The Garden Spot boys' basketball team wrapped up its 2021-22 campaign with an exciting game at Conestoga Valley on Thursday, February 10.

Both teams got off to a fast start, causing the rapidly increasing digits on both sides of the gymnasium scoreboard. When the opening period ended, the Buckskins led 21-20.

"We knew going into that game that we were going to have to score some points," head coach Nate Musselman remarked. "I think we scored eight three-pointers just in the first half."

The lightning pace continued through the first three quarters of the game with Garden Spot holding a 42-37 lead at halftime and a six-point edge heading into the fourth.

The Buckskins held off the Spartans (8-14) in the final stanza to earn a 76-73 win.

Seniors Brendan Weaver and Luke Steiner, with four triples, led Spot in scoring with 22 and 15 points, respectively. Weaver also hit a pair of three-pointers.

"Our kids were shooting the ball well and playing good basketball," Musselman added. "Our seniors were all smiles after the game.

"It was one of the most fun games I've ever coached," he continued. "Of course, you prefer to get a win, but it was a great experience."

DeMajh Salisbery and Cameron Swinton scored 19 points each for CV (11-11).

"They had their top scorers back, so we knew it was going to be a high-scoring game," Musselman added.

Michael Heisley (8), Bryce Weaver (7) and George Rohrbaugh (7) rounded out the scoring.

"Next year we move up to Section Two with the league's realignment," Musselman noted. "They'll be on our schedule twice."

Speaking of next year, as a season winds down, a high school athletic program looks to reload for the contributions of this year's seniors that will be missed in the coming season.

In the case of the Spartans, some of the reloading they'll do would be keeping it in the family.

Seniors Ryan Conrad and Brendan Weaver each have a younger brother in the program.

"Kind of funny how we had two sets of brothers on the team this year," Musselman said.

Jace Conrad will be a sophomore and Bryce Weaver will be a junior next season.

"If Bryce continues to improve, he and Jace will step right into their older brothers' shoes - that's what is projected," Musselman said.

Among Jace Conrad's contributions this year was a team-high 20 points, including three treys, against Lebanon. In that same game, the Weaver brothers each tallied nine points.

"It was a big deal in a varsity basketball game to come onto the court with your brother there and score 20 points," Musselman remarked. "Jace is more of a guard and Ryan is a small forward."

When it comes to the Weaver boys, however, we are talking relatively taller players you will generally find under the basket.

"Bryce is probably all of 6-foot-3 and is probably going to be bigger than his older brother," Musselman said of the 6-5 York College bound senior Weaver. "Brendan is tall and lanky and he's going to be a very good rebounder in college. Bryce is a big, under the basket guy."

For the younger Conrad brother, Musselman observed, "With all freshmen, we tell them to be patient. Ryan has always been there to support his younger brother.

"We have a lot of opportunity in the off-season for our young players to improve for next year," continued the coach. "We hope the returning kids take advantage of that."

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

With their convincing 57-39 victory over Conestoga Valley on Friday night, February 11, the Spartans evened their record at 11-11, thus carrying a winning momentum into the District Three Class 5A playoffs. The Spartans, who finished 15th in the district power rankings, will battle Gettysburg on the road. The Warriors (17-4) come in as the second-seeded team.

"We knew, going into Friday's game that if we won, there was a 90 percent chance we would make districts," said head coach Kevin Gensemer. "We played probably our best game of the year."

A fast start by the Spartans helped them hold off a 19-point fourth-quarter surge by the visiting Buckskins. Spot carried a 26-11 lead into the locker room at halftime and increased the lead to 39-20 after the third quarter.

"We came out and played probably the best defense we've played and got a lot of points off turnovers," Gensemer noted. "Everybody contributed."

The twosome of Erin Gonzalez and Taylor Soehner came through with 15 points each. Soehner hit two treys and went 7-for-8 at the free throw line.

"Erin and Taylor both played well to get us in [district playoffs]," Gensemer said.

Morgan Pavelik provided 11 points while Nicole Zeiset finished with nine.

"It was probably the most balanced scoring we had all year," added the coach.

SWIMMING

Kayla Parry was a promising sophomore a year ago at the L-L League Swimming & Diving Championships, placing second in the 200-yard individual medley and third with a personal best time of 5:21.57 in the 500 freestyle.

This year, the junior broke through with first-place finishes in the league championships, held at Wilson High School's Roy G. Snyder Natatorium, February 11-12.

Parry won the 100-yard butterfly in 57.44 seconds, which was only 0.17 seconds short of the league and meet record. She also claimed first in the 200 IM, winning in 2:07.04, which was five seconds ahead of second-place finisher Melanie Hahn of Warwick. Parry improved on last years' time of 2:11.51.

Earning a medal on the boys' side was junior Peter Hasse in the 100 breaststroke. He had a marked improvement on his sophomore campaign (1:09.14, 15th place) as he claimed sixth place with a time of 1:03.89. Hasse finished ninth (2:06.84) in the boys' 200 IM.

Also hoping to make a bigger splash next year are Zach Delgado and Kylee Barshinger - both sophomores. Delgado's time of 59.47 was good for 15th in the 100 fly. Barshinger placed 19th (2:39.17) in the 200 IM and 21st (1:20.76) in the 100 breaststroke.

AIR RIFLE

Garden Spot finished third in the team standings at the L-L League Air Rifle Championships held on February 12. Elizabethtown, led by the top two individual shooters Rachel Broomell and Branden Rain, topped the team scoring with 993. Manheim Central finished second at 991 and Garden Spot claimed third with 988 points.

Broomell led everyone with a score of 200, hitting center target four times. Rain also scored 200 on the day with one center.

Jack Werner and Leksi Bender both recorded 199's on the day. Finishing 13th overall despite one center hit, was Magdalene Martin with a score of 198.

Curtis Nolt's marksmanship also landed a center target. The senior finished 22nd with a score of 197. Matthew Sauder (195, 0 centers) finished 30th overall.