Surprise performances and clutch scoring: Here are last week's top performers

That’s why they play the games.

The world of sports has become an algebra class of formulas and tendencies these days, used in an effort to predict performances and final outcomes.

No matter what the nerds say, games are never the final answer of a math problem.

There are still pleasant surprises – especially in high school athletics – that keep fans enthused.

One fact remains. No matter what it says on paper, a team’s best scorer isn’t always the leading scorer.

So, Nerds, take a look at the following list of the area’s top performers below. The “rest of the team” guys had a pretty good week in this report of games that were reported for the week of Jan. 2-6.

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Boys' basketball

The medalists

GOLD

Landon Buhrman, Chambersburg – Scored on three physical drives during Chambersburg’s 12-point run to end the third quarter on Wednesday, leading the Trojans to a 65-50 win over Central Dauphin East. Chambersburg trailed 31-29 at the half and 35-33 before the decisive run. Buhrman finished with 12 points, scoring 10 in the second half.

SILVER

Conner Wright, Greencastle-Antrim – He scored a layup to put the Blue Devils ahead, starting a six-point run late in the fourth quarter, on Friday in an important 59-56 win over Gettysburg. Wright, who finished with 12 points, added an important offensive rebound in the flurry to help keep the scoring spree alive. The victory moved the Blue Devils into a tie with the Warriors for the Mid-Penn Colonial lead.

BRONZE

JJ Kelly, Chambersburg – The Trojans’ leading scorer notched 24 points – including seven in the second quarter when Chambersburg took the lead for good – on Friday in a 52-32 win over State College. Elven of the points came in the third quarter.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Logan Alvey, Greencastle-Antrim – Scored a career-high 19 points – including the tying basket in the first overtime – on Wednesday in a 62-59 2OT loss to Big Spring. Avey poured in five of G-A’s seven 3s for the game.

Jordan Hunt, Greencastle-Antrim – Scored three critical free throws in G-A’s six-point run that closed out the win over Gettysburg. He finished with 11 points, six coming on both of the Blue Devils’ 3-point baskets.

Jermere Jones, Chambersburg – Led the Trojans with 23 points – including 15 in the second half – in Wednesday’s win over Central Dauphin East.

Eli Sterling, Greencastle-Antrim – Tied for team high-scoring honors with 19 points on Wednesday in the double-overtime loss to Big Spring. He also scored 10 points against Gettysburg.

Colton Cornwell, Chambersburg – Scored five points in the game-changing second quarter on his way to 11 during the 52-32 win over State College.

Carter McCauley, Greencastle-Antrim – Led the Blue Devils with 13 points in the win over Gettysburg.

Girls' basketball

The medalists

GOLD

Haley Noblit, Greencastle-Antrim – Finished with 15 points, including 5 of 6 fourth-quarter free throws, on Wednesday in the Blue Devils’ 37-33 win over Big Spring. She added four rebounds and three steals. On Friday, she scored 18 points – 15 in the second half – with four assists and three steals as the Blue Devils’ defense put the squeeze on Gettysburg in a 46-22 victory.

SILVER

Emily Forester, Chambersburg – The freshman finished with just eight points but sank two big free throws in the extra period on Wednesday to give the Trojans a 33-32 overtime victory over Central Dauphin East. Chambersburg connected on just 3 of 15 foul shots in the game. On Friday, she led the Trojans with 16 points – including 9 of 12 from the foul line – in a 63-37 loss at State College.

BRONZE

Breanna McIlquham, Waynesboro – Matched Nikki Davis’ 15 points in the Maidens’ 51-28 win over Gettysburg. She also led the Maidens to a 51-28 win over Shippensburg on Friday.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Kaitlynn Yeager, James Buchanan – Scored 20 points on Friday to lead the Rockets to a 52-27 win over West Perry.

TT Kelly, Chambersburg – Came off the bench to score 10 points – including a critical basket in overtime – on Wednesday to lead the Trojans to a 32-31 win over Central Dauphin East.

