Pioneers Fight Hard, Win Close Battle Over Barons

 

On Wednesday night, the Boys' Basketball team hosted the Manheim Central Barons. Going into the game, the Pioneers had won 6 straight meetings between the teams dating back to 2017. The Barons entered the game with a record of 1-1, defeating Fleetwood and narrowly losing to Cocalico. 

Both teams started off fast, passing the ball well and hitting open shots. Isaiah Parido led the way for the Pioneers in the first quarter, scoring 7 points. The Barons led 15-13 at the end of the quarter. 


Things slowed down a bit in the second quarter, with both teams entering the bonus due to poor off-ball fouls. At halftime, the game was tied at 23. Tyler Burton carried the scoring load in the quarter, scoring 5 points. Trey Grube and Wyatt Becker led the way for the Barons, both nearing 10 points at the end of the first half. 


The Pioneers gained both momentum and the lead during the 3rd quarter, playing team basketball on the offensive side of the ball and getting some much-needed stops on the defensive end. Despite his stature, Tyler Burton was very effective defensively during the quarter, blocking a shot and keeping his assignment at bay. The Pioneers led 42-35 going into the final 8 minutes. 


The Barons quickly reduced the lead due to turnovers by the Pioneers. Just 3 minutes into the fourth quarter, the Barons had thinned the lead to just 2 points. After the teams traded baskets a few times, Luka Vranich grabbed an offensive board and subsequently fired into the corner to Berkeley Wagner, who knocked down a huge three-pointer to give the Pioneers a 5 point lead with just under 3 minutes remaining. Time expired as Cam Eberly's potentially game-tying full-court heave fell harmlessly to the ground. The Pioneers won by a final score of 59-56.

THREE STARS:

Isaiah Parido: After coming excruciatingly close to a double-double last game against the Garden Spot Spartans, Parido broke the barrier tonight. Parido finished with 14 points on 55% shooting and 10 rebounds, along with 5 assists. Parido was also effective defensively, making his presence known in the paint.

Berkeley Wagner: The first person to appear on both the Basketball and Football three stars list, Wagner had a good performance tonight. Wagner came off the bench and provided the Pioneers with clutch shooting and efficiency, scoring 10 points on a 75% clip. Wagner hit big shots (and free-throws) down the stretch to lead the Pioneers to victory.

Trey Grube: Grube had a solid night for the Barons, filling the scorecard out with 15 points and making 3 three-pointers. Grube also did an admirable job keeping Tyler Burton in check, who shot just 22% despite scoring 16 points. 

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Burton, Luka Vranich, Judd Novak, Cam Eberly. 

STAT LEADERS: *Lampeter-Strasburg only

Points: Tyler Burton, 16
Rebounds: Isaiah Parido, 10
Assists: Isaiah Parido, 5
Steals: Luka Vranich/Berkeley Wagner/Brady Cole, 2
Blocks: Berkeley Wagner/Tyler Burton, 1
Turnovers: Luka Vranich/Tyler Burton, 4

The JV game was also a hard-fought matchup, resulting in a 31-23 win for the Pioneers. Next up for the Barons is a trip to Millersville for a crossover game with the Penn Manor Comets, while the 2-0 Pioneers head home to host the Solanco Golden Mules. Both games are Friday night. 

-By Logan Moyer, LS News reporter

- Photos by Jonathan Klein, LS News Editor-in-Chief

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