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Ben Rautzahn shows Lourdes defenders Anthony Pennypacker and Zach Oquendo what Viking pride is all about Feb. 8. (Sentinel photo by Lon Zeiders)

The Williams Valley boys certainly have found success in pretty much everything they have done this school year. After a 57-48 win over Lourdes in Shamokin Feb. 9, the Vikings can add the Schuylkill League Division 2 boys’ basketball championship to an already nice list of titles that include district and league crowns in both football and soccer. The Vikes (17-5 overall) will play Division 1 champion Pottsville Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Schuylkill League semifinals. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16  at Martz Hall on the campus of Pottsville Area High School. It appears the Vikings will start District 11, Class AA playoff action Wednesday, Feb. 27 against either Catasaqua or Notre Dame Green Pond.

Upper Dauphin Area has qualified for the District 3-AA playoffs and will play at Camp Hill Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. The Trojans still have a few TVL games on the slate to tune up for a possible postseason run.

Line Mountain has qualified for the District 4-AA playoffs and, according to Head Coach Craig Reichard, have a goal of winning the rest of its games in preparation for the postseason. The Eagles had a huge win at East Juniata last week.

SCHUYLKILL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Williams Valley 57, Lourdes 48, Feb. 9. The outcome of Division 2 came down to the last night of the regular season with a winner-take-all clash between the Vikings and the Red Raiders.

Williams Valley Head Coach Denny Kasper Sr. said it was a good defensive effort from the entire team that was the catalyst for the victory. He added that it took contributions from the entire team, including strong minutes from bench players Ben Rautzahn and Nick Rodichok.

Dennis Jansen came up with a big performance as he led the squad with 22 points. Colin Harrison scored 14 points. Stephen Sedesse chipped in 11 points and handed out five assists while Owen Daniel crashed the boards for 13 rebounds.

The Vikes jumped out to a 20-9 lead after the first quarter but watched as Lourdes rallied to make it tight, 29-26, heading into halftime. Jansen had 17 of his 22 points prior to the intermission. Williams Valley preserved the win by making 10-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter.

TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE GAMES

Halifax 47, Tri-Valley 28, Feb. 7. A strong third quarter, coupled with a relentless defensive attack, helped the Wildcats improve to 7-14 overall and get a win on Senior Night.

Hunter Hilinski led the ’Cats with 20 points, including all eight of the team’s second-quarter points, and 13 rebounds. Halifax Head Coach Dan Bowman said senior Kaleb Reitz showed great leadership, playing strong interior defense and adding nine points.

Halifax led 19-14 at halftime and broke things open with a 20-9 third quarter surge.

UDA 71, Newport 51, Feb. 6. Four players popped double figures for the Trojans, who cruised to a 61-28 lead through three quarters.

UDA Head Coach Anthony Weaver said Ian Buffington had another solid night, netting 10-of-16 shots from the floor for his 21 points. Mac Ney, who had seven assists on the night, scored all 10 of his points in the third quarter. Matthew Miller added 12 points and Austin A. Weaver had 10 points.

Line Mountain 54, East Juniata 38, Feb. 5. Reichard said he knew his Eagle squad had this type of effort in them.

“It was just getting them to realize it,” Reichard said.

East Juniata took a 13-7 lead through the first quarter, but once the Eagles settled down, they were able to put the Tigers on the ropes with every possession, Reichard said.

“We pressured the ball around the perimeter and did not allow anything easy,” he said about his team’s effort in holding East Juniata to just 12 points combined in the second and third quarters. They outscored the Tigers 34-12 in that 16-minute stretch.

Four Eagle players scored in double figures, with Cole Rickert leading the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Bill Breinich added 12 points. Dillon Michael had 11 points and Codi Morris added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Morris’ effort was equally impressive on the defensive end as he held the Tigers’ 6-foot, 6-inch center, Baily Coder, to just six points.

“I challenged Codi in the locker room to keep Coder in check. Man, did he ever. (Coder) did not get many touches and every time the ball went up, Codi had Coder on his back,” Reichard said. 

Millersburg 48, Juniata 44, Feb. 5. Travis Lamereaux again had a big night on the offensive end as he led the Indians with 21 points in this victory for the Tribe. He also had seven rebounds and four assists. Schlegel had 11 points and seven rebounds and Howard handed out eight assists.

Greenwood 73, Halifax 31, Feb. 5. Halifax played hard, but Greenwood has earned the District 3-A top seed for many reasons and playing strong defense is one of them. Greenwood raced out to a 24-4 lead after the first quarter. Koby Bowman led Halifax with eight points.

NON-LEAGUE GAMES

Pine Grove 66, Millersburg 55, Feb. 7. Lamereaux led Millersburg with 18 points, but Pine Grove was able to pull away late. The Cardinals had a 26-25 lead at halftime.

Dawson Schlegel also had a solid game with 14 points and eight rebounds. Mark Simpkins had 11 points. Josh Howard had five assists and three steals.