Late run secures crown
Cedar Crest shakes off Warwick for first LL League title since 2020
NEFFSVILLE - For two and a half quarters, Cedar Crest and Warwick played evenly in the Lancaster-Lebanon League boys’ basketball finals.
But the Falcons dominated the last 11 minutes of the contest to post a 6647 victory on Friday night at Manheim Township, claiming Cedar Crest’s fifth L-L title all-time, and first since 2020.
The game was a two-point contest midway through the third period, with the Falcons (19-5) holding on to a 36-34 lead. But baskets by Fernando Marquez, Leo Tirado and Owen Chernich put Cedar Crest ahead 42-34 entering the fourth period.
That run would reach 11-0, as Marquez opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a putback, and Tirado added one of his three treys to make the lead 47-34.
The Warriors (17-7) pulled back to within single digits one more time when Caleb Johnsen’s steal, layup and free throw made it 47-39 with 5:20 on the clock. But Cedar Crest responded with a few takeaways of its own, leading to another Marquez bucket and a free throw by Chernich to push the score to 52-39 with 3:58 to go.
Warwick never led after the first three minutes of the first quarter, as Cedar Crest used an early 6-0 run to go up 14-7. However, the Warriors kept pulling closer throughout the first half every time Cedar Crest threatened to pull away.
After Aiden Schomp hit a 3-point shot to put the Falcons up 27-20 with 40 seconds left in the second quarter, Johnsen had an old-fashioned threepoint play with 23 seconds left to make it 27-23. But Chernich made a 3-pointer with three seconds left before intermission to give Cedar Crest a 30-23 lead in the locker room.
Marquez led all players with 18 points. He scored eight of them in the fourth period while the Falcons were salting the game away. Tirado added 15, while Chernich and R.J. Young scored 11 each.
Johnsen paced Warwick with 16 points. Ya’Majesty Washington added 12.
Turnovers and rebounds were close, but both favored the Falcons. Cedar Crest had 29 boards to 27 for Warwick. Chernich had a team-high seven rebounds, matched by Warwick’s Trevor Evans. The Falcons gave the ball away 14 times, while the Warriors lost it 17 times.
The Falcons will start the District 3 Class 6A tournament as the No. 7 seed at home next Tuesday against Wilson. The Warriors open the District 3 Class 5A tourney on the road as the No. 9 seed at Red Land on Monday.