Perkiomen Valley can’t miss in win over Berks’ Governor Mifflin
GRATERFORD >> The third year of coach Dan Haughney’s rebuilding task at Governor Mifflin is right on schedule – probably ahead of it. The Mustangs entered Perkiomen Valley’s gym Saturday afternoon with a 10-0 record.
The Vikings, though, interrupted the visitors’ smooth sailing. PV is planning to go places this season as well, and their convincing 69-57 victory over the previously unbeaten Mustangs made Haughney marvel at the pace the Vikings are on – specifically how their offensive pace is triggered by their space.
“I love the way that they space the floor,” said Haughney, whose club went 12-12 last year but beat PV along the way. “Generally we have really good help defense. But they make it tough.”
Senior shooting guard Justin Jaworski, PV’s terrific top offensive force, scored 26 points, notching three three-pointers. The Vikings made eight shots from beyond the arc, with sophomore forward Tyler Strechay nailing three and guards Andrew Light and Sean Owens each one.
With such depth in perimeter danger, PV (9-2) found lots of driving gaps and passing alleys as well. Governor Mifflin was allowing only 50.3 points per game coming in, but PV crested 50 before the end of the third quarter.
“I told them this would be the toughest task we’ve had yet, and we’ve played some good teams,” Haughney said. “What’s not to like about Jaworski? He’s the real deal. … And then you’re running after Jaworski and he finds other people. They play the game the right way. They’re tough. I love the way they spread the floor.”
Strechay added 15 points and point guard Owens 13, but just as important as the offensive firepower was the way the Vikings stayed persistent defensively against a team averaging 60.
“That’s a really, really good team. They’ll compete for District 3,” Jaworski said. “It’s cool that we scored 69, but for us, our biggest thing is playing defense, because we’re not going to score around 70 every game.”
PV led at halftime 37-29, with Jaworski scoring 16. Governor Mifflin’s last lead came late in the first quarter, and the Mustangs couldn’t quite keep pace in the second half while sticking with a man-to-man defense. Jaworski, Strechay and Owens strung three consecutive 3-pointers early in the third as PV maxed its lead to 15. The Mustangs got no closer than eight.
Despite the setback in the non-conference measuring-stick game against a PAC contender, the Mustangs, who play in the tough Berks Division I, can look forward confidently. Haughney is starting to see the payoff of experience; half his roster is composed of seniors, led by the exceptional guard tandem of Jared “Bubba” Peters and Isiah Tisdale, while 6-4 Rece Harman anchors the frontcourt. Five of the Mustangs’ 10 victories have been by five or fewer points.
“We’re growing with each other and we believe in each other,” said Haughney, 35-25 at GM after a 139-94 run at Central Catholic and Tulpehocken. “Our schedule is really going to get tough. Our schedule has gradually gotten tougher and tougher and we’re going to be better for it. And this was a great test for us.
“Defense is our big thing, and also these guys really get along. We spread the ball around; we have eight guys with at least a 4.5 scoring average. We have good balance. I’ve been around a long time, and this is the best eight-man rotation I’ve ever coached.”
Tisdale, a hiccup-quick penetrator, gave PV some problems with his driving and scored 13. Peters had seven of his 15 in the first quarter. Both were all-conference last year.
Tisdale gave a wry smile when looking forward to the bulk of Berks play.
“We have a group of guys that have played together a long time, and we’re the deepest we’ve been since I’ve been here,” he said. “We believe in ourselves. We think we belong with the Readings and Wilsons.”
This was another confidence-builder for PV. The Vikes scored 10 points higher than their average while going against a 10-0 team. Their showing was extra impressive when considering it came less than 24 hours after grinding out a PAC win against gritty Methacton, 53-42.
“Our energy, I wouldn’t say it was great, but we played solid defense and we shot well,” Owens said. “We have a lot of guys who can score in different ways.”
“Coming off a tough league win, it’s tough to get back up for Saturday afternoon games,” PV coach Mike Poysden said. “I challenged the guys to create the energy. When we hit down patches, Justin and Sean were able to pick us back up. And to have Tyler Strechay out there hitting shots as a sophomore, now you have to pick who you’re giving help on.”
Notes >> While highly proficient offensively, the Vikings strangely fired some blanks at the foul line, missing eight of their first nine before hitting their last six… Poysden pointed out that frontcourt sub Joe Gorla did a nice defensive job on Harman in the second half. “What I love is he wants to perform his role. It’s guys like that who make all the other pieces come together.”… Jaworski made a steal and buzzer-beating 3 at the end of the first period, giving PV an 18-14 lead.
