Lancaster Mennonite 50 Lancaster Country Day 44: wrap

Written by: Dell Jackson on January 3, 2024

Lancaster Mennonite 50 Lancaster Country Day 44
Jan. 3, 2024

Lancaster Mennonite (8-3, 2-0) clamped down on the defensive end in the second half to earn a Section 4 ‘W’ over Lancaster Country Day (4-4, 0-2). Both teams play a LOT of underclassmen. Case in point, LMHS high scorers were Sophomores Cody Fisher and Bill Rothwein, and LCDay’s top scorers were Jordan Ashby, 5’10 sophomore and Jeremy Ouilikin, 5”9” jn. For the most part, LMHS controlled the boards. The Blazers also used a variety of full court pressure to keep LCDay out of a rhythm on the offensive end. At the end, LMHS made enough plays to hold off a late charge by the LCDay Cougars.

LCDay started of strong and took and early 6-0 lead on baskets by Chris Dukes and Ben Sponaugle. Mennonite tied it up on a post move by Rothwein. A triple by Jeremy Oulilikon put the Cougars up 9-6 at the 2:10 mark. Neither team could put together any runs basically due to the defense of both teams. Bodies were flying all over the place as each possession was contested. LCDay 11-10 at the end of one.

The second period was much the same as the first. Neither team could string together an offensive run. LCDay forced 7 turnovers in the second stanza, as they played LMHS’ screen and roll very well. Ashby scored LCDay’s last 11 points (3 triples during the stretch). Cody Fisher for the Blazers scored late in the second to cut the lead 26-22 at the break.

Mennonite would control the boards and therefore the third period. The Blazers slowly took control of the game as they netted the first 7 points of the quarter-the last on 2 foul shots by Rothwein around the 4 min mark. Jordan Lilly scored on sweet twisty drive at the 2:50 giving the Blazers a 31-26 lead. The Cougars were stuck on 26 points for most the the third. Finally Ouilikin popped a three-ball to end the drought at the 2:20 mark. Rothwein continued his work on the boards – both ends. He scored on a lay-up and then an old fashioned 3 point play off a putback. LCDay scored the next 2 baskets (Kane Kirby, 6’ sophomore, and Cam Harris, 6’1” freshman) as the quarter ended 36-33 in Mennonite’s favor.

LMHS netted the first 6 points of the 4th to take control of the game, and extended their lead to 47-34 with more than 4 minutes on the clock. Game over? Not quite. The Cougars would turn up the heat using some traps as they forced LMHS into 5 turnovers during the period. The Blazers went on an offensive drought – over 4 minutes without scoring. In the meantime, LCDay went on a 10-0 run. The Cougars had a chance to tie the game under a minute but the three-point shot missed. LMHS made enough fouls at the end of the game to claim the W.

Points:
Lancaster Country Day: Jordan Ashby 14, Jeremy Ouilikin 11
Lancaster Mennonite: Jordon Lily 11, Bill Rothwein 12 (with a double double), Cody Fisher 14

Unofficial Stats:
Rebounds: LCDay 17, LMHS 29
Turnovers: LCDay 12, LMHS 16
Blocks: LCDay 3, LMHS 3