POTTSTOWN >> Motivation isn’t going to be an issue for Pottstown’s basketball team this postseason.
As the No. 5 seeded Trojans celebrated Friday night’s 59-45 win over No. 12 West Chester East in the District 1-5A opening round, the program’s first playoff victory since 2008, players discussed their rallying point for the milestone outcome.
Was it last week’s earlier-than-hoped exit in the PAC tournament, a second consecutive semifinal loss?
Or was it the bitter memory of losing at this same point a season ago, dropping a first-round game at Strom Gymnasium to PAC rival Upper Merion?
Maybe it was the idea that a less favorable outcome would have marked the last chance to take the court as a team for the seven seniors who play the lion’s share of minutes for Pottstown?
“It’s all of it,” said senior point guard Abdul Jackson. “We know what we can do, and where we can get to this time. If we go one game at a time, we know what we can accomplish.”
Jurrell Young led the Trojans with 20 points, 17 coming before halftime, as Pottstown built a 12-point first quarter lead and maintained a safe distance, never allowing the Vikings to move closer than a seven-point margin.
“Always keep shooting,” said Young. “The ball felt good in my hands tonight, and my teammates kept feeding me.”
The Trojans’ inspiration was apparent early in two main forms — defense, and the fireworks provided by senior sharpshooter Young.
Confounded by a zone in their PAC semifinal a week ago, Pottstown tried out some different defensive looks of their own to include a 2-3 zone, a three-quarters press, and a trap against East’s primary ball handlers.
“Trapping, zone, we’re adding new things to our defense as we go along, and that’s going to be a key,” said Abdul Jackson.
The result was a slow start on both sides, as East made only two first-quarter field goals. Young, however, found his shooting stroke after a driving layup, converting a pair of free throws followed by a couple of threes to send Pottstown into the first-quarter break on a 12-0 run, leading 18-5.
East’s Ryan Price attempted to match Young’s sharpshooting with a trio of trifectas of his own, but Abdul Jackson got into the act in the second quarter with back-to-back short jumpers before finding Nahzier Booker open for an easy layup.
Led by Young’s 17 first-half points, Pottstown carried a 29-17 advantage to the locker room.
After halftime, East’s efforts to slow Jurrell Young opened opportunities for Abdul Jackson and twin brother Sadeeq, who combined for 23 of the Trojans’ 30 second-half points. Abdul Jackson and Nahzier Booker also tied for the team lead with eleven rebounds as Pottstown was able to counter East’s slight height advantage on the inside.
Pottstown (18-6) will not lack motivation moving forward in the 5A tournament either. Next up is a Wednesday night quarterfinal against PAC champions and No. 4 seed Phoenixville, a team who’s 3-0 against the Trojans already in 2023-2024.
“First of all, they’re well coached, and (Max Lebisky) is a six-foot-five guy who does a little bit of everything. He passes, he shoots,” said Abdul Jackson
“Then they’ve got some knockdown shooters around him. They’re tough. But in every game, there’s a winner and a loser, and it’s time for us to get one back against them.”
At stake against the Phantoms? Not just a trip to the District semifinals, but a spot in the PIAA 5A state tournament — a point of the postseason that’s been a stranger to Pottstown’s program for over 15 years.
“They’re the recently crowned PAC champions, and a great program,” said Pottstown coach Ken Ivory. “But I’m excited. We get to go down there and try to get that monkey off our back.
“We’re locked in on the goal at hand. There’s a positive feeling around our locker room right now.”
West Chester East’s season comes to a close at a record of 11-12. The Vikings earned the last spot in the District 1-5A tournament over two other schools with identical records by virtue of power points.
Ryan Price and Kahseem Bronzell provided most of the Vikings’ offense, hitting four 3s a piece and tying for the team lead with 16 points on the night.
Price ended up just 41 points shy of 1,000 in his storied West Chester East career. The senior will go to St. Joe’s to play baseball next year but treasures his time on the court with the Vikings, which included two Ches-Mont championships.
“I was lucky to play on a winning team,” said Price. “Two league championships, and even this year getting back into the playoffs was a highlight. We went through some tough stretches, and it wasn’t clear if we’d make it this far. That’s all you can ask for.”
BOX SCORE
West Chester East — 5 12 19 9 — 45
Pottstown — 18 11 14 16 — 59
West Chester East: Walton 0 1 0-0 3, Sherlock 0 0-0 0, Cox 1 1-2 3, Al-Tikriti 0 0-0 0, Carr 1 0-0 2, Keefe 1 1 0-0 5, Bronzell 2 4 0-0 16, Williams 0 0-0 0, Price 1 4 2-2 16. Totals 6 10 3-4 45.
Pottstown: Whitehurst 0 0-0 0, Lyons 0 0-0 0, A. Jackson 5 4-4 14, Young 5 3 1-4 20, Wood 2 0-0 4, S. Jackson 4 3 0-0 17, Booker 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 6 5-8 59.
