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Powerhouse Lebanon Catholic fends off CSY


SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP — Christian School of York girls' basketball coach Mike Graybill has referenced the Lebanon Catholic program run by Patti Hower as the measuring stick for Class A programs in District 3.

For the second time in two seasons, the Lady Crusaders had an opportunity to see how they measured up against the 17-time district champs. Lebanon Catholic scored a 20-point win over CSY in the district title game last season.

The two teams rematched in the semifinals of this year's district tourney and it was the Beavers again using their athleticism and skill in advancing with a 59-36 win at Cumberland Valley High School.

"We had a timeout there in the fourth quarter and I told the girls that there wasn't anything we were doing that isn't easily fixable," Graybill said. "(Lebanon Catholic) is just fundamentally better than we are."

Fourth-seeded Christian School of York (18-8) will meet No. 3-seed Harrisburg Academy in the third-place game Thursday at a site and time to be determined. CSY met Harrisburg Academy on the road Jan. 14 without sophomore starter Mekenzie Smith, falling 48-31. The top four Class A teams advance to the state tourney.

Top-seeded Lebanon Catholic (19-6) will play for the Class A championship against second-seeded Halifax at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Giant Center. The Beavers are aiming for their third district crown in the past five seasons.

Lebanon Catholic wasted little time establishing a lead, going on a 13-2 run to open the game and leading by as many as 18 in the second quarter.

Kendis Butler nailed three 3-pointers in the final 2:32 before half to rally the Lady Crusaders to within 13 points, 32-19, but Lebanon Catholic senior Allison Warren scored six of her 18 points to extend the lead to 20 heading into the fourth quarter.

"We just told them at that point that we earned playing here," Graybill said. "It's still basketball. Let's play our game and finish this."

Warren and sophomore Neesha Pierre both finished with a game-high 18 for the Beavers. The 5-foot-5 sophomore Butler topped CSY with 13 points.

"We have (Lebanon Catholic) on our regular-season schedule next year," Graybill said. "I'm excited about playing them up at their place. You've just got to keep measuring yourself against the best."

Hower, in her 38th season of coaching the Beavers, has guided Lebanon Catholic to 21 District 3 Class A championship game appearances. Her program won state championships in 1992 and 1995.

"Patti Hower has won more basketball games than any one person deserves to or should be allowed to," said Graybill with a laugh. "Playing them is a privilege."

Christian School of York (36)
Kendis Butler 4 1-3 13, Smith 4 1-1 9, Landis 1 0-0 2, Stauffer 1 0-0 2, Hess 2 3-4 9, Larson 0 1-2 1, Tschoop 0 0-0 0, Horak 0 0-0 0, Martin 0 0-0 0, Shelton 0 0-0 0. Totals —  12 6-10 36.
Lebanon Catholic (59)
Sholly 2 1-2 7, Neesha Pierre 7 4-5 18, Allison Warren 7 2-6 18, Celine Mars 5 1-1 11, Shellhamer 0 0-0 0, Kline 0 0-0 0, Clay 0 0-0 0, Callahan 0 1-2 1, Kostow 0 0-0 0, Pastal 1 2-2 4. Totals —  22 11-18 59.
Christian School of York _ 5 _ 14 _ 8 _ 9 _  — _ 36 
Lebanon Catholic _19 _ 13 _ 15 _ 12 _ — _ 59  
3-point goals 
— CSY 6 (Butler 4, Hess 2), LC 4 (Sholly 2, Warren 2).