The Pequea Valley girls' basketball team entered the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs as the number two seed out of Section Four.

The Braves' misfortune with that setup was having to face the Section One champion Lebanon Cedars, who breezed through the regular season unbeaten.

The Braves had difficulty making their shots early on, according to head coach Jason McDonald, thus having to fight back from an early deficit.

"Lebanon started off on a 10-0 run before we got on the board," McDonald said of the playoff game at Lebanon on Saturday afternoon, February 11. "Unfortunately, our shots did not fall. We had four shots go in and out in the first half and two in the second half."

Despite out-shooting the Braves in the first quarter, Lebanon only led by six points at halftime. Thanks to a 24-12 run in the third quarter, the Cedars stayed unbeaten as they topped Pequea 63-42.

Kailah Correa (20 pts) and Aaliyah Ferrer (13 pts) each made three three-point baskets for Lebanon. Zariyah Whigham scored 11 for the Cedars.

"Lebanon's X-factor rebounded the ball in the third quarter and had nine of her 11 points," McDonald said of Whigham. "She was the spark plug for Lebanon.

"Other than a three- or four-minute stretch in the third quarter, we played them very well," added McDonald. "The kids left everything on the floor. I'm proud of this group and the effort they play with every game."

The group's effort included an 11-point night by Katie Stoltzfus and 10 for Janae Patterson, who also collected four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Shania Stoltzfus poured in nine points to go with three rebounds. She also registered one block.

Bre Beiler and Sarah Arment (4 pts) tied for the Braves' team lead in rebounds with six each. Peyton Henshaw grabbed two rebounds and scored four points.

The Braves' quest for the L-L League trophy may have ended in this playoff loss, but Pequea Valley goes into the District Three Class 3A playoffs as the third seeded team.

"We now have to focus on our next game and our goal of going to the district semifinals so we can qualify for states," said McDonald.

SWIMMING

Aidan Wanner and Ethan Wanner competed in the L-L League Swimming Championships on Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, at Wilson's Roy G. Snyder Natatorium.

In the 100 yard breaststroke, Ethan Wanner had a seventh-place finish, registering a time of 1:02.57 to earn a medal. He also claimed 12th place in the 500 freestyle at a 5:15.81 clip.

Aidan Wanner also had a 12th-place finish, swimming the 100 butterfly at 58.69 seconds. He claimed 15th place (59.28) in the 100 backstroke.