By Bob Grotz
The District One Class AAAA basketball seedings looked just about right judging by what happened here Wednesday night.
Top-seeded Conestoga, which was extended in its first playoff start, cruised to a 54-31 win over a worthy opponent in 17th-seeded Academy Park.
The Pioneers (22-3) entertain Ridley, the ninth seed, in the quarterfinals this Friday.
The Knights (17-7) are hanging on a heartbeat as they oppose Great Valley Friday in the playback round. A heartbeat tops the alternative, which is what Knights coach Allen Brydges explained to his players.
“I told them that if you had told me when the season started that we’d play at home on Friday night with a chance to continue toward states we’d all be happy,’ Brydges said. “We’d all sign up for that.’
You could probably lay some pretty good odds that the Knights will shoot better than 6-for-35 in the first three quarters from here on out.
The Knights trailed, 24-10, at the half. The lead grew to 24 points in the fourth quarter.
“It’s real frustrating,’ said Travis Smith, who led the Knights with 14 points. “We were taking bad shots throughout the whole game.’
Smith and Jawan Collins, who was held to seven points, couldn’t get their shots to fall over the Pioneers’ zone defense until it was too late.