.
Gavin Davidson, with a 678 series, finished as Manor's top bowler, and followed Hempfield's Ben Helman (730). Smith finished with a 678, while Jimmy Mahler (564), Riley Neuman (552) and Lisa Strausner (485) rounded out the scoring.
The Comets were coming off a 7-0 shutout over McCaskey, Friday, February 2. Manor got off to a strong start, winning a 958-955 first game final and picking up the pace in the second game. With four Comets bowling 200 or better, Manor put together an 1103 second series, crushing McCaskey's 795. With a 1029-809 game three result, Manor took control.
Davidson's 680 series was tops for the day. Smith added a 675 and Welsh a 626. Rounding out the Comet five was Delaney Reitnauer (588) and Neuman (521).
SWIMMING
The swim team wrapped up the regular season Friday, February 1, with mixed results at Cedar Crest. The boys, with six firsts, secured a 100-64 result, pushing their overall record to 6-2. They finished third in Section One with a 3-2 mark.
The girls' had a tougher time, coming out on the short end of a 106-64 result to the third place Falcons. Manor finishes in fourth place at 2-3, 5-3 overall.
"This meet was just a mess because of the weather and having a few no shows because of driving issues," stated head coach Eric Urban.
Jared Stephan was the top point-getter of the day, winning the 200 IM (2:04.48) and the 500 free (5:10.59) and teaming with Pan Kunyu, Andrew Pursel and Wes Kendig for the top time in the 400 free relay (3:36.03).
"Jared came from behind to win the 200 IM," said Urban. "He did the same thing last year against the same swimmer."
Kunyu touched first in the 100 back (58.00) and Kendig did the same in the 100 fly (57.47). And they both, along with Mason Sweigart and Pursel, contributed to a come-from-behind winning 200 medley relay (1:43.50).
Erica Shaub earned two firsts, winning the 200 IM (2:23.5) and the 100 backstroke (1:06.13). Ana Sugra was the only other individual winning, taking the top time in the 100 free (57.50).
In the relays, Johnson, Jalyn Clow, Jordan Kendig and Kailey Stoner put together a winning 1:51.04 in the 200 free.
"It was not our best meet as a team," added Urban. "The girls did have some PR's in the 200 free relay."
GIRL'S BASKETBALL
The Lady Comets played three games in four days and came out on the short end in each one.
"Three games without practice is always difficult to do no matter in what part of the season it occurs," said head coach Megan Collins. "But having it at the end, when vying for a spot in districts, makes it that much more challenging."
The Comets got off to a slow start and were unable to gain momentum against the visiting Streaks, Friday, February 1. They were held to single digits in each of the first two quarters and suffered a 54-32 home loss.
"Township heading to the free throw line 19 more times than us was the big difference in the game," stated Collins. "We have been talking about watching fouls and not allowing teams to get to the line as often and we needed to do a better job of attacking the basket aggressively to get the calls in return."
Emma Hart's 15 points were a team best. Kate Levato and Morgan Miller combined for 11.
On the road Saturday afternoon, Miller and Hart combined for nine of Manor's 15 first quarter points and held a one point lead over West York. The Bearcats, however, regrouped in the middle two frames, pouring in 26 points while holding the Comets to seven. The 40-22 deficit was too much for the visitors to overcome, and, despite a 15-13 fourth quarter win, Manor lost 53-37.
Free throws, or lack of, continued to plague the Comets. West York canned 20-of-28 attempts. The Comets were 6-of-17.
"We got off to a good start and then Ella got injured in the second quarter," noted Collins. "We struggled to find any offense in the third quarter. And they went to the foul line 11 more times and shot 71% to our 35%."
Miller scored a team-high 8 points. Sydney Shepos added 6, Tyzae Ballard and Kayla Mills added 5 each and Lily Sugra and Hart combined for 8.
The Comets hit the road again last Monday, traveling to first place Cedar Crest. Down a hard-fought 23-17 at the half, the Falcons' (12-1 league) Raven Morgan, with 10 of her game-high 25 points, sparked a 16-4 third quarter to pull away.
The visitors rose to the challenge in the fourth, outscoring the hosts 17-16, but still suffering the loss. Miller, who had four free throws in the third, splashed in 10 points down the stretch.
"We went five or six minutes in that third quarter without scoring," noted Collins. "You can't do that against good teams. But we did a nice job on the line, going 11-for-14. Miller had 16 despite not feeling well and again, Hart was a no-go.
"Raven only had 14 against us the first time," she continued. "We played well in the fourth quarter."
Shepos and Sugra backed Miller with seven points each off the bench. Evelyn Weaver and Ballard each added four points.
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