By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Ephrata entered Tuesday’s game at Solanco, looking to right the ship after suffering three-straight tight losses.

In fact, all of the Mounts’ last six games were decided by nine points or less, and yet they were just 2-4 heading into Tuesday.

Well, they played another tight game, but after the dust settled, this latest one only added to the frustration as the last-place Mules escaped with a 44-42 win over Ephrata.

This one was tight throughout but Solanco, leading by one after three quarters of play, outscored the Mounts 12-11 in the final eight minutes to grab the victory.

Evan Radcliffe led the Mounts (3-9 section, 4-12 overall) with a game-high 13 points while Nathan Zimmerman chipped in with 11. Damon Kreider scored 11 points to lead the Mules (2-10, 3-14).

This past Friday before a packed house in Ephrata, visiting Warwick took the game to overtime with a late clutch three-pointer, then put it away at the foul line to earn a huge 54-50 crossover win.

A lopsided first quarter cost the Cocalico boys basketball team dearly Tuesday night on the road at Section Two leader Elizabethtown.

The Eagles were out-scored 19-5 in the first stanza, and played catch-up the rest of the way. And despite a 26-point fourth quarter, they couldn’t make it all the way back as the Bears held on for a 50-43 victory.

Kirby Breault scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Bears (10-2 section, 12-5 overall), who clinched their second-straight Section Two title with the win. Oliver Denlinger and Tucker Lescoe each dropped in 12 for Cocalico (5-7, 8-8), which dropped into a tie with Lebanon (5-7, 7-9) in the race for the final L-L playoff spot in Section Two.

Those teams, incidentally, will square off in Lebanon next Tuesday night.

In addition to Tuesday’s game, the Eagles also were in action Friday night where they captured a 51-41 victory over visiting Penn Manor.

Leading 22-19 at the half, the host Eagles pulled away, outscoring the Comets, 29-22 over the final two quarters.

Lescoe led three players in double figures for Cocalico, scoring 15 points in the win. Spencer Moser and Denlinger each added 14 for the Eagles. More EAGLE BOYS, page B-2

A lopsided first quarter cost the Cocalico boys basketball team dearly Tuesday night on the road at Section Two leader Elizabethtown.

The Eagles were out-scored 19-5 in the first stanza, and played catch-up the rest of the way. And despite a 26-point fourth quarter, they couldn’t make it all the way back as the Bears held on for a 50-43 victory.

Kirby Breault scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Bears (10-2 section, 12-5 overall), who clinched their second-straight Section Two title with the win. Oliver Denlinger and Tucker Lescoe each dropped in 12 for Cocalico (5-7, 8-8), which dropped into a tie with Lebanon (5-7, 7-9) in the race for the final L-L playoff spot in Section Two.

Those teams, incidentally, will square off in Lebanon next Tuesday night.

In addition to Tuesday’s game, the Eagles also were in action Friday night where they captured a 51-41 victory over visiting Penn Manor.

Leading 22-19 at the half, the host Eagles pulled away, outscoring the Comets, 29-22 over the final two quarters.

Lescoe led three players in double figures for Cocalico, scoring 15 points in the win. Spencer Moser and Denlinger each added 14 for the Eagles. More EAGLE BOYS, page B-2

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

This weekend could go down as one of the more special ones in the life of Ephrata senior wrestler Todd Dumas.

Not only is Dumas seeking his third-straight medal at the Lancaster-Lebanon League Tournament, which will be held Friday (4 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m.) at Conestoga Valley, but he could become the seventh wrestler in the Mounts’ storied history to reach the 100-career win plateau.

Dumas (22-3 on the season), who was a runner-up as a junior at 120 pounds and placed sixth during his sophomore year, is sitting on 95 now and could have 96 by the time Friday rolls around.

And while the competition should be fierce as usual (brackets won’t be released until Thursday), Ephrata Coach Josh Clair believes his senior is up for the challenge.

"Todd definitely has what it takes," Clair said Tuesday. "He just recently dropped to 120 and will be big for his weight, which is a definite advantage. Having been on the doorstep, he is ready to take the next step. He also has a great chance to hit his 100th career win this weekend. He is focused on the task at hand and has a great mindset. That is the first challenge, being in the right spot mentally for success."

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

This weekend could go down as one of the more special ones in the life of Ephrata senior wrestler Todd Dumas.

Not only is Dumas seeking his third-straight medal at the Lancaster-Lebanon League Tournament, which will be held Friday (4 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m.) at Conestoga Valley, but he could become the seventh wrestler in the Mounts’ storied history to reach the 100-career win plateau.

Dumas (22-3 on the season), who was a runner-up as a junior at 120 pounds and placed sixth during his sophomore year, is sitting on 95 now and could have 96 by the time Friday rolls around.

And while the competition should be fierce as usual (brackets won’t be released until Thursday), Ephrata Coach Josh Clair believes his senior is up for the challenge.

"Todd definitely has what it takes," Clair said Tuesday. "He just recently dropped to 120 and will be big for his weight, which is a definite advantage. Having been on the doorstep, he is ready to take the next step. He also has a great chance to hit his 100th career win this weekend. He is focused on the task at hand and has a great mindset. That is the first challenge, being in the right spot mentally for success."

By: BRUCE MORGAN Ephrata Review Staff, Staff Writer

Ephrata seems determined to be in the section race for the duration.

