Mount St. Joseph leans on Niekelski in District 1-5A win over Pottsgrove

LOWER POTTSGROVE >> Through all the success the Pottsgrove girls basketball team and its Class of 2021 players have enjoyed over the past four seasons, they’ve done it without a standout scorer they could always lean on in the biggest spots.

Their opponent Saturday afternoon in a District 1 Class 5A playoff first round game, Mount St. Joseph, can’t say the same.

They have Grace Niekelski.

The Magic senior effectively said lean on me with her play Saturday as the Dartmouth commit scored 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, and No. 9 Mount St. Joseph overcame a three-point deficit entering the fourth to fly past No. 8 Pottsgrove, 55-44.

The nine fourth-quarter points of Niekelski, a four-year starter who was third team All-State as a junior, matched the Falcons’ quarter total as the Magic used a 14-1 run to start the fourth that turned a 35-32 deficit into a double-digit win.

“I think we really stepped it up in the second half with our defense, getting steals, offensive rebounds and putbacks and really came back,” Niekelski said. “We didn’t get frustrated even though we were down by five (at halftime). We did not let that get to us.

“We knew we could pull away from this team, we just had to step it up.”

Sophomore Lauren Hoffman scored all of her 12 points in the second half while fellow sophomore Georgia Pickett added 11 for the Mount (8-6).

Pottsgrove, which concluded its season with a 10-8 record, got 11 points from Sierra Potts, 10 from Sydney Mowery and seven points and nine rebounds from Riley Simon.

With the winner earning a matchup with No. 1 Springfield-Delco, Saturday’s outcome may have been preordained for the Magic. It will be the fifth straight year the Mount and Springfield (16-0), the reigning 5A champs, meet in the district playoffs, a matchup set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield.

Mount St. Joseph emerged from its AACA schedule with 7-6 record, but after having a handful of battles with district No. 1 seeds Gwynedd Mercy (4A) and St. Basil (3A), the Magic are postseason-ready.

“Our record I don’t think portrays the talent we have on this team,” Niekelski said. “We have a tough league with St. Basil and Gwynedd Mercy. I think we can play with every team in the district.”

Pottsgrove missed advancing in the district playoffs for the second straight year despite returning four starters and eight of nine players from a rotation that in 2019-20 won a district playoff game for the first time in 15 years and were a win away from reaching the PIAA tournament.

“It’s not the end to the season we would have liked and I don’t think it was a lack of preparation. Our past three practices we ran through their plays,” Simon said. “22 (Niekelski) is a really nice player. Her scoring 20 points against us makes a big difference.”

The Falcons prided themselves on balance and selfless play through the Class of 2021’s run that included a pair of PAC Frontier Division titles, but wouldn’t have minded having a high-volume scorer in their camp for games like Saturday.

“Having a balanced team is definitely good, however some games it is good to have someone who can put up 20 points, who can put up a large amount,” Simon said.

“I think a contributor to that was we’re not a selfish team whatsoever. We’ve always tried to find the open person, look to make the right pass.”

Pottsgrove’s 3-point shooting in the first half – 3 from Potts, 2 from Jaimi Makins – was the difference in the first half as the Falcons led 28-23 at the break.

The Magic ratcheted up the defense in the third quarter and tied the game 30-30 on a Kiersten Pumilia jumper at the 3:49 mark but ultimately still trailed 35-32 entering the fourth.

The fourth was all Mount as it dominated the frame with a 14-1 run capped by a transition layup by Hoffman with 3:11 to play. Suddenly, MSJ led 46-36.

“We knew 22 (Niekelski) and 25 (Pickett) were their biggest threats and wanted to keep 25 off the boards and 22 from scoring a lot,” said Mowery. “That was our main goal each quarter. But by the fourth, it came down to energy and strength physically and mentally.”

Pottsgrove never got closer than eight and senior Paige Metzler helped seal it at the free-throw line with 5-for-6 shooting.

“Coming into the second half, me and Paige Metzler spoke about not wanting to go home, to win it for the seniors and the team as a whole,” said Niekelski. “We have so much talent and we don’t want to go home. Everyone took that to heart and showed it in the second half.”

Pottsgrove says goodbye to a senior class that includes Makins, Justine Fretz, Sophie Gilmore, Rachel Ludwig, Potts, Simon, Mowery and Emily Krause. It’s a group that put the Falcons back on the map in the PAC.

It was also a special run for those a part of it.

“It was fantastic,” Mowery said. “We have so much chemistry on and off the court. Freshman year, it was not scary starting the school year because I knew I had these teammates that’s become a huge family over these years. It was wonderful and made the best of each year. I’m so thankful for each of my teammates.”