TJ’s Top Ten: Final Edition – 2023-2024 Season
Written by: TJ Eck on February 5, 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. Warwick (14-5 Overall, Last Week: No. 3)
The Warriors are the hottest team in the Lancaster-Lebanon League with a 10-game winning streak that dates back to January 2. Warwick can really shoot it. The squad from Lititz has made 35 three-pointers over its last four games. The Warriors are 10-0 in league play and can clinch a Section 2 title with one more league victory.
2. Lampeter-Strasburg (14-6 Overall, Last Week: No. 5)
No team had a better week last week than the Pioneers. Lampeter-Strasburg dominated Section 1 champion Cedar Crest before going on the road and earning a thrilling victory over Octorara to move into a tie for first place in Section 3. Less than 24 hours after the triumph over the Braves, L-S defeated non-league opponent Wyomissing. Junior guard Chase Smucker is playing as well as anyone in the league. He is averaging 23.7 points per game over his last six contests.
3. Cedar Crest (15-5 Overall, Last Week: No. 2)
Cedar Crest is your 2023-2024 L-L League Section 1 champion. The Falcons accomplished the feat after a victory over Manheim Township last week. It’s certainly something to be proud of and this season will forever be commemorated in Cedar Crest history. But there is some trepidation about this squad after a 25-point loss at Lampeter-Strasburg last week. The Falcons struggled mightily against the Pioneers. But they responded with the triumph over the Blue Streaks before blowing out non-league opponent Conrad Weiser. Despite the setback against L-S, this is still a team to be feared when the L-L League playoffs begin.
4. Columbia (15-6 Overall, Last Week: No. 4)
The second longest current winning streak in the L-L League belongs to the Crimson Tide. Columbia has won six in a row with an average margin of victory of 18.3 points per game. Columbia will look to finish off a perfect season in league play when the Crimson Tide hosts Lancaster Mennonite Wednesday night. Columbia would also claim a Section 4 title with a victory over the Blazers.
5. Octorara (16-4 Overall, Last Week: No. 1)
It was a tough week for the Braves. Octorara lost by 20 on the road at Cocalico before dropping a heart-breaker at home to Lampeter-Strasburg in one of the best L-L League games this season. The two league losses have moved the Braves into a tie with L-S for first place in Section 3. Octorara finishes the regular season this week with road games at ELCO (Tuesday) and Lancaster Catholic (Thursday).
6. Penn Manor (14-5 Overall, Last Week: No. 9)
The Comets look dangerous right now. Penn Manor was absolutely dominant last week in victories over McCaskey and Lebanon. The offense is rounding into form with PM averaging just under 70 points per game over its last four contests. Penn Manor visits Manheim Township Tuesday night before a rare high school basketball “doubleheader” on Thursday. The Comets and Hempfield will resume and finish their suspended game from earlier this season at 5 p.m. on Thursday night before Penn Manor hosts Dallastown for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on the same evening. All three games this week are critical and will decide if the Comets play in the postseason.
7. Manheim Central (17-4 Overall, Last Week: No. 6)
Manheim Central is not hard to figure out. The Barons are one of the best defensive teams in the L-L League, perhaps all of PIAA District 3. On the other hand, Manheim Central is challenged offensively. Both ends of the spectrum were on display last week when the Barons allowed only 47 points in a win over Ephrata before holding Solanco to 36 points in a triumph. Sandwiched in between was a loss to Kennard-Dale in which the Barons scored just 45 points. The saying goes “defense wins championships” so Manheim Central is a dangerous team but the Barons will need to be better at scoring the ball to cut down the nets.
8. Lancaster Mennonite (15-5 Overall, Last Week: No. 7)
Only two teams in the L-L League have more wins and a better winning percentage than the Blazers. Lancaster Mennonite is just going about its business and putting together another outstanding season. This team has a great chance to win another PIAA District 3 title in Class AA. Lancaster Mennonite travels to Columbia Wednesday night and it’s a must-win for the Blazers if they want to claim a Section 4 title.
9. Cocalico (10-9 Overall, Last Week: Not Ranked)
You might see Cocalico’s name here and wonder how a team that lost by 25 to Red Lion last week deserves a spot in the rankings? Well it’s simple really: look at the Eagles’ two wins last week. First, Cocalico handed previous league unbeaten Octorara a 20-point defeat before finishing the week off with a win over surging ELCO in a game that Eagles trailed by 17 early. Cocalico enters this week on the bubble of the Class AAAAA District 3 tournament field but with three games on the docket, there are opportunities to earn a playoff berth. Oh, and a spot in the L-L League playoffs is still within reach as well. Don’t sleep on this squad.
10. ELCO (11-9 Overall, Last Week: Not Ranked)
From January 26 through January 31, ELCO won three straight games with each victory coming by 20 points or more. It looked like the Raiders were going to cruise to a fourth straight win before squandering a 17-point lead in a loss to Cocalico. That loss came on the road and ELCO has proven to be a tough team at home. The Raiders have won four straight in Myerstown and welcome Octorara (Tuesday) and Donegal (Thursday) to town this week. A pair of wins might just get ELCO in the Class AAAA District 3 tournament.
Just missed:
Hempfield (10-8 Overall, Last Week: No. 8)
Ephrata (12-7 Overall, Last Week: No. 10)
Donegal (10-10 Overall, Last Week: NR)
Garden Spot (10-10 Overall, Last Week: NR)
Lancaster Country Day (11-7 Overall, Last Week: NR)
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