January 3rd

LS has been a dominant force in Section 3 for the last several years (5/6 Section crowns). Lancaster Catholic has been the Beast of Section 4 for several years. When the LL re-aligned last season, Lancaster Catholic moved “up” to Section 3. Both teams have played each other via cross-over games but now we have home and away.

LS is known for its three-ball efficiency on the offense end. LCHS uses a blend of good defense and excellent ball movement offense most of the time. LS did use the three-ball (6) but relied more on its defense and the post play of Luke Hines (6’3” sn.) A few defensive runs put the Pios in the drivers seat, with LCHS making late threes to cut the final score to 9 points.

LS scored first by the triple by Hines- should have known right then and there that he would have a monster game. Neither team would put together a major run in the period, but the action was up and down. Thadeus Lee, 6’7” jn for Catholic, led the Crusaders with 6 points. 16-14 LS after one.

Catholic would score the first 5 points of the second (Layup by Leo Lambert, 5’10” jn, and a three-ball by Ben Brody, 5’10” jn.) LCHS up 19-16. The Pios switched their defense to a 1-2-2 half court trap, resulting in a few turnovers and LS running off 13-2 string. LS’ top gun, Ben Wert, 6’3” sn, was held in check for most the half, nailed a three ball and followed that up with a layup -29-21 Pios late in the second. Catholic would cut the lead to 4 at the 2:30 mark on a bucket by Lee. How does LS answer? Well, the 1-2 punch of Hines and Wert pushed the lead to 35-25 at the break.

Defense from LS was on display in the third. The Pioneers held LCHS to 9 point in the quarter while tallying 15 themselves. At one point, Hines scored 9 out of 11 points for LS, while he was getting the ball close to the basket and posting up. LS ended the quarter on a 7-0 run capped off by a jumper by Chase Smucker, 5’11” Soph., 50-34 heading in the fourth.

LCHS would hit 4 three-balls in the 4th to keep the game somewhat interesting, but LS was in complete control. Catholic had to resort to fouling. LS spread the court and made plenty of foul shots (12 /15 ) to guarantee a ‘W’ on a road trip.

LS is 8-2 overall and 3-0 in Section 3.
Lancaster Catholic is 4-5 and 1-2 in Section 3.

Unofficial Stats
Rebounds: LCHS 20 LS 22
Turnovers: LCHS 14, LS 10
Blocks: LCHS 6, LS 1

Points:
LS: Luke Hines 24, Ben Wert 18, Chase Smucker 13
LCHS: Thadeus Lee 22, Jaevon Parker 12