LANCASTER - For you, the PennLive.com L-L League girls' basketball Section 3 All-Star package, which includes first, second and third teams - five players per team - a section MVP, a section top newcomer and the section's top coaching performance of the season.
SECTION 3 FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Bailey Corbin, junior F, Lampeter-Strasburg - Known for her board work and crashing ability, but can also run the floor and score in transition for the Pioneers, who rolled to the Section 3 championship and an appearance in the league title game this winter. ... Sleek forward averaged 7.8 points, including a season-best 20 points in a 45-36 win over Annville-Cleona on January 11. ... With Lexie Lantz moving on, Corbin will be a marked player in the paint next season. She's got the athleticism and skills to handle the increased workload in the post.
Cheyene Hassler, junior G, Elco - Excellent breakout season for Hassler, who dominated from the arc. She led all L-L League girls' players with 52 3-pointers during the regular season, and finished with 55 treys in helping the Raiders finish second in Section 3, beat Section 2 champ Ephrata in the league quarters and reach the District 3-AAA playoffs. ... Sharpshooter averaged 15.6 points, despite seeing all kinds of funky defenses to mark her on the perimeter. ... Started the season off on the right foot, sinking six 3's and scoring 30 points on December 8 in a 56-33 win over Conestoga Valley. Never really slowed down after that, scoring in double digits in 21 games and hitting at least one trey in 22 games.
Lexie Lantz, senior F, Lampeter-Strasburg - Hard to believe Lantz's time in a Pioneers' uniform is over. The four-year contributor certainly made her mark on Lampeter-Strasburg's program, firmly establishing herself as one of the top low-post threats, scorers and rebounders in the L-L League over the last four years. ... Closed it out in style, averaging 15.4 points and helping the Pioneers win the Section 3 title, advance to the league championship game and make the District 3-AAAA seventh-place game. A loss to Hershey ended Lampeter-Strasburg's season - and Lantz's career - there, but it was a great ride for the Pioneers, who went 23-5 after a 14-0 start. ... Season-high was 26 points in a 73-26 win over Donegal on December 21, and Lantz scored in double figures in 26 of Lampeter-Strasburg's 28 games. ... At last check she was still mulling several local colleges; Lantz is going to make someone very happy. ... Exits Lampeter-Strasburg with 1,300 career points.
VIDEO: Lexie Lantz scores her 1,000th career point.
Krista Mellinger, sophomore G, Lampeter-Strasburg - Broke on the scene as a freshman when she earned the starting gig as the Pioneers' point guard, and really starting coming into her own this winter in her soph season running the show for Lampeter-Strasburg. ... Super quick. Athletic as heck. Head is always up scanning traffic. And she's developing quite the knack of getting through traffic and getting to the rim for layups - in the halfcourt and especially in transition. ... Not a big scorer yet - 6.9 points this season - but expect those numbers to go up the next two seasons, especially if she can become a consistent jump-shooter. ... Season-high was 14 points in a 58-33 triumph over Manheim Central on January 14. ... With her speed, athleticism and agility, Mellinger will be one of the best all-around point guards in the L-L League by her senior season. Book it.
Sarah Painter, junior F, Manheim Central - Hello, world. After appearing in seven games and scoring a grand total of 6 points in her sophomore season, Painter became a key cog for the Barons this winter. How key? She averaged a team-best 11.2 points, and helped Manheim Central get through a season of transition; the Barons won the Section 3 title a year ago, but lost several key kids off that team. And its coach. Painter stepped in, stepped up and took charge, scoring in double digits in 10 of Manhem Central's last 12 games, including a career-high 21 points in a 58-33 setback to section-champ Lampeter-Strasburg on January 4. She also had back-to-back 20-point nights the last full week of the season. Painter also splashed nine 3's and was a threat from the arc. She'll be one to watch in 2013-14.
SECTION 3 SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Kristen Lessing, senior F, Northern Lebanon- The Vikings were the trendy pick to win the Section 3 title this season. But injuries wrecked Northern Lebanon's chances down the stretch. Lessing was a constant, firmly establishing herself as one of the top go-to post players in Section 3. ... Averaged 9.1 points in the paint, including a season-high 19 points on December 21 in a 47-39 win over Manheim Central. ... Has the size (6-0, probably closer to 6-1) and skills to compete at the next level.
Taylor Lininger, junior G, Lampeter-Strasburg - With Lexie Lantz and Bailey Corbin taking care of business in the paint, Lininger became the Pioneers' go-to arc threat; she popped in 31 3-pointers, including a trey in the closing seconds against Manheim Township in the L-L League semifinals, giving the Pioneers a thrilling 41-39 come-from-behind win over the Blue Streaks - sending Lampeter-Strasburg to the league title game. ... Averaged 6.5 points, including a career-high 19 points - and four 3's - in a 52-36 win over Warwick on December 12.
