Methacton cooks up first state playoff win since 2008, tops Wilkes-Barre 56-44

PLAINS >> The Methacton girls basketball team learned the hard way that trying to rely too heavily on one player can be a recipe for trouble.

It’s what led to the Warriors’ upset loss in the second round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs two weeks ago. While Methacton has righted the ship in its three playback victories since, a state playoff game upped the stakes.

So after a brilliant first 20 minutes from Nicole Timko and Wilkes-Barre now throwing a box-and-one at the senior guard and the Warriors, it was a big opportunity to add all their available ingredients and cook up something new.

The results were a state playoff victory – the first of any current player’s career – courtesy of a 56-44 victory at District 2 champion Wilkes-Barre in a PIAA Class 6A first round contest Tuesday night.

“It’s really big,” said Timko. “We made states my sophomore year, but we didn’t play that well that game and lost. It means a lot to be able to come here and play a really great game all together as a team and get our first state win.”

Final: Methacton 56, Wilkes-Barre 44, PIAA 6A girls basketball first round.

Very solid performance from the Warriors to set up an All-PAC (!!) State second round meeting with Perkiomen Valley pic.twitter.com/qhSqZYQn3j

— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) March 9, 2022

“It feels great to get our first state win. It’s big for us,” said senior Tori Bockrath. “I felt we really played as a team and worked well together.”

Timko scored 21 of her game-high 26 points in the first half, but her teammates took the game home after the Wolfpack focused their defense on the Warriors’ all-time leading scorer.

Bockrath knocked down a few crucial 3-pointers on her way to 11 points and Cassidy Kropp (6 points) and Mairi Smith (6 points) provided some key late baskets to help the District 1 ninth-place Warriors (24-4) advance to an all-Pioneer Athletic Conference second round matchup with Perkiomen Valley, which cruised past District 12’s Central in its opener Tuesday.

Wilkes-Barre was led by senior center Gloria Adjayi’s 18 points.

Methacton has been working to redeem itself after being upset in its District 1 playoff opener to Garnet Valley, a surprising second-straight loss after falling in the PAC semifinal.

Ever since the Warriors have been getting it right, with three of four double-digit wins.

“After that game (vs. Garnet Valley) we had a little pow wow with the seven of us (in the rotation) and we talked about how we were playing against each other at times, that we needed to use each other’s strengths more,” Timko said. “We had our struggle in our first district game, but it shows we’ve come together as a team and have been able to get past that. And now hopefully we can make a good run in states.”

Tuesday night had the atmosphere worthy a state tournament game in Wilkes-Barre’s new school and gym, and a lights-off player introduction that set the tone.

“Turning off the lights (for introductions), a new arena, playing in front of the big home crowd, it was a great all-around team win and a great experience with great memories for the kids,” said Methacton head coach Craig Kaminski.

Timko was hot from 3 early before finding some success with baseline drives, scoring 21 of Methacton’s 30 points on the way to a 30-24 lead.

Methacton never allowed the lead to get below five in the second half and opened up the lead to double digits on a Bockrath 3 with 2:58 left in the third quarter.

“I felt like I needed to knock down a couple 3s to help up build the lead,” said Bockrath. “I try to be another option after Nicole and Cass, to be there for the kick-out and make some 3s.”

A state playoff win was satisfying, as was the method of earning it.

“What was nice was when they box-and-one’d Nicole, no one clammed up and tried to force it,” Kaminski said. “Tori came out of her shell, Mairi hits the big shots inside. Whereas in the Garnet Valley game they started to clam up and tried to make it ‘Nicole, it’s your time’, today we played the way we were during the season.”

Now, Methacton turns its attention to a much nearer opponent, neighbor and rival Perkiomen Valley. They’ll meet Friday in the second round.
“We want revenge after our Senior Night,” Bockrath said. “We’re very excited for that game.”

This is Methacton’s fifth trip to the PIAA tournament but first win since 2008, when the team reached the quarterfinals. That 2008 team was led by Renee Womack, who Timko recently passed on the program’s all-time scoring list. Its last three trips (2013, 2014, 2019) ended in first-round exits.

Methacton 56, Wilkes-Barre 44

Methacton: Kropp 3 0-2 6, Arnold 2 0-0 4, Torres 1 0-0 3, Kaufman 0 0-0 0, Timko 9 3-4 26, Bockrath 3 2-2 11, Smith 3 0-0 6, Totals 21 5-8 56.
Wilkes Barre Area: Credle 0 0-1 0, Moore 3 0-0 9, Holden 1 0-0 2, Aiken 1 0-0 2, Ando Boyko 5 0-2 10, Krawczeniuk 1 0-0 3, Adjayi 7 4-5 18, Totals 18 4-6 44.
Methacton 11 19 15 11-56
Wilkes Barre 13 11 12 8-44
3-point goals: MT – Torres, Timko 3, Bockrath 3; W – Moore 3, Krawczeniuk