Pottstown pushes past Pope John Paul II in double overtime, 61-57

POTTSTOWN >> There was a little bit of just about everything in Tuesday night’s Pioneer Athletic Conference boys basketball game between Pottstown and visiting Pope John Paul II … some of it good and some of it not so good.

But Pottstown did what it needed to do in a second overtime period and came away with a crucial Frontier Division win at Strom Gymnasium, 61-57.
Sadeeq Jackson had a game-high 24 points for the Trojans (2-1 Frontier, 2-2 PAC, 6-4 overall), including the first six points of the decisive second extra session. Dom DeMito led the Golden Panthers (2-1, 2-2, 5-5) with 18 points.

“It was a game we wanted to win,” said Jackson. “We needed it. We had to stick together and stick with the game plan.”

Final: Pottstown 61, Pope John Paul II 57, 2OT PAC boys basketball 🏀

Trojans overcome free throw woes to outplay Golden Panthers on both ends pic.twitter.com/hySwVlQUoc

— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) January 4, 2023

“We wanted to play disciplined basketball, share the basketball,” said Pottstown coach Ken Ivory. “That’s something we preach pregame. Anytime Sadeeq gets rolling, it’s a good day.”

The Trojans were rolling as a team in the opening quarter, shooting 7-for-9 from the floor, including three 3-pointers for a 17-7 advantage. Then Jackson made three of four from the line early in the second quarter to give Pottstown its largest lead of the night at 20-7.

But the Trojans got away from their offensive game plan the rest of the half and their lead wound up at just three at the break, as Braden Reed and DeMito hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Bradley Bass scored off a turnover and DeMito drove down the middle for a basket to make it 20-17.

“For the first time in a long time, we conquered the zone problem,” Ivory said concerning his team’s first quarter play. “But when we rush and play helter-skelter basketball, we allow the other team to get back in it.”

“In the second quarter, we got carried away with the shooting,” said Jackson. “Coach told us at halftime what we needed to do … keep moving the ball like we did in the first quarter.”

The lead went back-and-forth from there with PJP going on top for the first time at 30-29 on a 3-pointer by Chase Mondillo. The score was tied at 35 after three and at 44 at the end of regulation play. Then Trey Rogers (13 points) knocked down one of his four 3-pointers to open the scoring for PJP in the first overtime, which ended up at 50-50.

“You’ve got to guard him when he gets off the bus,” said Ivory. “Three-point shots are the great equalizer.”

Jackson scored on a drive to start the second overtime and made a pair from the line before another 3-pointer by Rogers brought the Golden Panthers to within 54-53. Then Jackson went inside for another score and the Trojans led the rest of the way.

“They played better than us down the stretch,” said Golden Panther coach Brendan Stanton. “I think there were a lot of things tonight that we needed to do and we didn’t do, like their offensive rebounding that let them get out on the break. I’m happy with the way my guys competed. We’ve got to do a lot of the little things better.”

Reed and Bass each had nine points and Mondillo eight for the Golden Panthers, who had just five players break into the scoring column.

“They’re going to play you tough and shoot 3s,” Ivory said concerning the Golden Panthers, who hit nine shots from beyond the arc.

Ty Elliot-Moore scored 13 for the Trojans – including a free throw and a basket in the final minute – and Abdul Jackson added 11 points.

Ivory had good things to say about the defensive performance off the bench from DiMark Lyons.

“He’s tough as nails,” said the Pottstown coach. “He’ll guard anybody.”

The Trojans might have been able to put the game away a lot earlier, if not for a 16-for-36 performance at the line.

But Ivory was happy to come away with the win.

“We didn’t want to fall two games behind anybody,” he said, concerning the Frontier Division race. “It was a well-fought league game. I’m glad we could come out on top.”