Joshua Sager, right, attempts to work the baseline against Brian Jandzinski during a Lancaster Recreation Department Boys Junior Conference basketball game on Jan. 21. Three of the four leaders in the Lancaster Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department’s Boys Junior Basketball Conference remained tied for first place after a full slate of games were played on Jan. 21 at the Lancaster Middle School gym.

The Wolves were the lone team to fall out of that lofty position after a 54-53 overtime loss to the Heat.

The Heat along with the Sixers, who clipped the Hawks, 46-34, and the Rockets, who beat the Magic, 46-33, continue to lead the competitive Junior Conference standings as each have won four of their five trips to the hardwood this season.

The Wolves, who dropped to 3-2 mark, now occupy second place and are looking over their shoulders at the Magic and Wizards, who are only one game back of them in a very tight race.

Junior Conference

Heat 54, Wolves 53 (OT)

The Heat (4-1) rose to a 24-15 lead at the intermission only to have the Wolves turn the offensive tables on them in the second half to knot the score at 53 at the conclusion of regulation play.

The only tally in overtime was a free throw by the Heat’s J.D. Andreessen. The Heat then held the Wolves scoreless the remainder of the way to just squeeze out a 54-53 verdict.

Andreessen’s 32 points on 13 shots from the floor and 6 of 10 from the charity stripe topped all scoring on the day with his crisp, workman-like performance for the Heat.

A supporting cast of Connor O’Brien’s six points, Collin Reformat, Collin Tytka and Joshua Schaner’s four points each as well as Joe Andreessen and Jason Glauser’s two points each were just enough offense to keep the Heat in that three-way knot for the top spot in the standings.

Alex Konst had a marquee scoring day for the Wolves (3-2) with a 22-point effort on 10 shots from the field and 2 of 6 from the foul line. Joe Biniaszewski’s 10 points also were in the Wolves’ twin-digit scoring column.

Thomas O’Donnell’s nine points, Tyler Sokolowski’s six points, Tim Molik’s four points and David Farace’s two points were just not quite enough for the Wolves in a well-played game.

Rockets 46, Magic 33

In a companion Junior Conference contest, the Rockets (4-1) continue to share first place in the standings as they solved the Magic (2-3), 46-33, in a come-from-behind win.

The Magic held a 21-18 lead at the half, however, they could only produce 10 second half points while the Rockets fired in 28 to win going away.

Alex Juhasz and Wesley Watson scored in the twin-digit range with 17 and 10 points in that order to lead the Rockets’ scoring parade. Alex Barbaro’s nine points, Kevin Walter and Vito Zagarrio’s four points apiece and Joel Juhasz’s two points also found room on the Rockets’ final tally board.

Andy Fellner’s 16 points highlighted the Magic’s scoring. Tyler Tomasik’s 11 points were also in the double-digit scoring column, while Benjamin Allen’s four points and Doug Norton’s two points completed the scoring for the Magic.

Sixers 46, Hawks 34

Daniel Corbi’s 12 points, Ryan Sullivan’s 10 points, Zach Penska and Gray Warrington’s eight points each, Andrew Helenbrook’s six points and Garrett Hyla’s two points were enough scoring as the Sixers (4-1) clipped the Hawks’ wings.

The win kept the Sixers in a first-place draw with the Rockets and Heat.

The game was close at the half with the Sixers grasping to a slim, 22-20, lead. A more balanced-scoring second half sent them down victory lane in a key, early-season win.

Mitch Fuller’s 15 points, Ryan Hopkins’ 10 points, Conner Fuller’s five points and two points each from David Peita and Garrett Conwell were too little too late for the Hawks (1-4).

Wizards 49, Raptors 31

In a final Junior Conference fray for the week, the Wizards (2-3) circled the wagons early with a 20-10 lead at the break and never looked back in their 49-31 verdict over the winless Raptors (0-5).

Eric Zimpfer and Matt Devic were in the twin-digit scoring column for the Wizards as they registered 12 and 10 points in that order.

Added Wizards scoring by Joseph Barberio with nine points, John Ostermeier with eight points, Jesse Kucewicz’s five points, Ryan Ostermeier’s three points and Joshua Sager’s two points played a supporting role in the win. John Ostermeier’s four rebounds and Kucewicz’s four assists led those statistical departments for the Wizards.

Brad Belote’s 14 points topped the Raptors’ scoring while his six grabs also led his team in the rebounding department.

Kyle Nunn scored six points, Brian Jandzinski accounted for five points, Christian Karek notched four points while J.J. Pesany added two points and three assists in another frustrating loss for the Raptors.

Midget Conference

Bulls 45, Nuggets 32

Turning to the Lancaster Recreation Department’s Boys Midget Basketball Conference, the Bulls (4-0), broke away from a slim, 25-22, halftime lead to dull the Nuggets (1-3), 45-33, at the Como Park Elementary School gym.

Henry Mazurek was a force to be reckoned with for the Bulls as his 20 points gained scoring honors. Adam Crowe’s eight points, Dean Gallagher and Zachary Crowe’s six points each, James Szymanski Jr. and Collin Rice’s two points each along with Derek Bauer’s free throw stampeded the Bulls to their fourth consecutive win.

Matthew Merrill’s 11 points, Gianlucca Fulciniti’s eight points, Evan MacPeek’s seven points, Riley Quinn’s four points were just not quite enough for the Nuggets on this cold winter afternoon.

