Manheim Central Defeats Octorara 59-56: Kehler on Hoops

Written by: Dell Jackson on February 14, 2023

Manheim Central Defeats Octorara 59-56 in Lancaster-Lebanon League Playoff Quarterfinal

Manheim Central trailed just once, at 2 to 0, on Monday night in their 59 to 56 win over visiting Octorara in a Lancaster-Lebanon League playoff quarterfinal. It was an absorbing game between two teams with contrasting styles of play. By virtue of the win, Manheim Central advances to the league semifinal round and will face Cedar Crest on Wednesday in a game to be played at Conestoga Valley.

Manheim Central came into the game with a stellar 18-4 record this season. Octorara was 16-6 in the regular year, but they had played a more challenging non-league schedule than had Manheim Central. As the game developed, the two squads were fairly evenly matched in height, quickness, firepower, and defensive ability.

Octorara scored first, on a drive by senior Josh Bare, but Manheim Central quickly took the lead on a 3-pointer by 6’ junior Zach Benner. Manheim Central never trailed from that point. Octorara tied the game at 5. Manheim Central then launched an 11 to 2 run, with their points coming on a hoop inside by 6’ 3” junior Aaron Enterline, a 3-pointer by 5’ 11” senior Trey Grube, a driving dunk by Enterline, a layup by Enterline, and a hook by Grube. That made it 16-7, Manheim Central.

The first quarter was played at a fast pace. The more open the game and the faster the flow of the action, the better things went for Manheim Central in this matchup. Octorara focused on trying to get the ball inside. Manheim Central switched defenses very frequently, playing a lot of man-to-man and 1-3-1 zone, while occasionally mixing in what looked to be a 2-1-2 zone. Whatever defense Manheim Central played, Octorara’s preference was to get the ball inside. Clearly concerned about Grube’s outside shooting ability, Octorara played man-to-man defense almost exclusively. After eight minutes of play, Manheim Central led 21 to 13.

Manheim Central took their first double digit lead of the game, 23 to 13, early in the second quarter on a hoop inside by 6’ freshman Chase Book. A couple of minutes later, Book’s pull-up jumper gave Manheim Central a 29 to 16 lead, and that would prove to be their largest margin of the contest. Then Octorara got a spark from senior Mason Lambert who substituted into the game and spurred his team’s comeback with his quickness and a key 3-pointer that cut Manheim Central’s lead back to single digits. Late in the second quarter, Octorara junior Zach Kirk scored inside to cut Manheim Central’s lead to four points. Manheim Central’s Book capped his superb first half with a 3-pointer at the end of the second quarter to give his team a 34 to 27 halftime lead.

Octorara did a much better job on both boards in the second half, and it was key to their resurgence in the game. Manheim Central didn’t get any second chance points after intermission, and gritty Octorara chopped away at the home side’s lead. Trailing 44 to 36 late in the third quarter, Octorara scored six consecutive points on a hoop inside by Bare, a basket by senior Elijah Hamilton, and a baseline drive by Kirk. At that point, Octorara had momentum, and the slightly slower pace of the game favored them, and they trailed by just two points. As they would all evening when Octorara closed the gap, Manheim Central stepped up, and they finished the scoring in the third quarter on a baseline drive by Enterline. Manheim Central led 46 to 42 at the end of the third frame.

Ocorara was resilient, scoring on two back-to-back 3-pointers, one by senior Lucas Thaler and one by Bare to tie the score at 50 with 4:53 left in the game. The teams then exchanged a series of scoreless possessions until Manheim Central’s Book made a free throw. With 2:10 left in the game, a drive by Grube put Manheim Central up 53 to 50. Octorara had been scoreless for several minutes, then Kirk got them to within one, 53 to 52, with a baseline drive with 1:25 left in the game. 5’ 9” Manheim Central junior Jackson Tracy then made a couple of clutch free throws, to which Octorara’s Kirk responded with another drive, and that made it 55 to 54 in favor of Manheim Central with 1:03 left. Manheim Central’s Grube made a free throw, and then Octorara tied the game at 56 on a pivot play by Hamilton. With 13 seconds left in the game, Manheim Central recaptured the lead on two Grube free throws. Octorara inbounded the ball, but it was stolen by 6’ 2” Manheim Central junior Sam Witmer. Grube was fouled, and he made the first of two free throws, giving Manheim Central a 59 to 56 lead. He missed the second free throw, though, and an Octorara player rebounded the ball and, just after the final buzzer, launched a shot of almost full-court length that went in the basket. Had it counted, the game would have been tied at 59. It didn’t count. Octorara had outscored Manheim Central in every quarter but the first.

Octorara had a 31 to 30 edge on the boards. Manheim Central committed 10 turnovers, and Octorara had 15. Manheim Central was 15 of 20 from the free throw line. Free throw inaccuracy hurt Octorara; they were seven of 15 from the line. Each team made three 3-pointers. There were three ties and one lead change.

Manheim Central scoring: Trey Grube 21, Aaron Enterline 12, Chase Book 11, Zach Benner 7, Sam Witmer 6, and Jackson Tracy 2.

Octorara scoring: Zach Kirk 17, Elijah Hamilton 13, Josh Bare 12, Mason Lambert 7, and Lucas Thaler 7.

Octorara 13 14 15 14-56
Manheim Central 21 13 12 13-59

On Twitter: @david_kehler

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