Kitaw’s shot sends Methacton past Norristown

WORCESTER >> Noah Kitaw had no idea his shot was going to go in.

But when it did, the Methacton boys basketball team had a win it didn’t expect.

After twice giving up big leads late in the game, the Warriors survived Norristown, 56-55, to win a huge contest in the Pioneer Athletic Conference standings.

“I can’t say I knew it was going in, but I was hoping,” said Kitaw after Methacton twice survived big comeback attempts from Norristown. “We’re a young team, but our guys keep fighting.

“We’re learning every day and every game.”

The Warriors, coming off three tough losses a week ago, blew out to a double-figure lead Thursday, but Norristown refused to go away.

Led by the play of guards Vernon Tubbs (20 points) and Marcus Sanford (17), the Eagles hung around, and actually took the lead with 14 seconds left.

But Methacton (3-3, 2-0) drew within two on a bucket by David Duda with 11 seconds to play, then watched Kitaw win it.

“We knew Norristown was going to come after us for 32 minutes,” said Methacton head coach Jeff Derstine. “But Noah had the confidence to hit that shot, and that was a big victory for us.”

Methacton blew out to leads of 11 and eight points in the second and third quarters, respectively, but each time the Eagles came roaring back.

“I have to take my hat off to Methacton,” said Eagles head coach Dana “Binky” Johnson. “They came out very prepared and gave us a lot of different looks, and didn’t let us get into a rhythm.”