Braves 42, Thunder 38

In a companion Midget Conference game, Jakob Jerebko connected on 12 of his 13 free throw attempts en route to scoring 22 points to lead the Eastern Conference Braves (3-1) past the Western Conference Thunder (1-3), 42-38.

Eight of Jerebko’s charity tosses were in the second half to help bring the Braves back from a 26-20 halftime deficit.

Maxwell Molino provided nine points, Seamus Furlong tallied seven points, Trevor Perkins meshed two points, while Gage Smith and Jackson Jerebko each added a foul shot in the Braves’ third win in four appearances.

Connor Donhauser and Joseph Nicpon were in the double-digit scoring range for the Thunder as they collected 16 and 14 points respectively. Anthony Farace and Benjamin Mazur divided eight points to complete the Thunder’s side of the tally sheet.

Grizzlies 45, Blazers 43

In another Boys Midget Conference tilt, the Western Conference Grizzlies (3-1) fought back from a 25-22 first half deficit to post a 45-43 win over the Eastern Conference Blazers (0-4) in a fast-paced game.

Johnny Rogowski and Nicholas Barberio scored 20 and 11 points in that order to lead the Grizzlies to their third win in four tries. Jimmy Purpura meshed nine points while Brett Beetow’s five points were just enough offense for the Grizzlies in this one.

The Blazers kept neck and neck with the Grizzlies as Matt Ciezki’s 13 points, Derek Walter’s eight points, Lucas Jachimiak and Michael Anzalone’s six points apiece, along with Nino Marino and Connor Majchrowicz’s four points each and Jacob Andolina’s two points were not quite enough for the Blazers in this tough-luck loss.

Bobcats 46, Clippers 36

Moving on to the final Boys Midget Conference game of the week, the Eastern Conference Bobcats (3-1) downed the Western Conference Clippers (1-3), 46-36, in a come-from-behind win.

The Clippers led by a 21-18 margin at the half and then watched that lead disappear as the Cats raced to a 28-15 second half advantage to post their third win in four starts.

Troy Gooch and Ryan Mansell were the one-two scoring punch for the Bobcats as they generated 13 and 12 points respectively. All of Mansell’s points were scored in the Bobcats’ huge second half. Jonathan Kisker provided seven points, Bobby Trusiak and Owen Adamec registered five points each, while Jay Logan and Jason Mansell added two points apiece in the Bobcats’ win.

The Clippers’ Kyle Backert had 14 points to lead all scorers. Alex Josker’s seven points, Trevor Reformat’s six points, Jacob Calo’s five points, Jeremy Calo’s three points and Bryce Benham’s free throw were all part of the Clippers’ offense for the day.

Girls Midget Conference

Robins 22, Jays 20 (2OT) It took two overtime sessions to finally settle the Robins’ (3-1) 22-20 squeaker over the Jays (2-2) in a Girls Midget Basketball Conference contest last Saturday at the Lancaster Middle School gym.

The game was knotted at 14-14 after regulation play and then 18-18 at the conclusion of the first overtime session before the Robins outscored the Jays, 4-2, in the second overtime period to post the win.

Amber Conklin’s eight points, Emily Handy and Larissa Kate Robinson’s six points each and Leslie Hoag’s two points all played an offensive role in the Robins’ win.

The Jays also displayed a balanced scoring log with Hannah Josker’s six points leading the way. Katherine Wolf and Paige Genewick divided eight points, while Olivia Kincannon, Emma Turcotte and Gretchen Mann each added two points in the Jays narrow loss.

Cardinals 20, Eagles 10

The Cardinals (3-1) kept pace with the Robins in the Girls Midget Basketball Conference as they doubled the Eagles (0-4), 20-10, in the second game of the double header.

Victoria Allen notched six points, Meghan Swiatek and Andrea Cottrell split eight points while Alyssa Dzik, Julia Kurowski and Elena Allwang Armitage each added two points in the success.

Rachel Handley’s eight points and Madeline Kamats’ two points were all part of the scoring that the Eagles could muster.

Girls Bantam Conference

Bears 26, Bulldogs 11

Turning to the Lancaster Recreation Department’s Girls Bantam Basketball Conference, the Bears (3-0) won for the third consecutive time as they caged the Bulldogs (2-1), 26-11, at the Como Park Elementary School gym.

The win places the undefeated Bears in sole possession of first place. Shay Ciezki led the Bears scoring parade with a 10-point effort. Kaitlyn Schnitzer’s eight points and Madison Handley and Hope Harrington with four points each played a supporting role in the scoring department.

Ivy Vallely’s six points topped the Bulldogs scorecard while Stephanie Herrnreiter’s three points and Ava Achtyl’s two points completed their side of the tally sheet.

Spartans 30, Huskies 24 (OT)

In the second game of the twin bill, Kathryn Weidman’s six points in overtime along with two points apiece by Mattea Gill and Claudia Frys in that extra session propelled the Spartans (1-2) to their first win of the season, 30-24, over the winless Huskies (0-3).

The game was knotted at 20-20 at the end of regulation time. The Spartans then outscored the Huskies, 10-4, in the overtime period to walk away with the win.

Weidman’s 12 points paced the Spartans’ scoring. Frys’ eight points, Abigail Helenbrook’s six points and two points each by Gill and Madison Maciag completed the Spartans scoring for the day.

Kaylee Doering’s 14 points captured game scoring honors for the Huskies. Laura Walter added four points and Katherine Vallely had two points. Brooke Bauer and Abbie Benham also dotted the scoresheet.