Garden Spot came up short in a Section Three girls' basketball game at Lampeter-Strasburg on Monday, February 8. The Pioneers' dominant first half helped them hold off the Spartans 55-31.

The Spartans fell to 0-6 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League (0-9 overall) while the Pioneers, who are chasing first-place Cocalico in the section standings, improved to 6-2, 7-3

The bulk of the Spartans' offense came from Erin Gonzalez and Taylor Soehner. Gonzalez put up 14 points, including a pair of three-point baskets. Soehner finished with 13 points.

Emma Drouillard led the Pioneers with 11 points. Teammate Hailey Leaman added 10.

The previous week, the Spartans had come close to claiming their first win of the year in a non-league game at Cedar Crest. In that Thursday evening contest, they took a 22-10 lead into the second half. That was when the Falcons' offense came alive, outscoring Garden Spot 25-9 the rest of the way for a 35-31 triumph.

Leading the way as the game's top scorer was Gonzalez with 17 points.

In Wednesday's non-league game at Elco, the Raiders held off the Spartans charge in the fourth quarter and claimed a 48-34 win.

The Raiders outscored the Spartans 28-10 in the first half.

Gonzalez tied Elco's Amanda Smith for the top scoring honors of the game, each putting up 15.

SWIMMING

A handful of Garden Spot swimmers competed in the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships that were held on Thursday and Friday, February 4-5, at the Roy G. Snyder Natatorium at Wilson High School. Team captain Ashley Parry led the way for Garden Spot, placing second in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:56.77. Parry, who's a senior, grabbed fourth in the 100 butterfly at 58.67, improving from last year's fifth-place time of 59.77.

"I'm really proud of her 100 fly time," said Garden Spot coach Darin Parry. "She has struggled to consistently stay under a minute in the event. Consistency is the key. She positioned herself well for a great showing at the District Three Championships in March."

Her younger sister Kayla Parry put up a personal best of 5:21.57 in the 500 freestyle, earning third in the event. The sophomore also earned second (2:11.51) in the 200 individual medley.

"She was struggling in January to reclaim a 2:11 time in her 200 IM event," Parry explained. "She is hoping to break that at the district championships."

Kylee Barshinger swam the 100 breaststroke and placed 14th with a personal best of 1:17.46.

In the boys' championships on Friday, Peter Hasse earned 15th place in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.14 in addition to finishing 11th in the 100 backstroke, registering 1:00.24.

Eric Becker swam the 100 freestyle at a 53.90 clip, which was good for 15th.

"It was another great meet for our swimmers at the L-L League Championships," commented the coach. "The swimmers represented the school well while having fun and achieving some great finishing positions."

It should be noted that Garden Spot swimmers achieved this while their school does not actually have a swim team.

"The Spartans do not have an actual high school sponsored swim team," Parry explained. "But individual swimmers may represent Garden Spot in PIAA sanctioned swim meets with a school approved coach."

AIR RIFLE

With the pinpoint accuracy of air rifle teammates Veronica Fox and Magdalene Martin, the Spartans topped Elizabethtown 497-492 in L-L League air rifle competition on Friday, February 5. They also defeated the Bears in the next match by a 494-492 score, taking their rightful place atop the league standings with an 11-1 mark.

Fox and Martin both registered scores of 100 while juniors Curtis Nolt and Amanda Wolfe as well as freshman Leksi Bender each shot 99's.

Wolfe and Bender both finished with 99's in the next match against E-town. It was a four-way tie for top score on the squad as Jack Werner and Tanner Donahue also scored 99's. Nolt finished with a 98.

BOYS' BASKETBALL

Surviving a wild fourth quarter in which the scoreboard was lit up with 35 total points, Garden Spot outlasted York Suburban at home on Thursday, February 4. In a non-league boys' basketball game that resembled a battle between two world history forces, the Spartans topped the Trojans 53-44, improving their record to 4-5.

In the second quarter, the scoreboard duplicated its 11-8 Garden Spot margin from the opening period. Leading by a half dozen at halftime, the Spartans increased their lead to 35-27 heading into the fourth quarter where they managed to hold off the Trojans.

Jonathan Vega led Garden Spot with 14 points. He connected twice from three-point range and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the foul line. Brendan Weaver (13 pts) and Jesse Martin (12 pts) provided the offensive support.

Playing against visiting Elco on Wednesday, February 10, the Spartans fell short, 67-56. The Raiders' big 23-14 run in the third quarter gave them the rolling advantage they needed after a one-point lead by Spot at halftime.

Jesse Martin poured in 18 points, putting up a dozen of those on three-point shots. Tyler Martin racked up 11 points, including a pair of treys.

WRESTLING

The Spartans improved to 11-2 on the year after claiming two of three matches at the Rocket Duals at Spring Grove High School on Saturday, February 6. They out-wrestled Hershey and Northeastern but came up short against the host school.

The Rockets topped the Spartans 47-17. Mason Casey (126) lost a 9-8 decision to Ivan Vega while Jeremy Schilling was also one point short in a 6-5 decision at 138.

Garrett Gehr (132) earned a 20-5 technical fall while both the 145- and 285-pound bouts ended with Joshua Martin and Dustin Swanson posting pins, respectively.

Martin was one of four Spartans to register a pin in the 60-15 defeat of Hershey. He took down Matt Locklier with only three seconds remaining in the first period. Jayden Redcay notched a pin at the 152 while Casey came away with one at 126. Diego Portales posted a pin in the 120-pound bout, finishing the job in 45 seconds.

The Spartans were also aided by a half dozen Trojan forfeits.

Portales pitched a shutout against his Northeastern opponent, defeating Constantino Kocoronis 6-0 to get Garden Spot underway. The Spartans won 62-12.

Gehr gained another technical, winning 16-1 over Nekoda Keller at 132 while Casey (126) and Schilling (138) pinned their respective opponents.

The momentum continued with falls also coming at 145 (Aaron Martin) and 152 (Redcay).

Mason Musser pinned Tyler Schmerge at 215. This was sandwiched between two very quick pins by teammates Tyler Hurst (189) and Swanson (285), both of whom finished the job in under 30 seconds.

Adam Hahn earned another six points with a fall at 106.

The Spartans squared off against Donegal on Tuesday, February 9 at home. In a meet that was closely contested, the Spartans finished on the short end of a 35-21 final.

The Indians won a few close decisions - Silas Mumper edging Aaron Martin 5-4 at 145, Joel Grillo's 8-5 victory over Tyler Hurst at 189 and Josiah Smucker's frustrating 4-0 loss at 120.

Donegal registered two pins and a technical while Swanson earned a pin for Garden Spot (285) and Hahn claimed one more at 106. Casey came away with a 13-6 decision at 126.