The Manheim Township girls' basketball team ended its week on a three-game winning streak following its home game against arch rival Hempfield on Tuesday, January 28. In that Section One clash, the Black Knights and the Blue Streaks both played a tough defensive game with the visiting Knights coming out on top 21-19.
"We played great defense to hold them to 21 points," said head coach Sean Burkhart. "We just weren't able to convert a few of our offensive possessions late in the game when we had chances to make the game more than one possession. Hempfield ultimately capitalized on that."
With the loss, the Blue Streaks fell to 8-3 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Of the next three games, a defeat of Penn Manor raised MT's mark to 9-3 in the league, but it was too little too late as Hempfield went on to claim the section crown as the Knights improved to 12-0 with a win over Elizabethtown.
In the Hempfield game, leading scorer Katie Bushong scored 12 points, which was tops in the game. She connected on a pair of three-point baskets.
The most either team scored in any of the four quarters was Hempfield's eight-point output in the second stanza. Autumn Cook led the Knights with nine points.
Two nights later, the Streaks played host to Red Lion in a non-league contest. The offense was on track with Bushong scoring 27 points. She made five baskets, two of which were from three-point range. Whenever denied a layup, Bushong was able to convert the foul shots to near perfection, connecting on 15-of-16.
"In the Red Lion game we really did a good job of breaking their presses," said Burkhart. "Ali Quinn, Gracie Martin and Katie Bushong all did a really good job of dealing with their trademark pressure that has gotten them to the top of the district rankings.
"One of the biggest keys to this win was our team rebounding and being able to limit Red Lion to one shot on most possessions," Burkhart added.
Leading 38-26 heading into the final period, the Streaks managed to hold on as the Lions roared back with a 15-9 run.
"The biggest thing the girls did was they weathered the storm at the end of the game when Red Lion was coming back and cut our 12-point lead down to three," Burkhart pointed out. "We hit some big foul shots to win it."
Missy Welch and Gianna Smith each scored eight points for the Streaks, who improved to 14-5 overall.
The very next night was senior night for the Blue Streaks. Bushong poured in 20 points as Township held off Penn Manor 50-37. The Streaks outscored the Comets by a collective 33-11 in the second and third periods combined.
"Even though we got off to a sluggish start, we were eventually able to get some things going with our press and took control of the game," Burkhart said.
"The girls always get fired up to play their best on senior night," Burkhart added. "All four of our seniors were able to score in the game."
Bushong, one of those seniors, received support from Smith and Quinn, who scored eight each.
Bella McCoy, another senior, scored six points. Martin put up five points.
In a Saturday afternoon contest at Lampeter-Strasburg, the Streaks' defense held the Pioneers to one point in the first quarter, setting the tone for Township in the 47-32 victory.
The quick start did not show any weariness as the Streaks played their third game in three days.
"It was barely more than a 12-hour turnaround from the end of the Penn Manor game," Burkhart pointed out. "The way we started the game, you wouldn't have known. Jumping out to 13-1 lead after the first quarter was really huge, knowing we had a short turnaround time. It allowed us to be in control of things throughout."
Bushong scored 22 points to lead all scorers. Smith and Martin each scored seven.
Improving to 16-5 overall, the Blue Streaks ended the week ranked sixth in the District Three Class 6A power rankings.
BOYS' BASKETBALL
The boys' basketball team posted three victories this past week, improving to 12-8. The victories included defeats of Hempfield and Penn Manor as the Streaks evened their L-L League mark at 6-6.
In Tuesday night's contest at Hempfield, a dominant first quarter helped Township hang on for a 43-35 win as the Knights kept chipping away.
Zach Oldac shared the game's top scoring honors with Hempfield's Daniel Sears. Seth Miller scored 10 for Township. Miller, Oldac and Mickey Stokes (9 points) each made a three-point basket. Zach Hartz hit two treys and finished with six points.
In a comeback win against Section One rival Penn Manor, the Streaks outscored the home team 15-7 in the final period to take the game 48-41.
It was J.T. Weaver coming through with a team-leading 16 points, which included three treys. Stokes scored 11 and Oldac put up seven more.
Ethan Hines of Penn Manor had a game-high 18.
Back on their home court for a Saturday afternoon non-league game, the Streaks outran the Mustangs in the second half, posting a 65-55 victory over Governor Mifflin.
The Mustangs held a slim 25-23 lead at the half. Township went on a 21-13 run in the third quarter and maintained momentum into the fourth.
Hartz connected from three-point range four times as he compiled 23 points. Stokes poured in 16, Oldac nine, and Ben Mann added eight.
SWIMMING
The boys' and girls' swimming and diving teams won their respective meets this past week, improving to 5-0 in the L-L League as both claimed Section One titles.
In a Tuesday evening meet at the Lititz Rec Center, the MT girls defeated Warwick 104-66 while the boys' team topped the Warriors 117-59. In so doing, both Township squads improved to 9-0 overall. The Warwick boys fell to 2-7 (1-4 league).
Township's boys swept the relay events. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Graham Calhoun, Alonso Borrero, Sean Cliff and Jackson Prevost claimed first with a time of 3:28.16.
The 200 freestyle relay went to the foursome of Patrick Breslin, Justin Fuertes, Alex Wood and Henry Gingrich with a time of 1:37.03, while Connor Paladino, who won the 100 freestyle in 49.77 seconds, joined Gingrich, Fuentes and Jack Sheehan for a first-place (1:43.53) finish in the 200 medley relay.
Prevost won multiple events, taking the 500 free in 5:07.53 and the 200 individual medley in 2:03.01.
The foursome of Olivia Pyott, Gabby Stramara, Brynn Magrini and Faith Forman forged a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay at 1:52.70.
Warwick's Hannah Greenway anchored both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams to victory for the Warriors in addition to sprinting to victory (25.37) in the 50 free.
Aside from Greenway's win in the 50 free, it was all Township swimmers touching first place in the individual events.
Stramara won both the 100 butterfly (1:00.57) and the 200 IM (2:17.44) while Magrini's time of 1:03.61 was good for first in the 100 backstroke.
Forman took the 100 free in 56.11 seconds. Liz Perot claimed the 200 free in 1:59.70 and outswam the competition in the 500 free at 5:15.42.
Warwick's girls fell to 3-2 (7-2 overall).
AIR RIFLE
In a Thursday match at Governor Mifflin, the Streaks posted a 494-489 victory in air rifle competition. Alyssa Dunn had a perfect score of 100. She received support from Tommy Waltz and Jada Bender, each of whom shot a 99. Ethan Demler and Sam Bischiel each finished with 98's.
The Mustangs had 99's from Sydney Machion and Trevor Schoenen.
This win improved Township's record to 7-4. The Streaks earned a 491-488 victory at home on Tuesday, edging Wilson.
Eli Torres and Alex Fehrenbacher each shot a 99 to lead MT. Dunn and Quinn Mellinger each shot 98's while Demler finished at 97.
Liz Moy led the Bulldogs with a 99.
BOWLING
After defeating Ephrata 7-0 at Dutch Lanes on Tuesday, the Streaks bowled against Hempfield two days later, coming out on the short end of a 5-2 final.
With only one match remaining, the Streaks improved to 38-34 (36-22 league).
Nick Tomlinson, Drew Jacquith and Matt Iseman led the Streaks over Ephrata. Tomlinson started off with a 265 in his first game and finished the day with a 681 series. Jacquith compiled 662 on the day, which included a top score of 237. Iseman came through with a 607.
Tomlinson had a tremendous day against Hempfield, rolling a 246 in his second game as he finished with 674 overall.
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