Pioneers battle Titans at Holiday classic in tune up for league season.

ROYERSFORD—It’s always hard to have a down year, when you are used to being on top, but that’s exactly what the Pioneers went through last season.

The silver lining of what was a dreary 2010-11 season, was that some young players got some quality minutes in game situations, which is already reaping this season’s Conestoga squad benefits.

For the third consecutive year the Pioneers were invited to participate at the Spring-Ford Holiday Classic, an event that has grown from four teams in 2008 into a three day, ten-team extravaganza with some of the best teams in the district in attendance.

Conestoga (3-4) jumped out to an early three point lead fueled by sophomore Maddy Tessier-Kay, who connected on here first two field goal attempts of the day and Taylor Kenan hitting the first of her two three pointers to pace the Pioneers balanced attack.

“Last year as a freshman I got in a few games, but to be part of such a great team this season has been great so far,” said Tessier-Kay. “It’s not unusual for us to have a size advantage as we have several girls over six foot, but at a tournament like this we have to be ready to play teams with a lot of speed and shooting ability, This is a great experience and there is nothing I would rather be doing this week, you can learn so much just from watching other teams that are here.”

C.B South (6-1) used an 8-1 run to start the second period to put some distance between themselves and the Pioneers as the game leading scorer Tori Steinberg dropped two eight footers to help build a 23-15 halftime edge.

As the final period started with the Titans holding a nine point edge, it was Steinberg that put the final dagger into the Conestoga come back effort as she burried two bombs from beyond the arc to seal the 41-29 win for the Suburban One League power house.

“They really came out and played with a lot of intensity,” said South head coach Beth Mattern f the Conestoag effort. “We don’t have one girl that stands out and use a lot of people touching the ball, and I think they did a great job making us work underneath, this was a very good test for us, they have a couple of young players that are going to be very good.”

Next up for Stoga is a match up with The Agnes Irwin School, who dropped their first game 53-23 to Daniel Boone on Thursday at 1:30 pm, followed by a bout with Ches-Mont power and perennial state playoff contender Downingtown West on Friday at 6:00 pm at Spring-Ford High School.

Conestoga            11        4          11            3            -29

C.B.South            13            10        9          9            -41

Conestoga (29)

Kovach 2, 0-0, 2; Kenan 6, 0-0, 6; Grundy 5, 4-5, 9; Nalevanko 6, 0-0, 6; Tessier-Kay 4, 0-0, 4; Howry 2, 0-0, 2; Totals   25, 4-5, 29 Three point field goals- Kenan (2), Grundy.

C.B. South (41)

Vitelli 4, 1-2, 5; McMenamin 2, 1-2, 3; Falkowski 4, 2-2, 6; Semone 6, 0-0, 6; Steinberg 6, 2-2, 8; Eife 2, 0-0, 2; Lofton 0, 7-10, 7; Mosher 4, 0-0, 4; Totals    28, 13-18, 41.

Three point field goal- Steinberg (2).