And Tuesday night at home vs. Solanco in a key battle for second place behind front running Cocalico, the Lady Mounts passed a huge test.

Sparked by Sarah Haddon’s game-high 24-point effort, and a stellar defensive effort against league-leading scorer Gillian Glackin (12 points), Ephrata opened up a two-game gap on the Mares (7-5, 9-8) with an impressive 42-25 victory.

More importantly, the Lady Mounts stayed right on the heels of Cocalico, which pulled out a tight 35-30 victory at home vs. E-town. Cocalico (10-2 section, 13-3 overall) remains one-game ahead of Ephrata (9-3, 13-5) with just four league games remaining.

This past Friday Ephrata tried to continue to position itself for a Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff berth.

The Warwick girls were hoping to throw a wrench into those plans.

It didn’t happen.

Capitalizing on a relentless defense and a game-high 14 points from Sarah Hoffer, the host Ephrata girls took a big first-half lead and remained in sole possession of second place in Section Two with a 46-35 win over Warwick in the nightcap of a boys-girls doubleheader.

By: BRUCE MORGAN Ephrata Review Staff, Staff Writer

Ephrata seems determined to be in the section race for the duration.

And Tuesday night at home vs. Solanco in a key battle for second place behind front running Cocalico, the Lady Mounts passed a huge test.

Sparked by Sarah Haddon’s game-high 24-point effort, and a stellar defensive effort against league-leading scorer Gillian Glackin (12 points), Ephrata opened up a two-game gap on the Mares (7-5, 9-8) with an impressive 42-25 victory.

More importantly, the Lady Mounts stayed right on the heels of Cocalico, which pulled out a tight 35-30 victory at home vs. E-town. Cocalico (10-2 section, 13-3 overall) remains one-game ahead of Ephrata (9-3, 13-5) with just four league games remaining.

This past Friday Ephrata tried to continue to position itself for a Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff berth.

The Warwick girls were hoping to throw a wrench into those plans.

It didn’t happen.

Capitalizing on a relentless defense and a game-high 14 points from Sarah Hoffer, the host Ephrata girls took a big first-half lead and remained in sole possession of second place in Section Two with a 46-35 win over Warwick in the nightcap of a boys-girls doubleheader.

By: BRUCE MORGAN Ephrata Review Staff, Staff Writer

Ephrata seems determined to be in the section race for the duration.

And Tuesday night at home vs. Solanco in a key battle for second place behind front running Cocalico, the Lady Mounts passed a huge test.

Sparked by Sarah Haddon’s game-high 24-point effort, and a stellar defensive effort against league-leading scorer Gillian Glackin (12 points), Ephrata opened up a two-game gap on the Mares (7-5, 9-8) with an impressive 42-25 victory.

More importantly, the Lady Mounts stayed right on the heels of Cocalico, which pulled out a tight 35-30 victory at home vs. E-town. Cocalico (10-2 section, 13-3 overall) remains one-game ahead of Ephrata (9-3, 13-5) with just four league games remaining.

This past Friday Ephrata tried to continue to position itself for a Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff berth.

The Warwick girls were hoping to throw a wrench into those plans.

It didn’t happen.

Capitalizing on a relentless defense and a game-high 14 points from Sarah Hoffer, the host Ephrata girls took a big first-half lead and remained in sole possession of second place in Section Two with a 46-35 win over Warwick in the nightcap of a boys-girls doubleheader.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Cocalico's Emily White drives the lane Tuesday night vs. Elizabethtown. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

Throughout the season, there will be nights when you have to work a little harder than others.

Tuesday was one of those nights for Cocalico.

No matter how hard the Lady Eagles tried to break away from pesky E-town, the Lady Bears found a way to draw close once again. And it was no surprise, given what transpired through the first 31 minutes, that E-town had the ball in the waning seconds with a chance to tie.

Trailing 33-30, the Lady Bears worked the ball around and got a look at a three-pointer. However, Rachel Sweger’s potential game tying shot hit iron, and Cocalico’s Kristen Boyer gobbled up the rebound.

Boyer was fouled with eight seconds left and went to the line where she hit two free throws to finally seal a hard-fought 35-30 Cocalico victory.

"It was a typical Section Two game," Cocalico Coach Tony DiMatteo said. "Any team can win on any given night and we know that. We knew that they were going to be aggressive, and they were in it till the end.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Cocalico's Emily White drives the lane Tuesday night vs. Elizabethtown. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

Throughout the season, there will be nights when you have to work a little harder than others.

Tuesday was one of those nights for Cocalico.

No matter how hard the Lady Eagles tried to break away from pesky E-town, the Lady Bears found a way to draw close once again. And it was no surprise, given what transpired through the first 31 minutes, that E-town had the ball in the waning seconds with a chance to tie.

Trailing 33-30, the Lady Bears worked the ball around and got a look at a three-pointer. However, Rachel Sweger’s potential game tying shot hit iron, and Cocalico’s Kristen Boyer gobbled up the rebound.

Boyer was fouled with eight seconds left and went to the line where she hit two free throws to finally seal a hard-fought 35-30 Cocalico victory.

"It was a typical Section Two game," Cocalico Coach Tony DiMatteo said. "Any team can win on any given night and we know that. We knew that they were going to be aggressive, and they were in it till the end.