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Cedar Crest rolls past Warwick to claim L-L League title
 

Cedar Crest rolls past Warwick to claim L-L League title

Written by: TJ Eck on February 17, 2024

 

Cedar Crest sets its goals early in the season.

“First day in the gym, they point up to the banners and say that’s where we want to be (at) the end of the year,” said Cedar Crest senior point guard Leo Tirado. 

The Falcons’ banners will need to be updated after Cedar Crest defeated Warwick, 66-47, Friday night to claim the 2023-2024 Lancaster-Lebanon League boys basketball championship at Manheim Township High School.

“It feels great,” said Cedar Crest junior forward RJ Young. “To do it with these guys, it means everything. We have talked about it since we were little and to finally do it, it’s just great.”

Cedar Crest displayed a strong defensive effort against Warwick’s potent shooting attack. The Warriors converted 14 three-pointers in their L-L League semifinal win against Penn Manor Wednesday evening but were limited to just five triples against the Falcons Friday night.

“It was our entire defensive gameplan,” said Cedar Crest head coach Tom Smith. “We just wanted to chase them off the three-point line…we had to take their top thing away from them, which obviously was the three-point line…worked out in our favor.”

By defending the perimeter, Cedar Crest forced Warwick to drive the ball to the basket. Waiting there was Young, a six-foot-seven forward, who finished the night with six blocks while altering countless other shots. 

“I love it,” said Young. “It’s fun to me. A block gets my team an extra possession. It’s just awesome.”

On the offensive side of the floor, it was a balanced effort from the Falcons.  Four players scored in double-figures with Fernando Marquez leading the way. The left-handed senior forward tallied a game-high 18 points in the victory. Tirado scored 15 points while knocking down three three-pointers. Young and senior shooting guard Owen Chernich added 11 points apiece.

“Any of our five can score,” said Tirado. “I think when we move the ball we can all get in double-figures every night…it just shows how dangerous we can be and how effective we can be.”

Smith added: “That’s what we do. At any given time, any one of our guys can go off and I think that is what makes us a difficult team to defend…our backbone of the program is defense but we can score the ball too.”

Warwick was led Friday night by junior forward Caleb Johnsen, who scored a team-high 16 points. Sophomore forward Ya’Majesty Washington added 12 points in the loss. The Warriors finish as L-L League runner-up for the seventh time in program history. Next up is a PIAA District 3 Class AAAAA first round matchup at Red Land Monday night (Feb. 19).

Cedar Crest claims its fifth league title in program history.  But there’s not much time to celebrate. The Falcons will host Wilson in the first round of the PIAA District 3 Class AAAAAA Tournament Tuesday night (February 20).  Cedar Crest defeated Wilson earlier this season. 

“We played them before. They obviously gave us fits,” said Young. “We pulled out with the win but they’re obviously a great team so we just have to focus on that.”

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