Varsity (11-1, 9-0) extended their Central League unbeaten streak with a thrilling 52-47 OT victory over Strath Haven High School.  The game was a complete team effort and their were many Heroes of the game credited from coach to bench.  Stoga overcame an early 10-0 deficit, uncharacteristic poor free throw shooting AND Strath Haven’s senior John Harrar who stood at a chiseled 6’8″ 235 pounds – to secure the win and give head coach Mike Troy his 300th career win!
The Hero list begins with Senior Scott Lambert (4 reb), and juniors Charlie Schappell (4 reb, 1 huge ast) and Michael Erickson (4 reb, 1 ast) who get credit for holding Harrar to 14 points and wearing him down throughout the game.  Special kudos to Lambert who bravely took numerous charges from the big man and kept him frustratingly away from the basket as best he could.  Hero award to Sophmore Milton Robinson (5 pts, 3 reb) who hit the game-tying 3-point shot from deep at the buzzer and send the game into overtime and sending the Conestoga crowd into delirium!  A special Hero award to the Pioneer Pit for being the loudest group of the season.
Special Hero note to Schappell who put himself in position under the basket and securing a missed three-point shot and assisting the game-tying shot!  Hero awards to sophomore Zach Lezanic (7 pts, 4 ast) and super seniors Scott Shapiro (21 pts, 3 ast) and Charlie Martin (12 pts, 4 reb) who willed the team back from an 8 point deficit after three periods (25-33) and erupting in overtime scoring 22 points between the three of them in the 4th and OT.  Shapiro opened the 4th period hitting back-to-back 3-pointers and Shapiro and Martin opened up the OT with back-to-back 3-pointers sending the crowd into a frenzy! When asked how he felt about his 300th win, our final Hero award recipient Coach Troy said, “I’m just happy for the kids.  They played their hearts out and I’m just so proud of them on how they hung in there and fought back.”  Coach Troy made special note to Lambert for taking the charges from Harrar.  “That took a lot of guts to take numerous charges from their big guy”  Stoga travels to Shipley on Saturday before resuming league play with HOME games Wednesday and Friday nights!  Go Stoga!