Conestoga suffocates Strath Haven to advance to Central League final

Darryl Caldwell (above) and Conestoga are in the Central League championship game for the third consecutive season. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

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By Josh Verlin

To earn a chance at Central League championship revenge, Conestoga first had to make good on another loss, this one from earlier in the season.

The Pioneers fell victim to a last-second layup on the road to the Panthers of Strath Haven back in December, one of only four league losses the defending league runners-up suffered during what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

One down, one to go.

Thanks to a suffocating early defense and just enough offense to hang on, ‘Stoga will have its shot at Ridley to avenge last year’s league title game loss after taking down Strath Haven, 42-40, at Haverford High School on Saturday night.

“We knew Strath Haven had beaten us before, so we really wanted to come back and get revenge,” senior point guard Darryl Caldwell said. “We all got up for this game, we all wanted to go to the Central League championship again.”

Senior wing Andrew Larkin led a balanced scoring effort for ‘Stoga with 10 points, trailed by junior forward Charlie Martin (8), junior guard Scott Shapiro (7) and five each from Caldwell, M.J. Lezanic and Angus Mayock.

 

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