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Lebanon hoops 4-point play: Week 2


Four takeaways from the week that was in Lebanon County high school basketball

They might just have something special cooking out in Myerstown.

Thanks to a 69-55 win Friday against Lebanon Catholic, the Elco boys basketball team (4-0, 1-0 Lancaster-Lebanon) remained both undefeated and at the center of Lebanon County hoops storylines to date. Colton Lawrence surpassed the 20-point mark again against the Beavers and now averages nearly 26 per game this season.

His efforts have been emblematic of the Raiders' potent team offense, as Elco's eclipsed 60 points in its every contest. That streak will be put to the test next week, when the Raiders twice hit the road around a Wednesday home game against Lancaster Catholic. The latter road trip is a scheduled date with Cocalico and another high-volume scorer in Tucker Lescoe.

While every win streak inevitably comes to an end, there's almost sure to be no shortage of points or excitement for Elco this season.

Cedar Crest enters tough stretch: Beginning Monday, we're going to learn a lot more about these Falcons.

Cedar Crest (2-0, 1-0 Lancaster-Lebanon) will soon entertain four games in six days, opening with tips at Ephrata and at home against Conestoga Valley on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. While both games were decided Falcon victories a year ago, this is a far different and greener group in 2015-16. Tom Smith's bunch, still unbeaten to date thanks to a 58-38 win over Solanco last Friday, largely does not know the demands of a full varsity season, which will hit hard and fast this week.

For after its crossover matchups, Cedar Crest is scheduled to travel to fellow Section One power McCaskey on Friday night, before taking on Central York back at home less than 24 hours later. The Falcons took two of three meetings with the Red Tornado last season and knocked off the Panthers on an Evan Horn buzzer-beater.

Given the upcoming grind that awaits, Cedar Crest can only hope it can save its best for last yet again.

Girls' basketball

Northern Lebanon stays hot early: The feel-good story of the girls' hoops scene in the early going has been Northern Lebanon, which improved to 4-0 with a 53-35 drubbing of Pequea Valley on Friday night.

Yes, it's still early. And yes, the Vikings have had some competitive squads in recent years, so 4-0 isn't cause to plan a parade or anything.

But this group has the potential to be special. Just ask veteran Palmyra coach Ron Berman, who pulled a few of the Vikings aside to offer encouragement after his squad got licked by NL last Saturday night.

Berman undoubtedly sees what everyone else does when he looks at Northern Lebanon: A superb floor leader in junior guard Zoe Zerman, an athletic slasher in junior forward Megan Brandt, and three excellent ballhandlers and shooters in Zerman, Liz Voight and Cassiah Ray.

It's going to be a fun winter, Fredericksburg. Enjoy it.

Hill continues climb: Alexis Hill burst onto the scene for the Lebanon High girls as a freshman last season, wowing observers with her athleticism and tenacity.

She's not exactly enduring a sophomore jinx thus far.

Through the first three games, Hill, a 5-9 forward, is averaging 23.3 points and dropped in 24 in the Cedars' 47-46 win at Manheim Township.

Hill is already on the radar of Division I college coaches and spent part of her off-season scrimmaging with the LHS boys team during open-gym workouts.

Yep, she's something. And she's only three games into her sophomore season. Stay tuned, this is going to get good.