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L-L League Section 1 boys basketball team-by-team preview capsules for the 2023-24 season

N.Adams3 months ago

CEDAR CREST

Coach: Tommy Smith (14th season, 200-123 career record).

Last season:

Top players lost: Nolan Groff, J’veon Reyes Vega.

Top players returning: G Owen Chernich, F Aiden Schomp, G Leo Tirado, G/F Fernando Marquez, F R.J. Young.

Outlook: It’s time. That’s what Cedar Crest believes. With four players entering their third season getting major varsity minutes, the Falcons have a shot at the league championship. They’ve been building toward this season, waiting in line behind Hempfield. Cedar Crest is the favorite in what is expected to be an extremely competitive section. “This group has had expectations since they were young,” Smith said. “We knew once these guys became seniors, with the eight juniors behind them, we had a really good mix of some size, some speed and some shooters. Everything you’re looking for in a basketball team.” Smith said it’s Hempfield’s title until someone takes it away. That’s the Falcons’ goal.

Coach: Danny Walck (14th season at Hempfield, 29th overall, 394-280 career record, 362-255 in L-L League).

Last season:

Top players lost: Miguel Pena, Michael Hester, Chase Calabretta, Kamyn Lawrence, Michael Rieker.

Top players returning: F Ben Troyer, PG Nick Deeg, F Caden Axe.

Outlook: Walck, the dean of L-L coaches, sat in a room filled with his Section One rivals and said most of them probably believe Hempfield will be down this season. That’s true to an extent. The Black Knights lost five of their top six players, including one of the league’s best in Pena. That’s a lot to overcome. What’s also true is no one ever counts out Hempfield. The “H” on the front of those polo shirts means a lot. This season’s players said it has come to symbolize working together and being unselfish. Those traits don’t graduate. Troyer, the one returning starter who has committed to York College, leads a new cast of characters with a different mindset. Hempfield isn’t the favorite like it has been recently. But everyone knows better than to overlook the Black Knights.

Coach: Kris Uffner (second season).

Last season:

Top players returning: F Juan Torres, G Ben DiScuillo, G Malachi Briddell, F Manny Suarez, G Braylon Beaver.

Outlook: It seems unthinkable. Zero wins for Lebanon? That’s a tough pill for any team to swallow. It’s especially difficult when that team has such a rich tradition and intense following. The Cedars are supposed to compete for championships. That’s their history. The rebuilding starts now with a group of guards who are hungry to change where the program is headed. Lebanon will be undersized and will have an uphill climb in a tough section that features five rivals who are likely to contend for a spot in the district playoffs. The path forward starts with one win. Once Lebanon erases that zero, it can build from there.

MANHEIM TOWNSHIP

Coach: Matt Johns (ninth season at Manheim Township, 11th season overall, 137-101 career record).

Last season:

Top players lost: Gavin Glass, Quinn Snyder.

Top players returning: G Sebastian Henson, F Bennett Parmer, G Caden Young, G Ty Grey, F Landon Kennel.

Outlook: Don’t overlook Township. It brings back a lot of talent that gained experience while the team took its lumps last season. The Blue Streaks play a really difficult schedule, so the record can be misleading. Every win is hard-earned. “Last year is not the type of year we expect or hold ourselves accountable for,” Johns said. “When we went back and looked at how we did from game-to-game, we definitely showed tremendous growth. Our challenge was playing 32 minutes.” Lapses in certain quarters turned potential wins into losses. Township can make a move in Section One. It has one of the league’s top players in Henson, an experienced point guard in Young and a rugged big man in Parmer. That’s a great foundation.

Coach: Freddy Ramos (sixth season, 57-51 career record).

Last season:

Top players lost: Deshaun McFadden, Jonathan Byrd, Eric Centeno, Markell Caine, Elias Garcia.

Top players returning: G Nemias Tirado, F Aiden Burgess, F Kaiden Russell, F Cesar Peguero, F Jared Kumah.

Outlook: There was a moment during the preseason that gave Ramos another reason to be optimistic about his team. It was Black Friday. The Red Tornado had already practiced. The three captains, Tirado, Peguero and Kumah, all asked Ramos if they could hold a second practice that night. How could a coach say no to that request? Ramos canceled his shopping plans and opened the gym. It was a positive sign. McCaskey narrowly missed a spot in districts last season. The Red Tornado were unlucky No. 13 in a field of 12. A big senior class was lost, including underrated point guard Jonathan Byrd, but McCaskey is hoping to pick up that extra win or two that means a spot in the postseason.

PENN MANOR

Coach: Larry Bellew (12th season, 71-165 career record).

Last season:

Top players returning: G Devin Figueroa, G/F Ethan Benne, F Dhamir Wesley, G Mike Lower, G Andrew Gallion.

Outlook: There was a funny moment during media day when Benne said the last time Penn Manor won a section title was 1772. It hasn’t been that long. The Millersville recruit quickly corrected it to 1972, which is still two generations ago. Ending that drought is a lofty goal. Penn Manor has size, with Benne and Villanova football recruit Wesley, and skill. The Comets finished 19th in the district power ratings last season. They should move up from there. “Obviously the goal is to make the playoffs, make a deep run,” guard Devin Figueroa said. “This year’s team, we’re way better than last year. We’re more balanced. We have a post game. We have a perimeter game. If everybody comes together and agrees on a goal to get better and push forward, we’re gonna be really good.”

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