Conestoga’s Boys JV Defeats Garnet Valley 46-43 in Final Minutes
Pioneers’ teams move to 2-0 with wins over Jaguars
By Brendan Fahey, Conestoga Class of 2021
The Conestoga boys’ Varsity basketball team hoped to remain undefeated on Tuesday, traveling to Garnet Valley for a 7:00 PM matchup against the Jaguars.
Stoga started out strong, leading 21-16 at the end of the first quarter. It was clear that Garnet Valley could not match the size of the Pioneers in the paint and the Jaguars responded by implementing a 2-3 zone in hopes of slowing the Stoga big men. Conestoga, however, was able to beat Garnet’s zone through quick post passes and three-point shooting. Midway through the second quarter, Garnet Valley switched to man defense, and Stoga struggled to beat Garnet off the dribble. The Jaguars stormed back, beating the halftime buzzer with a three pointer to tie the game at 30.
Conestoga answered in the second half, opening with a barrage of three pointers and a fast break layup, quickly taking a 38-30 lead. Garnet Valley struggled to respond, resorting to outside jumpers that hit hard off the rim. The Jaguars turned to the press but the Pioneers handled it with quick passes and held a 47-41 at the end of the 3rd.
Conestoga started the 4th quarter with an intense defense, contesting Garnet’s three point shots and scoring four points off steals. With two minutes left, and Stoga leading by 10, Garnet Valley began to foul.
Stoga closed out the game with clutch free throws and gained a convincing 58-49 victory, putting them at 2-0 on the season. Roll Neers!
Conestoga’s Boys JV Defeats Garnet Valley 46-43 in Final Minutes
By John Demming
The Conestoga boys JV basketball team defeated a tough Garnet Valley squad 46-43 in Glen Mills, PA, that was a nail biter until the end.
Conestoga played pressure half-court man defense from the tip-off, causing Garnet Valley to call an immediate time out and adjust their offense just 15 seconds into the game. The Pioneers and Jaguars traded baskets, including a couple of three pointers from both sides, but Garnet’s performance on the glass pushed them to a seven point lead at halftime.
The second half saw Stoga step up on defense, causing quick turnovers which changed the momentum of the game. Garnet Valley mixed up its defense from man to zone, but the Pioneers worked hard and gained a 32-29 advantage heading into 4th.
The closing quarter saw Stoga move the ball quickly while Garnet struggled to shift its defense. The Pioneers crashed the boards and obtained some key rebounds and made clutch shots to put them ahead for good, 46-43 in the final minute.
The Conestoga boys Varsity and JV teams travel to Haverford High School on Thursday, January 28. JV tips at 5:30 PM and Varsity is at 7:00 PM.