Methacton holds off Norristown in PAC Liberty clash

FAIRVIEW VILLAGE >> The pendulous swing of Tuesday night’s clash between Norristown and Methacton was stopped firmly in the fourth quarter, when the teeth of the Warrior defense dug in.

“We were pressuring, communicating better,” Methacton’s Alex Hermann said of the Warriors turning it up a notch. “We also made an adjustment to switch on the screens. which I think helped. It was definitely our defense (that made the difference). It hurt us in the first half – we scored well both halves but our defense, especially from the midway point of the third quarter all the way until the end, was much better.”

The Warriors locked things down and held firm for an 82-75 victory over the Eagles in a Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division battle, played in front of a packed house at Methacton.

“It was a huge game, especially after losing to Upper Merion,” said Hermann, who poured in a game-high 28 points. “This was a huge game for us. And hopefully it puts us in a good spot for the PAC Playoffs and districts too.”

The win lifted Methacton’s record to 13-6 on the season, including a 5-2 mark in the Liberty. Norristown, led by Jaden Wise’s 27 points (six 3-pointers), is now 9-9 on the year, with a 4-3 mark in the Liberty.

“The offense hadn’t been as good for us the last two games. Against Upper Merion and Plymouth Whitemarsh, our offense was too stagnant,” said Hermann. “Tonight, we were sharing the ball, finding the open shooters and making the right reads.”

After allowing 12 3-pointers in the first three quarters, Methacton played tighter around the perimeter and yielded just a single three in the fourth.

The Warriors took a slim two-point lead into the final frame and steadily built on it.

A score off a rebound by Hermann and soon after a drive by Hermann – for a three-point play – widened the margin to 68-62. Preston Hull’s reverse layin stretched the gap to 70-62.

Back-to-back drives by Cam Chilson gave the Warriors a 76-66 advantage at the three-minute mark. A pair of free throws by Andre Gordon brought the Eagles within 76-70, but foul shots by Sal Iemmello and Hermann put the game on ice for Methacton.

The Eagles took a 39-37 lead into the break, but the Warrior defense found its footing.

“I felt like we controlled the pace in the second half,” Hermann said.

Methacton 82, Norristown 75

Norristown 15 24 23 13 – 75

Methacton 19 18 26 19

Norristown: Jayden Byrd 6 3-3 16, Jaden Wise 10 1-3 27, Andre Gordon 3 2-2 11, Jonathan Brooks 3 0-2 6, Myron Kirlew 4 2-2 13, Miles Daniels 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 8-12 75.

Methacton: Anthony Daddazio 1 0-0 3, Jason Lagana 1 1-2 3, Sal Iemmello 2 9-10 13, Evan Spang 1 0-0 2, Cam Chilson 5 0-2 10, Alex Hermann 12 4-4 28, Matt Christian 6 3-4 21, Preston Hull 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 17-22 82.

3-pointers: N-Byrd, Wise 6, Gordon 3, Kirlew 3; M-Daddazio, Christian 6.