TJ’s Top Ten: 1.0
Written by: TJ Eck on January 1, 2024
Lancaster-Lebanon League boys basketball power rankings according to TJ Eck. New rankings will be released each Monday until the start of the L-L League playoffs.
NOTE: Statistics via our friends at LancasterOnline.com and Llhoops.com
1. Manheim Central (8-0 Overall)
Manheim Central is the only unbeaten team remaining in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Barons impressed last week by winning the Mifflin County Holiday Tournament with victories over perennial District 3 power Steelton-Highspire and the host Mifflin County. Central is getting it done on the defensive end, holding opponents to less than 43 points per game.
2. Cedar Crest (6-2 Overall)
Cedar Crest is the early favorite to win Section 1. Prior to the Christmas holiday the Falcons earned league wins over Hempfield and Penn Manor. Cedar Crest followed those victories up with triumphs over Palmyra and Exeter Township to claim the Falcon’s own holiday tournament title. There’s no superstar on this team but there’s depth and talent throughout the roster.
3. Penn Manor (8-2 Overall)
With Ethan Benne healthy, Penn Manor looks like a team that can win the L-L League title. Benne missed two games prior to Christmas with a finger injury, the Comets lost both. He returned to the lineup this past week and averaged 29.0 points per game while leading Penn Manor to a title in the Warwick Holiday Tournament with hard-fought wins over Dallastown and Warwick.
4. Octorara (9-1 Overall)
Octorara has the most wins this season of any team in the L-L League. The Braves are not only one of the top teams in the league but are currently No. 2 in the Class AAAA District 3 power ratings. The only loss is to powerhouse Berks Catholic (No. 1 in 4A District 3). Octorara’s Zach Kirk is one of the top players in the league, averaging 17.3 points per game.
5. Columbia (6-2 Overall)
The Crimson Tide enter 2024 on a roll. Columbia has won five in a row, with four of those victories coming by 17 points or more. There’s balance offensively with Jordan Poole, Artie Poindexter, and Brelon Miller all averaging in double-figures. As Andy Herr noted earlier this year, don’t be surprised if Columbia competes for the Class AAA District 3 title and makes some noise in the state tournament.
6. Lancaster Mennonite (7-3 Overall)
You could easily swap the Blazers with Columbia and move Lancaster Mennonite into the top five. The defending PIAA Class AA state champs started the season with back-to-back losses (Methacton, Unionville) but have bounced back to win seven of their last eight. Cody Fisher averages just under 18 points per game for a team that’s currently No. 1 in the 2A District 3 power ratings.
7. Hempfield (5-3 Overall)
If these rankings came out before Christmas, Hempfield wouldn’t have been on the list. But the Black Knights were one of the big winners this past week. Hempfield won its own holiday tournament, posting perhaps the best victory by an L-L League team this season by taking down Wilson in the championship game. Senior Ben Troyer continues to show that he’s one of the top players in the L-L League by averaging 23.1 points per game.
8. Lampeter-Strasburg (5-4 Overall)
Following a L-L League Section 3 win over Donegal on December 18, L-S had the look of a top-five team. At that point the Pioneers were 5-1 overall with league victories over the Indians and ELCO. Since then it’s been a bit of a struggle. Lampeter-Strasburg has lost three in a row after defeats to Muhlenberg, York, and McCaskey. But don’t doubt these Pioneers too much. L-S is still expected to be right in the thick of the Section 3 race with junior guard Chase Smucker (16.0 ppg) leading the way.
9. Ephrata (5-3 Overall)
Ephrata earns a spot in the rankings due to a strong performance this past week. The Mounts posted dominant victories over Pine Grove and Northern Lebanon to claim the Vikings’ holiday tournament title. Ephrata already has impressive wins over Garden Spot and Donegal but did suffer a 19-point setback against Cocalico on December 22. The Mounts should be in contention for a L-L League playoff berth.
10. Donegal (6-4 Overall)
On any given night, Donegal looks like one of the best offensive teams in the L-L League. The Indians can shoot it from deep. Donegal has made 98 three-pointers through the first ten games of the season with four different players draining at least 13 triples. Leading scorer Evyan Patel (14.2 ppg) is a lethal shooter who’s made 32 shots from beyond the arc. It’s a big week upcoming for the Indians with a home game against Octorara (Tuesday) before a road contest at Northern Lebanon (Thursday).
Just missed:
Garden Spot (5-4 overall)
Cocalico (5-4 overall)
Warwick (4-5 overall)
ELCO (5-4 overall)
Annville-Cleona (6-3 overall)
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