LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Bald Eagles made history Saturday, March 2, upsetting the Millersville Marauders (23-5) on senior day, 90-79, and claiming the No. 1 seed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference‘s (PSAC) Eastern Division.
This marks the first time in program history that Lock Haven (20-7) will be the top seed, and the first time in school history that both the men and women’s team will have the honor in the same season.
This year has not been an easy one for The Haven, who were locked in a battle for the one seed for over a month and seemingly faced challenges at every turn.
“Right from the beginning, the team was hit with adversity when we lost star guard Eli Washington in the second game of the year,” Lock Haven’s Jalen Gorham said. “He pushes us in practice every day. He’s a vocal leader on the bench. He’s just as important [on the bench] as if he was playing; that’s how good of a guy he is.”
Losing a leader like Washington threatened to derail the Bald Eagles’ season, but it was Lock Haven head coach Mike Nestor who kept the team focused on the goal in front of them. Nestor led his team to a 10-1 home record and multiple wins versus top-ranked opponents, sweeping the third-seeded East Stroudsburg Warriors and splitting the season series versus the two-seeded Marauders.
“It’s been a great year obviously,” Nestor said. “I thought we have done a great job; obviously, we had some adversity in the beginning of the season, but it’s been the best season in Lock Haven history. It’s the first time our school has ever been the PSAC East champion, so for us to be able to have another home game Wednesday night and get a bye in the first round is unbelievable.”
Lock Haven has had many key contributors this season. Sophomore’s Justice Shoats, Mike Knouse, and Dyllon Scott, Junior’s Isaiah Stewart and Bryson Scott, and Graduate’s Collin Jones and Dyson Harward, and Gorham (Senior) were all impact players for the Bald Eagles.
Interestingly, all three seniors did not start their college careers at Lock Haven. All three came to Lock Haven with the goal to turn Lock Haven into a winner, and they certainly succeeded. Harward is a first-year transfer from Lycoming.
“We get to play in our home arena that we have worked so hard for,” Harward said. “This win means so much to us because we get to play here and do what we do best at home.”
Jones is a first-year transfer from Lebanon Valley.
“This win means everything,” Jones said when asked about the importance of the victory. “For the school, for the fans, for the other athletes, I mean, being able to represent Lock Haven, being the number one seed, it’s a big deal for the players and for the school.”
Gorham is a second-year transfer from Saint Michael’s University.
UP NEXT:
The Bald Eagles will look to keep building on this memorable season in the PSAC Playoffs. Beating coach Nestor and his team at home will be no easy task, and Lock Haven will wait to see who their opponent is for the quarterfinals on Wednesday Mar. 6.
Ryan States is in his 3rd year at Lock Haven University, and his second with the Eagle Eye. He is a Journalism major with intentions to minor in Sports Management. With his never-ending passion for all things sports, he wishes to pursue a career as a sports writer for a major outlet. When not watching sports, he can be found playing video games, hanging out with friends at the REC. Or you can find him helping out in the booth during LHU sporting events. His biggest hope while at Lock Haven is to be able to positively contribute to LHU sports in any way he can.