Eva Martin, Greencastle-Antrim – Contributed 11 points and four rebounds during the Blue Devils’ win over Big Spring on Wednesday.

Meadow Gambacurta, Greencastle-Antrim – Controlled the backboard with seven rebounds in the Blue Devils’ defensive struggle of a victory over Big Spring. She also scored six points. She added six offensive rebounds to go with five points in Friday’s win over Gettysburg.

Nikki Davis, Waynesboro – Scored 15 points on Wednesday in the Maidens’ 51-28 win over Gettysburg.

Eva Parker, Chambersburg – Scored 12 points to match her season high – including 5 of 6 from the line – in the loss to State College.

Jayla Thomas, Shippensburg – Scored 11 points, including a 7-of-10 performance from the line, in a 58-54 loss to Red Lion at Saturday's West York Showcase

WRESTLING

Frank Barrientos, Chambersburg – Led off the match at 285 with a 1:02 pin over Gabriel Lara on Thursday to give the Trojans an early lead in what became a 40-29 loss to Central Dauphin.

Zach Sherman, Chambersburg – Collected a technical fall at 121 by with a 15-0 shutout over Central Dauphin’s Pierce Lemmons, 15-0.

Ashton Romberger, Chambersburg – Pinned Central Dauphin’s Adam Mariano in 1:30 at 133.

Jaccob Stoner, Chambersburg – Scored a pin at 189 in 4:42 to defeat Central Dauphin’s Cole Romberger.

Ayden Amsley, Greencastle-Antrim – Pinned Andrew Garcia at 160 on Thursday in the Blue Devils’ 63-12 loss to Boiling Springs.

Gavin Knable, Greencastle-Antrim – Took down Boiling Spring’s Ethan Noll in 1:03 at 285 in the Blue Devils’ loss to the Bubblers.

Boys' swimming

The medalists

GOLD

Derek Estep, Chambersburg – Scored points in four events on Tuesday in the Trojans’ 112-55 victory over Carlisle. He won the butterfly (55.98 seconds) and the breaststroke (1:12:02), along with swimming the anchor leg of the winning 200 medley relay team and the lead segment of the 200-freestyle relay victory.

SILVER

Alex Kaczmark, Chambersburg – Took part in three wins, scoring victories in 200 individual medley (2:18.09) and relay wins in the 200 freestyle (1:42.33) and 200 medley (1:57.40).

BRONZE

Bryce Pattillo, Shippensburg – Scored wins in the 200 IM (2:33.85) and 1-meter diving (190.30 points) on Friday in the Greyhounds’ 122-49 loss to Gettysburg.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Alex Tasker, Chambersburg – Got the victory in the 400 freestyle (4:26.77) and was part of the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Jed Ritchie, Chambersburg – Scored a win in the backstroke (1:07.07) and helped win the 200 medley and 400 free relays.

Cullen McGraw, Chambersburg – Won the 100 free (:57.73) and participated in the 200 free relay.

Ethan White, Chambersburg – Won the 50 free (:27.03).

Jacob Wiest, Shippensburg – The sophomore won the 100 back (1:12.03) during the Greyhounds’ loss to Gettysburg.

Girls' swimming

The medalists

GOLD

McKenzie Wicks, Chambersburg – Won two events – 50 freestyle (36.28 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (1:16.40) – and worked on two winning relay teams – opening leg of the 200 medley (2:17.23) anchored the 200 free (2:05.04) – on Tuesday during the Trojans' 92-77 win over Carlisle.

SILVER

Madalyn Kauffman, Shippensburg – Won the 50 free (26.51) and the 100 free (58.41) on Friday in the Greyhounds’ 93-87 win over Gettysburg.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Hailey Fegan, Chambersburg – Won the 100 free (1:06.77).

Kylie Ramsey, Shippensburg – Took first in the 1-meter diving (162.35 points) during the close win over Gettysburg.

Shelby Heberlig, Shippensburg - Won the 100 fly (58.41) and the 100 back (1:09.45) during the Greyhounds’ victory over Gettysburg.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Mid-Penn Conference Franklin County top athletes from last week