Win or go home, do or die, backs against the wall...doesn't matter what phrasing you use the meaning is the same and all too real for the boys' basketball team. An opening round loss to Lower Dauphin back on February 21st dropped the Bears into the 9th place consolation bracket, meaning E-town needed three straight wins to keep their season alive and earn their second ever PIAA berth.

Elizabethtown took the first of those three steps on the 24th, using a strong second half to slip by Octorara 59-58. The Braves controlled the opening half, enjoying a 28-22 lead at the break but E-town started chipping away in the third, led by Patrick and Matthew Gilhool. Those efforts resulted in a 17-15 run through the third with Patrick Gilhool picking up nine of his 15-points in the frame, helping to cut the deficit to four-points, 43-39.

Matthew Gilhool, with an assist from Techeal Gonquoi, led the fourth quarter charge where Elizabethtown posted a 20-15 edge to steal the one-point victory. Gilhool and Gonquoi combined for 12 of E-town's 20 fourth-quarter points, giving Gilhool a team high 17 and Gonquoi 11.

Step number two took place on the 28th with Elizabethtown topping Milton Hershey 57-45 in their third straight postseason game in the friendly confines of Daubert Gymnasium. This time the Bears started hot, opening the game on a 12-2 run only to have the Trojans roar back with a 22-16 run through the second frame to make it a 28-24 game at the break.

Elizabethtown regained their first quarter mojo at intermission leading to a 19-14 edge in the third and a 10-7 edge in the fourth, pushing their lead to the final 12-point margin. Patrick Gilhool dropped a team high 23-pints while Patrick Gilhool added 17. Gonquoi (eight points), Braden Cummings (seven points) and Dax Kelly (two points) finished the scoring.

The final step took place on March 2nd with a 68-57 victory over Palmyra, giving the Bears the ninth and final PIAA berth out of District 3 in the 5A field. E-town finished the first quarter up 21-8 after closing out the frame on a 16-0 run. That closeout gave the Bears more then enough cushion to survive multiple Palmyra runs over the remaining three quarters. The Cougars used two of those runs to control both the second and third quarter, outscoring Elizabethtown 11-9 in the second and 16-12 in the third. That made it a 42-35 game heading into the final frame where E-town withstood more pressure from Palmyra leading to a 26-22 edge and the 11-point final margin.

Patrick Gilhool led that decisive first quarter charge, scoring 12 of his game high 32-points in the opening stanza. Matthew Gilhool (13-points) and Techeal Gonquoi (10-points) were the only other Bears to reach double figures in the win.

WRESTLING

The last two members of the wrestling team still standing, Nathan Thomas and Aiden Robinson, saw their season come to a close on February 25th and 26th at Spring Grove High School. The pair of juniors took part in the District 3-3A Championship and posted a combined 1-4 record.

"Nathan and Aiden had outstanding seasons," said head coach Mike Sernoffsky. "They were in the top 16 wrestlers in their weight classes in District III (63 schools)," with the skipper adding, "although they fell short of their goal of the state tournament, they realize they belong at the 'big dance'."

Thomas accounted for the lone win but only after dropping his opening match in the 138-pound bracket. That opening round loss came at the hands of Red Land's Reese Polulak by a 9-1 final, ending Thomas' chance at gold. He did rebound to knock off Eathan Vogelin of Governor Mifflin by a 7-4 final but was not able to keep momentum going, falling to Hempfield's Clay Gaines by a 7-1 count.

Robinson was unable to find his footing in the 152-pound bracket, falling in back-to-back matches to end his season with a 33-7 mark. Those losses both came via major decision, one to Cumberland Valley's Gabriel Belga and the other to Tristen Brenneman of Red Lion.

"The experience of wrestling in the district tournament will motivate them to return and reach higher goals," said Sernoffsky, "They will also be an example and become leaders in bringing other members of the team along with them next season."

BOWLING

The bowling postseason tour continued February 26th with a trip to ABC North Lanes in Harrisburg for the District 3 Championship. A total of seven Bears made the trip with an eighth, Alaina Telenko, opting to take part in her final NIT Field Hockey tournament in Richmond, VA instead.

Telenko's absence left E-town with three Lady Bear bowlers, none of whom managed to make it past the five qualifying games. Hannah Griffie was the top finisher, totaling 814 pins over her qualifying games, good enough for 26th. Gabriella Eberle tallied 773 pins over her five games, finishing 32nd while Kendra Griffie finished in 39th with her 679-pin count.

A total of four boys made the trip as well with Ayden Pope posting the highest finish with his 940 qualifying score, placing him 21st in the 40-person field. Reigning L-L champ, Zach Wentzel, finished 26th with his 909 while Derek Deardorff was five spots and 52-pins behind his teammate. Daniel Eberle rounded out the quartet, finishing 36th with his 825.