Perk Valley, Jaworski sink Norristown
WEST NORRITON >> The Perk Valley boys basketball team lost the opening tip against Norristown in the Pioneer Athletic Conference semifinals Friday night.
The Vikings forced a missed shot and Sean Owens drilled a three at the other end for the game’s first basket. They led the rest of the way en route to a 60-43 win at Norristown Area High School.
The Eagles cut their deficit to one a few times in the first half — at 3-2, 21-20 and 22-21 — and trailed by only four late in the third quarter — 37-33 — but they were never able to pull even with the top seed in the PAC playoffs.
Justin Jaworski scored a game-high 31 points for the Vikings. Owens joined him in double figures with 14 points.
Norristown got into foul trouble early and never really recovered. Three starters fouled out and another finished with four fouls.
“It takes us right out of our game,” Norristown coach Mike Evans said of the early foul trouble. “It basically took us out of the game from the start of it.
“I was told by the referee we play aggressive.”
PV took advantage of the calls. As a team the Vikings went 24-for-28 from the free-throw line.
Jaworski — who was serenaded with “OVERRATED” chants whenever he stepped to the charity stripe — was 15-for-16 in the game and 14-for-14 in the fourth quarter when the Eagles were trying to overcome a six-point deficit after three.
“I don’t really hear much of it,” Jaworski said of the chants. “Whatever I do hear I take as a compliment and use it as motivation. I’m used to it at this point.
“(Norristown plays) up — they play us tight. Getting those foul calls was nice. I shoot enough free throws on my own, so when I step to the line, I’m confident that I’ll make them.”
Marquise Greenwood led Norristown in scoring with 12 points. Kurahn Clark added nine and Xavier Edwards had eight.
Perk Valley will face Spring-Ford for the league championship Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Norristown Area High School.
“Playing against Spring-Ford escalates it,” Jaworski said, “but it’s a championship game. If you’re not excited to play in that, then there is something wrong with you.”
Norristown will await its District 1 Class-6A seeding. The Eagles are No. 19 in the latest unofficial rankings. The playoffs start next weekend.
“We’re going in the right direction,” Evans said. “We’ve just got to get ready for next week. Put this behind us and move on.”
TOP PHOTO: Perkiomen Valley’s Justin Jaworski splits the defense en route to the basket. (Sam Stewart – Digital First Media)
