A fun Friday night of games on the L-L League girls basketball slate, with plenty of section showdowns to recap. Here’s the roundup, plus some notables:
![L-L League loses a legend, plus all things basketball races in the 'Full Court Press' [podcast]](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8Xw8AAoMBgDTD2qgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
SECTION 1
Cedar Crest 44, Penn Manor 39 — The Falcons kept a firm grip on first place, scoring 16 points down the stretch in the fourth quarter to hold off the host Comets. And Cedar Crest gained another game in the standings when Manheim Township fell to Lebanon. Elli Malinoski pumped in five 3-pointers and matched her season-high with 23 points for the Falcons, who had a 21-16 cushion at the break, and a slimmer 28-26 lead heading into the fourth before closing it out. Aliya Stanley canned four 3-pointers and scored 12 points for Penn Manor, which joined Manheim Township and Lebanon in a funky 3-way tie for second place — two games behind the surging Falcons, who have won three games in a row.
Lebanon 42, Manheim Township 32 — The 3-time defending section champs are not going away quietly. Olive Brandt popped in 19 points, and the host Cedars outscored the Blue Streaks 27-18 in the second half to join Manheim Township and Penn Manor in a 3-way tie for second place in the race behind Cedar Crest. The Streaks started the week in a first-place tie with the Falcons, but fell to Cedar Crest and now Lebanon to drop two games off the pace. Julia Weaver scored 10 points for Manheim Township, which trailed 15-14 at the half.
McCaskey 46, Hempfield 35 — The Red Tornado picked up their first section victory this season, using a 17-9 second-quarter clip for a 26-11 halftime lead, on the way to topping the host Black Knights. Sarai Lewis poured in a career-high 21 points and Sariiah Sweeney chipped in with 11 points for McCaskey, which snapped a 7-game slide. Lea Douglas matched her career-high with 10 points for Hempfield, which is still looking for its first section victory.
SECTION 3
Manheim Central 33, Donegal 17 — The host Barons opened the game on a 12-2 spurt and were ahead 20-8 at the half, and picked up the victory to join Lampeter-Strasburg atop the crowded section race. Manheim Central and the Pioneers are just one game clear of Lancaster Catholic and Northern Lebanon, who also won Friday. Lilah Walters scored 14 points for the Barons; Hailey Bomberger scored 6 points for Donegal.
Lancaster Catholic 59, Elco 36 — The Crusaders barreled to a 29-17 lead at the half, and then opened up plenty of breathing room with a 14-5 third-quarter spurt, and remained in the thick of the section chase with a road win. Mia Bonafede (18 points) and Nevaeh Kennedy (15 points) keyed Catholic; Kenzie Eckhart scored 18 points for the host Raiders.
In another Section 3 showdown on Friday, Northern Lebanon unpacked the bus at Lampeter-Strasburg, fended off the host Pioneers, and forced another facelift in the section standings. This race has been a real doozy. Here’s the story:
SECTION 4
Annville-Cleona 42, Lancaster Mennonite 2 — The host Blazers have been dealing with a small roster this winter, and suited up just six players against the Dutchmen, who bolted to a 21-2 first-quarter lead, and Mennonite didn’t score again. Sidney Boyer scored a season-high 10 points for A-C, which held the Blazers without a field goal.
NONLEAGUE
Garden Spot 34, Hershey 33 (OT) — The Spartans went on the road, and outscored the host Trojans 6-5 in OT to win it, improving to 3-2 in their last five games. Laina Steiner scored 10 points to pace Garden Spot, which had a 23-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter. But the Spartans couldn’t slam the door; Hershey closed regulation on an 11-5 clip to force OT. Garden Spot won it there.
Solanco 59, Octorara 9 — The host Golden Mules sprinted to a 27-2 first-quarter cushion, had a cozy 43-9 lead at the half, and then kept the Braves off the scoreboard in the second half to win it. Layne Dawley (four 3-pointers, season-high 21 points), Saskia Ludgate (12 points) and Jaelyn Gonzalez (10 points) paced Solanco; Sophie Ruscitelli scored 4 points for Octorara.
Governor Mifflin 46, Cocalico 41 — The Eagles made a quick spin to Shillington for a non-con against the Mustangs, who closed the game on a 14-9 clip to rally past Cocalico, which dropped its second game in a row after a 3-game winning streak. Kira Lehman (three 3-pointers, 14 points) and Corrine Fair (three 3-pointers, 11 points) spearheaded the Eagles, who went 11-9 in the third quarter to knot the game up at 32-all heading into the fourth. Mifflin finished faster to win it.
Palmyra 61, Elizabethtown 14 — The host Trojans galloped to a 20-4 first-quarter lead and were up 39-7 at the break, and then sealed the deal with a 15-3 third-quarter blitz to beat the Bears. Elleyana Handran and Chloe Wilkinson scored 4 points apiece for E-town.
SIGN UP FOR OUR $4 LNP SPORTS PASS
2025-26 L-L LEAGUE GIRLS BASKETBALL STANDINGS, SCHEDULES, STATS
SATURDAY’S GAMES
NONLEAGUE
McCaskey at Conestoga Valley, 2 p.m.
Pequea Valley at Susquenita, 2:30 p.m.
* One game originally scheduled for Saturday is already a final. Say what? Columbia 1, Lancaster Country Day 0. … The Cougars forfeited the Section 4 game to the Crimson Tide because of a lack of players. So that one is already in the books. … Pequea Valley, which has ripped off eight wins in a row, will try and make it nine with a non-con scrap in Duncannon against Nita, which is at No. 4 in the D3-4A power ratings. … Like Columbia, the Braves were also awarded a forfeit win this week; Upper Perkiomen, slated to play Pequea Valley in a postponed holiday tournament game last month, opted to forfeit instead of making it up. … McCaskey will try and make it two wins in less than 24 hours with a quick trip over to Conestoga Valley; the Buckskins are 1-3 in their last four games, and are looking for some traction for the Section 2 stretch drive.
More girls basketball coverage
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.