The house was rockin’ Friday night as the two remaining Central League undefeated teams clashed in a raucous Conestoga High gymnasium.   The Conestoga Pioneers (13-2, 10-0) defeated the Penncrest High Lions (13-3, 9-1) by a score of 52-47.  Senior captain Scott Shapiro (17 pts, 2 reb)  sparked the game and the crowd hitting back-to-back 3 point field goals to start the 1st quarter and Stoga led 16-8 after the 1st.  The excitement in the crowd never relinquished.  The Pioneer Pit met their biggest match of the year as Penncrest students were loud and supportive of their team.

On the court, the Pioneers had to battle hard to keep the Lions at bay and led by scores of 27-18 at half and 41-32 after 3.  In the 4th qtr, Penncrest heated up led by junior Tyler Norwood and actually took the lead briefly 44-43, but Stoga responded immediately as sophomore Milton Robinson (7pts, 2 reb, 2 ast) drove hard to the hoop and scored and was fouled to take back the lead for good.  Once again excellent free-throw shooting played an integral part of the game as sophomore Zach Lezanic (10 pts, 2 reb), Shapiro and Robinson went a pressure packed 9 for 9 from the charity stripe in the 4th quarter to seal the victory.  The three players combined for 13 for 14 for the game.
Conestoga senior captain Charlie Martin added 10 points and an assist, and junior Charlie Schappell (6 pts, 6 reb) and senior Scott Lambert (2 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast) continued to play BIG in the absence of senior captain Angus Mayock who hopes to return next week from an ankle injury.  Next week Stoga travels to Ridley on Tuesday for a 5 PM start, and then back HOME for a great match-up vs Lower Merion on Friday night 7 PM.  Go Stoga!