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Cross Court Vision: Ephrata v Conestoga Valley
 

Cross Court Vision: Ephrata v Conestoga Valley

Written by: Sterling Cross on January 18, 2025

 

On Court:

  • Cooper Truskey started the first half  5 for 6 from 3PT range. He even made one that didn’t count as a foul was called away from the ball just prior. He was held scoreless in the second.
  • Both Marqus Hardin and Demere Salisberry missed fast break dunk attempts in the first half. CV rebounded the miss and scored on the ensuing possession whereas Hardin hung on the rim and was called for a technical foul. What should’ve been 2 points for the Mounts instead became two for the Buckskins, swinging the score 4 points. Ephrata went into half time down 3
  • Things remained relatively close after the break until the Mounts decided to go into a full court press a few minutes into the third. Camrin Bair and Demere Salisberry had no trouble breaking it. The defensive gamble left Sawyer Esbenshade unguarded from 3 and he made them pay… repeatedly. Esbenshade now has 32 3PTs this year which ranks 3rd in the section behind only Truskey (34) and teammate Tyler Schaub (37)
Overall Thoughts:
  • I told ya so.
  • It may be time to sound the alarms in Ephrata. Since starting 3-0 in league play, they’re now 2-3 over their last 5: A 17 point loss to Warwick in a game that at the time was for first place in the section; a 14 point loss to Solanco, a team that is otherwise winless in league play; and now with second place in the section on the line, a 10 point loss to CV, a team they beat earlier in the year by 14. Even if The Mounts win out, they’ll need some help in order to make the LL post season. If they can end the season at least tied for the second best record in the league they currently hold the tiebreaker (although the district 3 power rankings have not yet been updated for last nights result).
  • Demere Salisberry is the engine that runs the Conestoga Valley basketball machine. He leads the Buckskins in scoring at a shade over 15ppg. He had 21 last night. But the freshman appears to be as mature as he is talented. That feels important. Half the gym in a road game seemed to be in attendance specifically to watch #3. His basketball pedigree is well known. If he doesn’t produce at a high level the Buckskins can lose to anyone (he had 8 points in CV’s loss to 2-13 Cedar Cliff). Yet, to the extent that creates any added pressure for Salisberry, it doesn’t show. After tonight Conestoga Valley controls their own destiny as far as the league play offs are concerned. They’ll get as far as Demere can take them.
Up Next:
  • Ephrata plays Lower Dauphin today at 430pm in the Manheim Central Hoopfest, which will be live streamed on NHFHS by the LLHoops broadcast team. They’ll be back home in league action on Tuesday against Garden Spot
  • CV plays Warwick at home Tuesday. A win would go a long way towards locking up the second seed in section 2. If they aren’t able to get it done they’ll be rooting for Warwick to beat Ephrata when they play one week later.
Off Court:
  • The section 2 student sections are some of the best in the league. They travel to away games and have ruckus home traditions. Ephrata has a guy who wears a big E chain and beats a drum (only pregame, event staff take it away before the opening tip).
  • Lots of LL Hoopers in attendance for the marquee Friday night match up. I saw most of the starting 5 for Manheim Central and McCaskey as well several recent Lancaster Lebanon League alums.

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