Octorara seizes control of Section 3 with overtime win at L-S
Written by: TJ Eck on January 9, 2024
Gene Lambert couldn’t help but have a smile on his face as he described his team’s effort.
“This young team, the way they came out tonight, not giving up when we were down, they’re fighters,” said Lambert, who serves as the head boys basketball coach at Octorara. “I like my team…I’m just happy right now.”
Lambert’s squad rallied from a late deficit to force overtime before pulling away in the extra period for a 61-56 win over Lampeter-Strasburg in Lampeter Tuesday night.
“That’s a big game,” said Octorara senior guard Zach Kirk. “We always battle with L-S. That was a hard-fought game on both ends.”
Kirk, one of the top players in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, came up big when his team needed it most.
The Braves trailed by four with under one minute to play in the fourth quarter. That’s when Kirk knocked down a crucial three-pointer to make it a one-point game. After L-S made 1-of-2 free throws, Kirk was fouled on a drive to the basket. He stepped to the line and made both foul shots to tie the game with 17.9 seconds to go. L-S would have a chance to win it in regulation but two field goal attempts were off the mark as the game went into overtime.
In OT, Octorara seized control. Lazo Christou knocked down one of his three three-pointers on the evening to give the Braves a lead. Moments later Chase Fetrow scored in the paint to make it a five-point advantage for the road team.
The Pioneers wouldn’t go quietly in front of an orange-clad and rowdy home student section. Justin Glick scored on a putback with 1:46 to go in OT to make it a three-point game. After an Octorara turnover, L-S had the ball with a chance to tie. But a long three-point attempt was off the mark and Octorara was able to make a few crucial free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
“We had to just play hard on defense and get as many rebounds as we could,” said Kirk. “On offense, just slow down and try to get the best shots we could.”
Lambert added: “It might not be perfect the whole game but let’s finish on top.”
Kirk led the way for Octorara with 18 hard-earned points against a tenacious L-S defense that sent multiple defenders his way while pressuring him from the moment he crossed half-court.
“I just gotta play with the flow of the game, trust my teammates and everything,” said Kirk, who averages 18.2 points per game. “Let them kind of do what they can do.”
Helping Kirk along the way was Christou. The Octorara sophomore guard scored 13 points and hauled in eight rebounds.
“That kid, as a sophomore, has big upside,” said Lambert. “He works his butt off.”
L-S had four players score in double figures Tuesday night. Chase Smucker and Dean Herr scored 13 points apiece while combining to make four three-pointers. Justin Glick added 13 points and four rebounds while Yasin Abdi scored 12 points and registered three blocks.
The Pioneers drop to 6-5 overall and 3-1 in league play. They return to action Friday night (Jan. 12) when they visit Northern Lebanon.
Octorara has won seven in a row and improves to 12-1 overall. The Braves are in the driver’s seat in Section 3 with a 4-0 league record. Next up is a home game against ELCO Thursday evening (Jan. 11).
“We got a game on Thursday and we can’t afford to lose,” said Lambert, still smiling postgame. “This section is a tough section and every game you’re in a dogfight.”
Lazo Christou – Player of the Game
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