LHU’s Shoats earns his third PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week honor

LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven men’s basketball team sophomore Justice Shoats (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer) has been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Defensive Athlete of the Week, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon (Jan. 8).

Lock Haven men’s basketball has brought home every PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week awarded this season but one, with Shoats earning the award three times and Dyson Harward (Danville, Pa./Danville) being honored once.

The sophomore guard was a menace on the defensive end to lead the Bald Eagles to three come-from-behind victories in the PSAC last week. Shoats had three blocks on Dec. 30, before plucking six steals on Wednesday and blocking seven shots on Saturday.

In the 74-71 victory over West Chester on Saturday, Shoats tied the program record for blocks in a single game with seven, doing so from his point guard position.

The swiss-army knife, Shoats also finished with two steals to go with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.

The PSAC steals leader, Shoats sparked the Bald Eagles to a thrilling 66-65 come-from-behind victory over Clarion on Wednesday with his standout play on defense.

Shoats came away with six steals in the contest, marking his fourth game this season with at least five takeaways.

Shoats added four rebounds on the defensive end at his point guard position.

Back on Dec. 30 in the Bald Eagles 73-66 victory over Slippery Rock, Shoats blocked three more shots, while filling the stat sheet with 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Lock Haven improves to 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC to move into a tie for second in the Eastern Conference with West Chester, who falls to 8-5 overall and 5-2 in the East.

NEXT UP

The Bald Eagles return to the court on Wednesday (Jan. 10) at 7:30 p.m. when they travel to Kutztown for a PSAC East contest.