If you’re a basketball fan, this has been an enjoyable winter, despite the miserable weather than has caused some chaos with schedules.
Hard to believe, but we’re down to the last two weeks of the high school regular season; Lebanon Valley College still has four weeks to go, including this one. Three Lebanon County boys’ teams have a great shot at Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs and four will reach district playoffs; the girls’ teams are doing even better.
We have two players — both point guards, one in high school and the other at LVC — worth a look even if you’re a casual fan or a fan of another team.
Kevin Agnew and Sam Light are splashing shots at rates that will break records if they continue.
Agnew, a 5-10 junior, was heavily recruited coming out of Trinity and chose Lebanon Valley, which runs a dribble-drive offense ideally suited to his abilities. Agnew had a rough adjustment as a freshman but improved markedly as a sophomore, averaging 12 points a game despite being slowed by an ankle injury that cost him six games.
This season, Agnew has taken his game to another level and is among the nation’s leading Division III scorers, averaging 26.8 points and 3.5 assists. His overall shooting percentage of 45.1 includes 39.3 from 3-point range, a very good mark. And he’s hitting 83.8 percent of his free throws.
Agnew’s scoring has gone up, in part, because the Flying Dutchmen have been plagued by injuries, leaving them with a lineup that usually includes no one over 6-4. Twice this season they have only dressed nine players for games. He’s benefitted from the increased emphasis on hand-checking fouls, which has given him more opportunities at the line (an average of 10 a game). It’s somewhat remarkable he’s been able to keep his scoring average up because opposing teams are now gearing their defenses to stop, or at least slow him.
Lebanon Valley (5-11, 3-7 conference) has home games this week against Widener on Wednesday and against Elizabethtown on Saturday; LVC will play home games the next four Saturday afternoons.
Light, who might be 6-foot, jumps center for Northern Lebanon, which has no one taller than him in its starting lineup. He’s aiming for his third straight Lancaster-Lebanon League scoring title and is averaging 25.5 points for the 13-5 Vikings, who are a game back of second-place Lampeter-Strasburg in the Section Three race with four games to go. NL plays its last regular-season game at L-S on Feb. 5, with a league playoff berth likely on the line. The Vikings have their last two home games against Elco Friday and Donegal on Feb. 3.
Like Agnew, Light often feasts at the foul line, where he hits 81.1 percent of his shots. He’s second to Isaac Ray in 3-pointers with 38 (Ray has 45). Light had a season-high 38 points last week against first-place Manheim Central in a classic game that resulted in a 2-point win for the Barons at NL (MC won the earlier game at Manheim by 1).
In September, Light said he really liked Wilkes as a college option but didn’t rule out changing his mind, especially if a Division II college came in with a good offer. The Colonels have had a rough go of it, at 6-10 with just one win in conference play. Sophomore guard Alec Wizar from Annville-Cleona is their leading scorer at 13 points per game.
Light is in position to break Northern Lebanon’s all-time scoring record, set by guard Travis Ludwig. He’s a strong ball-handler and rebounds well for his size.
Like Agnew, Light is capable of putting up big numbers in college if he finds himself in the right system.
These guys are terrific players. Don’t cheat yourself by missing them.
Follow along on Twitter @sesnyderleb.