Halie Parker, senior G, Elco - Was a consistent scoring threat and the team's vet anchor for the Raiders, who went to the league semifinals and district playoffs. ... Popped in 6.9 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers for Elco, which was very glad to be back in the Section 3 mix - and will return a solid nucleus next winter. ... Season-high was 14 points in a 47-43 setback to Conrad Weiser on December 11. ... Will play soccer for Millersville University.
Taylor Smith, senior F, Northern Lebanon - While scoring threats Emily Brandt, Morgan Phillips and Maria LiBrandi all missed time with injuries, Smith stepped up as the Vikings' go-to scorer down the stretch. When Brandt went down, Smith averaged 12.0 points in Northern Lebanon's last 12 games, including 21 points in a 51-45 win over Donegal on January 7, and 16 points in the Vikings' season-finale, a 79-37 setback to Lancaster Catholic in the first round of the District 3-AAA playoffs. ... Overall, Smith averaged 9.0 points, and she was a savior when the Vikings' season hit chaos mode.
Victoria Sweatlock, junior F, Elco - Teamed with Cheyenne Hassler to give the Raiders a solid 1-2 scoring punch. Averaged 7.8 points, including 11 double-digit outings. Season-high was 15 points in a 47-36 win over Donegal on February 5. ... Underrated player can beat you from the perimeter, the wings and off the bounce heading to the rim. Good rebounder, too. Should inflict more damage with Hassler next winter - and become more of a household name around the league.
SECTION 3 THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS
Emily Brandt, senior G, Northern Lebanon - Tough break for Brandt, who went down in mid-December with an ACL injury. Came back for three games in early January, but tweaked her knee and ended up getting season-ending surgery. ... Played in just 10 games, but it was impossible to leave her off this list, considering her career body of work - plus she was averaging 9.9 points with eight 3's this season, including the three games when she played with a knee brace. ... Also a soccer standout; she's going to make some college very happy - playing either sport. She will be missed in Fredericksburg.
Hailey Fricke, junior F, Garden Spot - At one point this season, the Spartans were 4-0 in league games and tied for first in the Section 3 race. But Garden Spot went 1-8 down the stretch and missed the postseason. ... Fricke was a key contributor during that early run, averaging 11.0 points during the Spartans' 8-5 getaway. She ended up averaging 10.6 points overall, hit three 3's and became a legit go-to scoring threat for Garden Spot. ... Season-high was 16 points on January 4 in a 41-39 win over Donegal.
Morgan Hollis, senior G, Northern Lebanon - With Emily Brandt and Morgan Phillips struggling with injuries, Hollis was a reliable perimeter threat for the Vikings, popping in 32 3-pointers and averaging 5.0 points. ... Season-best was 12 points - and four 3's - in a 43-37 loss to rival Elco on January 29.
Mariah LiBrandi, senior G, Northern Lebanon - Hate to keep bringing up the Vikings' injuries again, but ... LiBrandi also found herself on the bench with a gimpy ankle for a pair of games late in the season during the playoff push. With all those kids sitting, it was quite an accomplishment that the Vikings hung in there and made the District 3-AAA playoffs. ... Despite missing a pair of games, LiBrandi averaged 10.4 points and dropped 14 3-pointers, including a season-high 17 points in a 60-41 victory over Lancaster Mennonite on December 17.
Taylor Yost, junior G, Donegal - Unlike their counterparts on the Indians' boys' team, the girls' team doesn't get much ink. But let the record show that Donegal won five games, after going 1-43 the last two seasons. That included league wins over Pequea Valley and Garden Spot - and the Indians were a major pest, taking several teams to the wire. ... Yost became the Indians' go-to scorer this winter, averaging 8.5 points and sinking 13 3-pointers. ... Her season-best was 17 points, twice, including 17 and a 3 in the league win over Pequea Valley on December 17. ... Yost scored in double figures seven times, including a three-game clip in early January when she averaged 15.0 points and hit five 3's.
SECTION 3 TOP NEWCOMER
Sarah Painter, junior F, Manheim Central - As mentioned, Painter went from seven games and 6 points in 2011-12, to 11.2 points and team leader in 2012-13. Not too shabby.
SECTION 3 TOP COACH PEROFORMANCE
Tony Fink, Lampeter-Strasburg - Stepped in for Matt Wieand and had a heck of a first season on the Pioneers' bench, leading Lampeter-Strasburg to the Section 3 championship - with a fine 15-1 league mark - and to the league championship game. Pioneers fell to Lancaster Catholic, but had a terrific ride to get there. Beat league foe Cocalico in the first round of Districts, but then lost three games in a row, including a setback to Hershey in the seventh-place game. So no PIAA trip for the Pioneers, but a memorable 23-5 season that included a 14-0 getaway, a section gold trophy and league runner-up trophy.
SECTION 3 MVP
Lexie Lantz, senior F, Lampeter-Strasburg - Super player. Super kid. Super four-year career for the Pioneers.
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