Close-knit environment embodies Conestoga girls’ basketball
With 1:37 remaining in the fourth quarter of Conestoga’s 60-42 loss to Garnet Valley in the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA girls’ basketball state tournament, Pioneer senior Ellie Mack drove the lane and appeared to do what she has done many times throughout her illustrious career – take a short runner in the lane.
As she has also done many times after making this move, Mack was looking for the open teammate. The beneficiary this time would be fellow senior Sara Hottenstein, who drained a wide opener jumper from the wing. It was the perfect example of Conestoga basketball.
“We always look to make the extra pass,” said Mack following the game. “This is what embodies Conestoga basketball. We are an unselfish team and it’s something we’ve been doing throughout my career. We are about finding the open person.”
“It meant a lot because I was able to share that moment with my teammates,” said Hottenstein, referring to the pass she received from Mack. “This season has been more than amazing. I consider these girls some of my closest friends and when Ellie and come back from Bucknell next year and go to a game we will see that Conestoga basketball lives on.”
Against the Jaguars, the Pioneers tallied 13 field goals, with six coming off an assist. For the year, Conestoga averaged 18 made field goals, with 13 coming off assists.
Conestoga’s season ended with a 21-8 record but it was certainly a magical journey capped off by the program’s first appearance in the state tournament since 2007 in just the second year of Chris Jeffries’ tenure at the helm since taking over from long-time coach John Jones.
“This year was really special,” said senior Sondra Dickey. “We bonded well with Coach Jeffries and Coach Ricci. It was an easy transition since both Coach Jeffries and Coach Jones are really good head coaches. They helped us get to where we got and we could not have done it without them.”
Fellow senior Liz Atwood added, “Our goal was to create a family from seniors to the freshmen and I believe we really achieved that goal.”
While the team certainly came first, the players were well aware of individuals trying to attain goals of their own and without disrupting the flow of play, they looked to help players achieve those goals.
This year, the team did its best to help Mack reach the 1,000-career point mark. After losing her junior year to a torn ACL Mack thought her dream was far fetched. Thanks to hard work on her part and a complete team effort Mack reached her milestone on what turned out to be the final basket of her high school career when she hit a baseline jumper with 3:38 remaining.
“To reach this milestone means a lot but I could not have done this without my team,” said Mack, who finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. “This was everyone’s moment. I would not be here today without them. They are some of my best friends.”
“I am so thankful she was able to accomplish this goal,” said Hottenstein. “She worked so hard to come back from her injury and to see her accomplish this goal means so much.”
Conestoga will graduate four key parts of this team but with the team mentality they established combined with key underclassmen that stepped up success should continue.
“The seniors meant so much,” said junior Liz Scott. “They molded us into the team we are. They taught me how to stay positive and bring energy to practice every day. Sara (Hottenstein) taught me responsibility; Ellie (Mack) taught me to play hard and go all out every day; Liz (Atwood) taught me everything on and off the court and to always be positive and what can I say about cousin Sondra – my best friend who taught me something every day. I learn from her every day.”
