Allen, Norristown come back to stun Methacton in OT

NORRISTOWN >> Two years had passed since Norristown head coach Mike Evans had seen something similar.

Student turnout … and a lot of it.

The Eagles, as thanks, made sure to put on a show.

Led by the clutch play of Mickeel Allen and the late play of Xavier Edwards, the Eagles reversed a 10-point fourth quarter deficit en route to a 51-46 overtime victory over No. 4 Methacton in the opening round of the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs Tuesday night at Norristown.

“It’s been a while (since a student turnout as big as Tuesday),” Evans said. “It was a great atmosphere. I enjoyed it, my kids enjoyed it so I hope that we can keep going from here.”

Nobody enjoyed it more than Allen, who was greeted by students at the locker room exit and ceremoniously lifted on their shoulders and out into the lobby area. His “hero exit” was well deserved as the 6-4 sophomore forward went off for a team-high 14 points that included the game-tying 3-pointer with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter to cap a 7-0 run to tie the game and help send it into overtime.

“I was thinking, ‘big-time players make big-time shots,’” Allen said. “When I made it I was like, ‘Aw, man, let’s go.’ I knew everyone was going to go wild for that one.”

Allen finished with 15 rebounds, his double-double matched by Edwards (12 points, 10 rebounds), who’s and-1 in the beginning stages of the overtime period was enough to stake the Eagles to a lead it didn’t relinquish despite poor free-throw shooting in the final four minutes.

“Once (Allen) hit that shot it gave us new life,” Evans said. “We had momentum going into the overtime period. We did a great job of coming back. The kids never quit.”

Norristown advances to the PAC semifinals and will face No. 1 Perkiomen Valley in the second part of the boys’ double-header Friday night at 7:15 p.m. back at Norristown.

Methacton, meanwhile, saw its search for its second PAC title in three seasons come to an end. David Duda led the Warriors with 14 points and Jeff Woodward 11 rebounds, but the team couldn’t put the clamps down on the Eagles after staking themselves to a 42-32 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Allen and Norristown proved just too much.

Darius McGowan kickstarted the Eagles comeback with a runner in the lane to make it 42-34 which was then followed by a free throw from Edwards and a bucket to make it 42-37 with 4:48 left. Crandall Jones’ drive and finish brought the lead back to seven before Edwards came alive again, hitting a jumper before driving into the lane on the team’s next possession to cut the lead to 44-41. Allen then capped off the fireworks with his momentous 3-pointer to tie it before Edwards’ 3-point play to start the overtime period was complemented by free throws from Michael Doorman to seal it.

“We had to reach out to everyone to come support us for this game,” Allen said. “We told them it was going to be a big one. The atmosphere was great. I couldn’t even hear my teammates on the court. We played for them, we played for ourselves and we came out with the ‘W’.”