Conestoga handles Lower Merion, advances to state playoffs

By Anthony Dabbundo

After a loss to Strath Haven back on February 12 in the Central League semifinals, Conestoga was banged up.

Both mentally and physically, the Pioneers needed to regroup to get ready for the district playoffs, where they were ranked No. 7 in the new 6A classification.

While most teams would rue a 10 day break that would throw them off their two-game-a-week rhythm, the Pioneers got exactly what they needed.

Enough time to get center Angus Mayock healthy, to get over the loss to the Panthers, and to get ready for a rubber match with their rivals, Lower Merion.

Playing on nine days’ rest, Conestoga got back to playing Conestoga basketball, dismantling No. 10 Lower Merion 77-57 and clinching its ticket to the PIAA state playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

“Having that week off makes a big difference,” Pioneers head coach Mike Troy said.

“It was a great to have a week just to practice, we came in, we refocused, we went back to the fundamentals.”

“The past few years we lost in the Central League playoffs and let it fester,” senior wing Charlie Martin said. “This year, we didn’t want to let that happen.”

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