Methacton reaches two goals with district win over Central Bucks South

Fairview Village >> Prior to the season, Methacton set a list of three goals for the upcoming year.

The first was to win the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship for the second year in a row, which the Warriors accomplished last Thursday. The second was to win a district playoff game, and the third was to make it to states.

No. 7 Methacton wrapped up goals two and three on Tuesday night with a 77-52 win over No. 10 Central Bucks South in the second round of the District 1 Class 6A tournament. For the first time since 2015, the Warriors locked up a spot in the PIAA tournament and advanced to the district quarterfinals, where they will travel to play No. 2 Coatesville on Friday night.

Tuesday’s win also puts a fourth goal within reach for the Warriors: Making the district semifinals for the first time in school history.

“I’m excited for a chance to go to Temple,” junior guard Erik Timko said. “I really am. If we just prepare, play our game like we’ve been doing we’ll get there.”

Things got out of hand quickly on Tuesday night. A three by senior guard David Duda had the Warriors (21-5) up 20-10 after the first quarter. Junior guard Brett Eberly capped the first half with a three to send Methacton into halftime with a 45-22 advantage.

Junior forward Jeff Woodward led Methacton with 19 points. Duda (18), Timko (15) and Eberly (12) joined him in double figures.

Even against a Titans (18-6) team that had two players listed at 6-foot-6, the game plan to start for the Warriors was to feed Woodward. He had seven points in the first five minutes.

“CB South is a big team, very physical, great program,” Woodward said. “But we knew we had to establish that inside because as soon as that inside presence is established that opens up so much for Dave, for Erik, for Brett, for everyone to be able to knock down those shots.”

After Woodward went to work early in the paint, Duda, Timko and Eberly found space beyond the 3-point arc, hitting eight of the Warriors’ nine threes. The balanced scoring attack made things difficult for the CB South defense.

“They have four snipers on the perimeter, a big man who can score inside, and then they’ve got a couple kids off the bench who can score,” CB South head coach Jason Campbell said. “It’s a well-balanced team. It’s a team really built for the playoffs.”

After not making the district tournament in 2016, Methacton lost in the first round in 2017 and 2018. Woodward and Duda were a part of both those squads that saw early playoff exits.

This year, they made things more favorable for themselves with a high seed and a first round bye. The tough losses in years past were also helpful on Tuesday as they captured their first district win since 2015.

“That’s all we talked about these past two days,” Duda said. “The past two years, me and Jeff, we’ve been on varsity. We lost in the district first round twice. We were like, ‘We’re not going out like this. We’re not losing again in districts. We’re getting a bid in the state playoffs.’ That’s what we were able to do.”

Junior Alex Dietz led the Titans with 12 points. Senior Mark Kannengieszer added 11 points, and senior Tommy Kuypers chipped in with 10 points.

CB South also had an extended streak of district first round losses heading into this year. The Titans broke a streak of five straight first round playoff losses with a win over Bensalem on Friday.

They’ll now have a chance to continue their season in the district playback bracket with the other eight teams who lost on Tuesday. Two of those squads will advance to the state tournament.

“It had been a few years,” Campbell said of Friday’s victory. “It was a big win for our program it was a battle. It was a physical game for four quarters. … There’s still some basketball left. We have a chance here to get something for the ninth or 10th seed in states.”

Methacton has never advanced past the quarterfinal round in the district tournament. The 2015 team, which is currently pictured on the wall acknowledging Methacton’s best teams, fell to Pennsbury 68-58 in the quarterfinal round.

The Warriors will have their hands full with Coatesville and their junior guard Jhamir Brickus, who has already amassed more than 1,000 points in his career.

Duda said he got a first hand look at Brickus during last year’s Donofrio Classic.

“It wasn’t pretty. He killed us a little bit,” Duda said. “But we’ve got a great coaching staff. I’m sure we’ll be ready to go. We’re considered a top team in the district, and we’re playing a top team in the district. We’re really excited for the opportunity.”