GRATERFORD — Pope John Paul II’s defense was just too much for Phoenixville in Saturday night’s Pioneer Athletic Conference boys basketball playoffs semifinal. The Golden Panthers picked off numerous passes on the perimeter, leading to fast-break baskets. And whenever the Phantoms tried to get the ball to a player inside, PJP smothered the attempt to score with two or three defenders.
As a result, No. 2 seed Pope has a chance to repeat as PAC champion for the first time in program history following a 70-49 win over the Phantoms at Perkiomen Valley High School. The Golden Panthers will face Spring-Ford, a 60-58 winner in overtime over top seed Methacton in Friday’s semifinal, on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Spring-Ford in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Jason Green led the Panthers (19-3) with 16 points and Ayden Wise followed with 15. Keron Booth Jr. led all scorers with 17 and Stephen Yurick added 15 for the No. 3 Phantoms (15-9).
“We really focus playing on defense,” said PJP head coach Earl Wise. “It helps us get into transition. Once we get that transition going, we’re tough to beat.”
“The big thing coming into the game was help defense,” said Green.
The contest began as a back-and-forth affair, with the score tied at 12 late in the opening quarter. Then Lucas Pekofsky (seven points) scored on a layup to put PJP on top and Wise scored on a drive down the middle and a steal to make it 18-12 after a period.
A pair of free throws by Green closed the first half scoring for a 36-22 PJP lead. Then the Golden Panthers blew the game open with 10 straight points after the halftime break as the Phantoms were unable to slow down the tempo of the game.
“They played a very fast pace,” said Phoenixville head coach Eric Burnett. “They’re very aggressive. We tried too much dribble penetration. We turned it over and it hurt us. They had 10 points off turnovers in the first half. They had some opportunistic trips. We had some opportunities in the first half that would have kept us in the game.”
“That was part of the game plan, to force the ball inside,” added Earl Wise.
Six additional PJP players combined for the other 39 points, led by nine from Jack Kessler.
“It’s super helpful,” Green said concerning the team’s multiple threats on the offensive end. “We’re one of the deepest teams in the PAC. Lucas (Pekofsky) and Jude (Schuberth) really stepped up.”
Green was a major factor in PJP’s 22-12 third quarter advantage with eight points, including a 5-for-5 showing from the line.
“He does all we ask him to do,” Earl Wise said of Green. “You have to pick your poison with us. We have a really deep team. Number zero (Schuberth) goes up against Jason in practice. He did a great job against Booth.”
Phoenixville had won the Frontier Division with a 10-0 record, went 10-3 in the league overall and won 59-53 over Pottstown in overtime in the opening round. The Golden Panthers finished second in the Liberty Division with a 7-3 record, also went 10-3 overall in the PAC and had a bye in the opening round of the Final 6 playoffs. They have won 16 of their past 17 games.
“We’re a super tight group,” said Green. “We have an opportunity to win back-to-back championships, which we’ve never done before.”
PJP and Spring-Ford split their two regular season meetings, with the Rams winning 58-53 on Dec. 9 and the Golden Panthers running away to a 77-51 decision at home five weeks later.
“It’s the rubber match,” said Earl Wise. “It’s going to be a war.”
Pope John Paul II 70, Phoenixville 49
Phoenixville 12 10 10 17 – 49
Pope John Paul II 18 18 22 12 – 70
Phoenixville: Ca. Coleman 4 0-0 9, Warkala 0 0-0 0, Yurick 6 0-0 15, Booth 6 2-2 17, O’Malley 1 0-0 2, Kern 0 2-4 2, Leinhauser 0 0-0 0, O’Meacham 0 0-0 0, Co. Coleman 1 2-2 4, Totals 18 6-8 49.
Pope John Paul II: Schuberth 3 0-0 6, Wise 6 2-2 15, Brady 2 0-0 4, Edwards-Boone 3 1-2 8, J. Green 4 7-7 16, Hestick 2 1-2 5, E. Green 0 0-0 0, Donovan 0 0-0 0, Pekofsky 3 1-1 7, Kessler 4 0-0 9, Totals 27 12-14 70.
3-pointers: PHX- Yurick 3, Booth 3, Ca Coleman; PJP- Wise, Edwards-Boone, J. Green, Kessler.
