Middle School Basketball Teams Each End Season with a Win!

CCS Middle School Boys - 2016 Conestoga Hoops Shootout Champions

On Friday, February 5, 2016, the Middle School boys and girls varsity teams hosted the third annual Conestoga Hoops Shootout.  The teams involved in the tournament were LMS-Hershey, Dayspring Christian, and Linville Hill Mennonite.  This one-day tournament had a fantastic environment with bleachers full of athletes, parents, and spectators each cheering for their teams.

The tournament kicked off with CCS girls facing LMS-Hershey.  The Cougars jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning 16-10.  This game was followed by the CCS boys and LMS-Hershey boys.  Conestoga's athleticism and experience proved to be overpowering, and the Cougars ran away with a 48-12 victory.  With these victories, both team advanced to the championship games to conclude the evening.  

In the championship game the girls' opponent was Linville Hill.  The score in this game went back and forth the entire game with the Cougars coming out on top 14-12.  This was the first time the girls have won the Shootout.  The girls were led by Montana Schwinn and Alexis Kohler, who were both selected to the all-tournament team.

The final game of the night kept everyone on their seats as the CCS boys found themselves down two points with less than a minute to play in the game.  Colin Weaver made a nice pass to Conrad Yoder in the corner, and he drained a three pointer to take the lead.  The teams exchanged free throws, and the Cougars finished the season as the Shootout champions, 22-21.  The Cougars were led by all-tournament team members Riley Watkins, who finished the tournament with 14 points, and Conrad Yoder, who ended the tournament with 21 points.

CCS Middle School Girls - 2016 Conestoga Hoops Shootout Champions

The Middle School Boys JV team traveled to LMS-Kraybill on Saturday, Feburary 13, to play their final games of the season.  The day started with some excitement as Garrett Watkins sent the first game into overtime, scoring with just two seconds remaining in the game.  The boys lost in overtime but went on to win their next four games, including a thriller with tournament runner-up Lititz Area Mennonite.  In that game Matt Brantzeg made two free throws with three seconds remaining to win the game.  Matt made five out of six free throws in the game.  Going into their final game, the Cougars needed a win over the host team to finish as champions.  After a nervous start, the boys held LMS-Kraybill to just five points for the game to clinch the championship.  Coach Lapp commented following the game, "I am proud of how the team responded to a crushing loss to start the day, to win four in a row with every player contributing.  The team showed great determination and spirit."  While all-tournament awards were not given, the team agreed that Matt Brantzeg was the unofficial MVP for the tournament.

Middle School Boys B - LMS-Kraybill Tournament Champion