With the hoopla that surrounds the PAC-10 Final Four, it would only be natural for nerves to play a role at start of a game. This was the case for Pottstown last night as it made its first Final Four appearance in four years.
The favored Spring-Ford Rams (16-7) broke out of the gate at full gallop, taking advantage of Pottstown's jitters to build a quick 8-1 lead just two minutes into the game.
It was then that the Trojans (13-10) found their legs. Led by Dawon Mathews with eight first-half points and Elijah Jackson, who posted nine points in the first 15 minutes, Pottstown went on a 20-3 run and held the Rams scoreless for five minutes during that span to build a ten point lead.
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“I think we were far too passive in the first half,” said Rams head coach Mike Young. “When you play in a game of this magnitude, you have to make something happen. In the first half we sat back and were almost waiting for the game to come to us.”
The Rams were just 6-of 28 from the field and just as bad from the free throw line, converting only three of their ten first-half attempts.
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Pottstown, meanwhile, shot almost 50 percent from the field.
“Jackson and Mathews are very tough to stop inside,” said Young. “We tried to deny them the ball, but they still got their looks and made the most of them.”
After Zameer McDowell failed to convert on three free throws as time expired in the first half, the Trojans headed into the locker room with a 24-16 lead.
“We knew we had to come out in the second half and play better defensively,” said senior Steve Joyce. “Once we got the defense going, we were able to chip away at their lead.”
After the break, Joyce stepped up his game. He finished the evening with a game-high 18 points as he drilled 5-of-6 from the line, including two one-and-ones, to pace the Rams to a 20-9 scoring edge in the third quarter.
“Steve always makes a play,” said Young. “He is always able to get a stop or hit a shot. Whatever we need him to do to pick up the team, he always seems to be able to respond.”
Despite McDowell’s shortcomings from the line, he was a force inside, snagging 14 rebounds while scoring 17 points. Just as importantly, he got Pottstown's Mathews into foul trouble by forcing Jackson to play him tightly.
“It’s a great advantage anytime we can get him off the floor,” added Young. “Anytime you can get a player like him in foul trouble, you are going to have chances to score.”
In what appeared to be a numerological alignment, Pottstown senior Brendan King, who wears the number 13, hit a three pointer to tie the score at 33 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.
McDowell then recorded a put back of a Joyce ten-footer with only four seconds left in the third, then dropped one-of-two from the line to give the Rams a 36-33 lead heading into the final period.
After exchanging blows the entire fourth quarter, Spring-Ford finally punched its ticket to Tuesday’s final by cranking up the defense and connecting on 10-of-13 free throws in the second half.
The Trojans had four chances to tie the game in the last 20 seconds of regulation, but could not find the bottom of the twine as Joyce and Josh Dishman were draped all over the Pottstown shooters.
”Playing them is always a challenge,” said Zameer McDowell. “We have to focus on getting our rebounds and playing our game. Pope John Paul shoots the ball very well and if we play them, we have to be ready to make good decisions and use good shot selection.”
Spring Ford will face Pope John Paul II, who defeated Methacton 56-41 in the second half of Friday’s doubleheader.
The final will be held Tuesday night at 7:00pm at the neutral site of Perkiomen Valley High School. The title of 2010-11 PAC-10 champion, not to mention bragging rights for the Spring-Ford area, will be on the line.
“We are at our best when we have the mentality of playing to win,” said Young. “We need to attack and if we make a mistake, make it trying to win the game. We can not sit back and see what happens.”
“PJP presents some interesting matchups for us,” added Young. “They shoot the ball very well from outside, but they can also penetrate the lane. We have also got to do a better job with our free throws.”
Pottstown 14 10 9 17 - 50
Spring Ford 8 8 20 16 - 52
Pottstown (50)
Endy 1 0-0 3, Mathews 5 7-14 17, Elliott 2 1-3 5, Jackson 6 0-2 14, Moore 2 0-1 4, King 1 1-2 4, Frederick 0 1-2 1, Mitchell 1 0-0 2. Totals 22 10-24 50.
Spring Ford (52)
O’Hara 1 0-0 3, Dishman 1 2-3 4, Joyce 6 6-8 18, McDowell 6 5-9 14, Branch 2 0-0 4, Keefe 3 0-0 6. Totals 20 13-23 52.
Three point field goals- Endy (PT), Jackson (OT) 2, King (PT), O’Hara (SF)
