LANCASTER - For you, the PennLive.com L-L League boys' basketball Section 1 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.
L-L LEAGUE BOYS' BASKETBALL SECTION 2 ALL-STARS
L-L LEAGUE BOYS' BASKETBALL SECTION 3 ALL-STARS
L-L LEAGUE BOYS' BASKETBALL SECTION 4 ALL-STARS
L-L LEAGUE GIRLS' BASKETBALL SECTION 1 ALL-STARS
L-L LEAGUE GIRLS' BASKETBALL SECTION 2 ALL-STARS
L-L LEAGUE GIRLS' BASKETBALL SECTION 3 ALL-STARS
L-L LEAGUE GIRLS' BASKETBALL SECTION 4 ALL-STARS
SECTION 1 FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Seth Brewer, junior G, Manheim Township - Season of change in Neffsville, with a slew of talent gone from last year's section-title team, plus a new coach - Dan Relin - who was looking for kids to step up. Enter Brewer, who stepped right in and stepped right up. Transition and arc threat pumped in 15.1 points and knocked down 33 3-pointers - both team-highs - and firmly established himself as the Streaks' go-to guy. ... Season-high was 21 points, twice, including 21 points and four 3's in a setback to league champ McCaskey on Januar 4. The other 21-point-night came again Cedar Crest, so Brewer played big against the top two finishers in Section 1. He'll be one to watch in 2013-14 for sure.
Diante Cherry, senior G, McCaskey - Excellent athlete capped his Tornado career in style, averaging 12.8 points with 34 3-pointers and helped McCaskey roll to a 16-0 league mark, win Section 1 and capture the program's record 13th league gold. ... Thrives in transition. Can penetrate and finish at the rim. Can penetrate and kick. Can create his own shot. ... Season-best was in the opener, when Cherry scored 30 points in an OT setback at Harrisburg. ... Finished his career with 1,391 points. ... Cherry will play football on scholarship for the University of Delaware.
VIDEO: DIANTE CHERRY INTERVIEW
VIDEO: DIANTE CHERRY INTERVIEW
VIDEO: DIANTE CHERRY INTERVIEW
Keyon Cowan, senior F, McCaskey - What a neat story here. Cowan hadn't played basketball since his freshman year for the Tornado, but he came back out for the squad this winter. McCaskey was thrilled to have him. Cowan pumped in 12.1 points and dominated in the paint. He scored on stickbacks. He gobbled up defensive rebounds. He blocked shots. He was a match-up nightmare for smaller forwards. In short, he was a beast. ... Season-best was 30 points (and 16 boards) in a 22-point win at Section 2 champ Elizabethtown on January 18.
Drew Johnson, senior G, Hempfield - Terrific combo guard did damage in transition and in the half court. Can get to the rim, create his own shot and step back and drill the 3. ... Averaged 16.7 points and canned 27 3-pointers for the Knights, who won a play-in game and advanced to the round-of-16 in the District 3 Class AAAA playoffs. ... Season-high was 35 points - with five 3's - in a 5-point loss to Lancaster Catholic back on December 12. ... Finished his prep career with 1,032 points.
PODCAST: DREW JOHNSON INTERVIEW
Devonne Pinkard, senior F, McCaskey - Wonderful season for the Tornado's 6-6 wing-man, who averaged 18.1 points and sank 50 3-pointers while helping McCaskey win section and league championships. Key cog on a team that won 25 games in a row after a 0-2 start. ... Scored in double figures in 28 of 30 games, with 12 games of 20 or more points; season-high was 28 points in a win over Cedar Crest on January 7. Pinkard eclipsed the 1,000-point mark the same night. ... Incredibly tough match-up because of his size and perimeter ability; shot over smaller players from the arc and scored in the paint over smaller players. ... Including his time with Lancaster Catholic, finished his prep career with 1,303 points. ... Blue-chip recruit is close to announcing his college decision.
VIDEO: DEVONNE PINKARD SCORES 1,000TH CAREER POINT
VIDEO: DEVONNE PINKARD INTERVIEW
SECTION 1 SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Dylan Bleacher, sophomore G, Hempfield - Knights' point guard not only ran the show, but showed some scoring prowess; averaged 11.0 points and hit 12 3-pointers, and will be a player to watch next winter for sure. Season-best was 22 points in a win over Dallastown on January 26.
Killian Klopp, senior G, Cedar Crest - Bombs away. Klopp averaged 13.8 points and drilled 60 3-pointers, helping the Falcons to a second-place finish in Section 1 and to a spot in the league championship game for just the second time in program history. Cedar Crest fell to McCaskey in the title game, but the Falcons won eight of nine down the stretch. Klopp was dynamite during that clip, averaging 16.4 points with 24 treys. ... Season-best was 22 points - with five 3's - in a win over Lancaster Catholic in the L-L League quarterfinals.
