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Keystone 83, Gwynedd-Mercy 76
2013 CSAC Tournament Semifinal

BOX SCORE

GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Keystone ended Gwynedd-Mercy's season as the third-seeded Giants knocked off the second-seeded Griffins, 83-76, in a CSAC Tournament Semifinal game Tuesday night at the Griffin Complex.

The loss gives the Griffins a final record of 15-11. It would be the last game for seniors Frank Champion (Northfield, N.J./Mainland) and Brendan Stanton (Harleysville, Pa./Lansdale Catholic). Champion finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Stanton added four assists and three boards.

Gwynedd was led by sophomore Justin Knight (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest), who netted a career-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting but the Griffins came up short to Keystone. Sophomore Colin Gates (Boca Raton, Fl./Grandview Prep) chipped in 13 and freshman Shawn Wilson (Pleasantville, N.J./Pleasantville) netted 11.

Duncan Lunsford totaled a game-high 32 points and Dan Candemeres added 21 as the Giants (18-9) advance to the CSAC Championship where they'll take on top-seeded Cabrini on Friday.

In a close first period where no team led by more than five points, the Griffins were able to tie the game on eight occasions but could not get over the proverbial hump, the last coming with under a minute before the half. After Knight's layin with 39 seconds to make it a 29-29 game, Candemeres struck from behind the arc with seconds to go, giving Keystone a 32-29 lead at the break.

The second half saw Gwynedd get into early foul trouble, as Champion's second put the Giants in the bonus with over 12 minutes to play. Keystone took advantage, hitting 27-of-34 trips at the line.

Candemeres would strike again from downtown to give Keystone a double-digit lead at the 14:10 mark. After the aforementioned foul on Champion, two free throws from Candemeres gave Keystone their largest lead (52-38), putting the Griffins in a big hole.

Gwynedd answered with a 15-2 run to pull within two (55-53) with 9:20 to play, but the Giants were able to hit 14-of-18 in the final 2:35 from the line to help seal up the win. Knight would hit from downtown, to pull within five (76-71) with 44 seconds left, but the Griffins could pull no closer.

The team shot just under 50% for the game, while outrebounding the Giants, 31-27. The Griffins, though, were guilty of 18 turnovers which led to 25 Keystone points.