Final-Four bound Pottsgrove ends on a high note
POTTSGROVE >> They’d already locked up the No. 2 seed in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division.
Still, for Pottsgrove, ending the regular season with a win over crosstown-rival Pottstown would be the perfect way to head into their first PAC-10 Final Four since the 2010 season.
Controlling the tempo throughout, the Falcons jumped all over the Trojans early and never looked back Monday night, taking a 48-23 victory over the Trojans at Pottsgrove High School Gymnasium.
“We’ve had our eyes on getting into the Final Four all season,” Pottsgrove head coach Mike Brendlinger said. “We knew we had a tall task ahead of us, but I think our girls — especially the seniors — will really enjoy the experience.”
The win sends the Falcons to 6-7 in the PAC-10 (10-12 overall), and eliminates the need for tie-break criteria with Phoenixville, which Pottsgrove had already controlled. Pottstown drops to 2-9 in the PAC-10 (6-15 overall).
Diana Randleman scored a game-high 17 points, setting the tone both on both sides of the ball for the Falcons. The junior guard thrived off Pottsgrove’s press defense, turning several turnovers into fast-break points.
“Our press defense really came together,” said Randleman, who also finished 7-for-8 at the line. “All season, we struggled with knowing where to be and how to force those turnovers. I think we did a good job of that. Everybody was in the right spot at the right time, and even when they broke the press, we got back and got into our half-court defense.”
Standing at 5-2, Randleman used her speed and elusiveness to her advantage, including a sweet up-and-under midway through the third quarter to cap a 9-0 run.
“We go as Diana goes,” said Brendlinger. “She sets the pace for our team. As always, we need other girls to step up throughout, and we had plenty of girls do that tonight.”
Nikita Harper stepped up for the Falcons, adding nine points including a 3-pointer while Cori Dickinson and Molly Galvin added six points apiece.
For Pottstown, junior Alivia Lopez scored a team-high 16 points. The forward controlled the glass, cashing in on plenty of second-chance opportunities and finishing 6-for-13 at the line.
On the game, the Trojans finished 7-for-51 from the floor while committing 27 turnovers. Head coach Chris Jackson knew his team left a lot of points out there.
“It’s frustrating,” said Jackson. “We knew they (Pottsgrove) would be coming out in the press defense, but we didn’t take good enough care of the ball.
“We were hurrying too much on offense — once we did find ways to break the press, we were forcing bad shots. But that’s a credit to them (Pottsgrove). Their defense forced us to make mistakes.”
The Trojans will end their season Tuesday against Pope John Paul II.
Heading into their first PAC-10 Final Four in six seasons, the Falcons will either go up against Boyertown or Perkiomen Valley, both still battling for the No. 1 seed in the Liberty Division.
“No matter who we go up against, we’ve just got to keep up our intensity on defense,” said Randleman. “We worked so hard to get to the playoffs, so we’ve got to keep playing the way we have been.”