Clay Penchard, senior F, Cedar Crest - Falcons' slasher popped in 12.6 points and teamed with Klopp to give Cedar Crest a pair of go-to scorers. While Klopp was dangerous from the arc, Penchard did his business in the lane and getting to the rim. Excellent dribble-driver. Season-high was 24 points in a win over Ephrata on January 11.
VIDEO: CLAY PENCHARD INTERVIEW
VIDEO: CLAY PENCHARD INTERVIEW
Sha-Ki Staten, senior F, McCaskey - While Pinkard, Cherry and Cowan grabbed a lot of headlines, Staten brought his lunch pail and got busy, doing all kinds of dirty work for the Tornado. Jumping-jack forward crashed with authority, scored on putbacks, swatted shots and added 12.4 points. Sweet dunker, too. Season-high was 22 points in a win over Lancaster Mennonite in the league quarterfinals.
VIDEO: SHA-KI STATEN INTERVIEW
Aaron Swinton, senior G, McCaskey - Smooth lefty combo guard teamed with Cherry to give the Tornado a pair of vet ball-handlers and floor generals. Missed three games because of football recruiting trips, and nursed a back injury early in the season. But when he was 100 percent, he thrived in the open court, dished, scored in transition and knocked down jumpers. Averaged 7.5 points and dropped 21 3-pointers, including a season-high 18 points in a win over Reading in the District 3 Class AAAA quarterfinals. Football standout will play in the Big 33 Game before heading off to William & Mary.
VIDEO: AARON SWINTON INTERVIEW
VIDEO: AARON SWINTON INTERVIEW
SECTION 1 THIRD TEAM ALL-STARS
David Carmichael, junior F, Penn Manor - Comets' 6-7 big-man averaged a team-best 9.7 points, including a season-best 20 points in a setback vs. Ephrata on December 17.
Matt Engle, senior G, Warwick - Gritty floor general averaged 10.4 points and hit 11 3-pointers, and picked up the scoring pace when Tyler Morris missed 13 games with not one but a pair of ankle injuries. Season-high was 24 points in a win over Conestoga Valley on December 29.
Andrew Eudy, junior F, Cedar Crest - Falcons' 6-5 low-post threat really came into his own this winter, averaging 10.7 points and giving Cedar Crest a legit rebounder and shot-blocker at the glass. Picked it up down the stretch, averaging 12.5 points in the Falcons' final six games, including a season-high 22 points in a season-ending loss to Chambersburg in the District 3 Class AAAA playoffs.
K'shawn Mickens, senior G, Warwick - Warriors' slick combo guard averaged 8.5 points and knocked down 17 3-pointers, and teamed with Engle to give Warwick a lightning-quick backcourt duo, which helped the Warriors hang in the Section 1 hunt and earn a District 3 Class AAAA playoff bid. Season-high was 21 points vs. league champ McCaskey on January 24.
Zach Walter, senior F, Hempfield - Dual-threat helped out in the paint and from the wing, averaging 9.6 points and drilling 15 3-pointers for the Knights.
SECTION 1 TOP NEWCOMER
Evan Horn, freshman G, Cedar Crest - Jumped right into the Falcons' rotation in his frosh season and was an instant hit, averaging 7.3 points with four 3's. Really made a name for himself down the stretch, averaging 11.0 points in Cedar Crest's final seven games, including a career-best 27 points in the Falcons' win over Elizabethtown in the league semifinals. Horn will be one to watch moving forward; remember his name.
SECTION 1 TOP COACHING PERFORMANCE
Steve Powell, McCaskey - Another big season for the Tornado, with a Section 1 crown, its 13th L-L League championship, a trip to the District 3 Class AAAA semifinals, a third-place finish in that tournament, and a trip to States. Plus a 25-game winning streak and a 26-4 overall record. Not too shabby. And Powell and his staff directed traffic and will put more banners in the gym. Powell is sitting on 398 career victories, so he'll hit the 400-win milestone early next season.
PODCAST: STEVE POWELL INTERVIEW
SECTION 1 MVP
Devonne Pinkard, senior F, McCaskey - He had a lot of expectations coming in, and he more than delivered, leading the Tornado to a fine 26-4 season. Excellent campaign for Pinkard, who will be playing Division I hoops this time next year. That says it all.
PODCAST: DEVONNE PINKARD INTERVIEW
PODCAST: DEVONNE PINKARD INTERVIEW
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