Boys Basketball: Fast start propels Great Valley to win over Pottstown

EAST WHITELAND- Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the Great Valley Holiday Tournament, the Great Valley boys basketball team used a furious first period blitz to put Pottstown out of the game and the Patriots coasted to a convincing 67-47 win over the visitingTrojans. Great Valley will now play West Chester Henderson, a 74-47, winner over Renaissance Academy in today’s championship game.

Great Valley (5-1) forced 11 first period turnovers from the Trojans (2-3), who turned the ball over 23 times on the day. Quick starts from Max DiMedio, Connor Gal and freshman Cam Wallace propelled the Patriots to a 28-11 margin after the first period.

Wallace led all scorers with 26 points while Gal chipped in with 14 and Di Medio added 12 in the runaway win.

“We wanted to start fast today because in some of our other games we started slow and then had to fight back,” Wallace said. “Today we played tough defense early and got some easy baskets. And then we got a little sloppy with the big lead and stopped working hard and we forgot that we had to work hard to get that lead.”

Great Valley shot 10 for 17 in the opening period but just five for 15 in the second period as Pottstown seemed to find their footing in the second period. Gabe Sibley had a big game for the Trojans as he scored a team high 20 points but the Trojans continued to turn the ball over and at halftime the Patriots had a 42-27 lead, shooting 15 for 33 from the field.

Great Valley came out strong in the third period as Gal scored on a follow and then after a Trojans turnover, Di Medio scored inside. Sibley got the first Pottstown points of the period as he scored on a break out. Great Valley seemed to lose focus a little as the Patriots turned the ball over 14 times for the game.

But, Wallace drained a long three-ball and the Great Valley lead was up to 54-31, and the Patriots outscored the Trojans 15-6 in the third period to take a 57-33 lead after three periods.

“We came out and played with a lot of focus in the first period,’ great Valley coach CJ Savage said. “We focused on details and did a god job to get that early lead. And Cam had a big game. He is learning and it is something to watch him grow from the summer to the fall and every game he learns the little details you need to be successful. I am excited to see where he will be because right now he is special. But, we lost a little focus and it drives you nuts as a coach. We forgot the little details you need to stay in the game. And those details were what allowed us to get that lead in the first place.”

Pottstown did not quit however but the Trojans, who outscored the Patriots 14-10, in the fourth period when both coaches cleared their respective benches kept turning the ball over hampering its comeback attempt. Great Valley got a corner three-ball from Noah Metrick, a jumper from Jake Woodard and a basket from Pranav Hedge in the fourth period and it was a good time for all the Patriots to get some playing time.

“We played well early today and it should be a real good test tomorrow against West Chester Henderson.” Savage said.

Great Valley 67, Pottstown 47.

POTTSTOWN (47) Sibley 6 8-9 20, Garves 0 0-2 0, Washington 3 1-1 7, Tinson 1 0-0 3, Agosto 2 0-0 4, Bostic 2 0-0 4, Moore 1 1-4 4, Jackson 2 0-1 4, Cotton 0 0-0 0, Schrauger 0 0-0 0, Palmore 0 1-1 1. Totals 17 11-18 47.

GREAT VALLEY (67) Woodard 1 0-0 2, DiMedio 5 1-1 12, Gal 5 2-4 14, Otterbein 1 0-0 3, Wallace 9 6-6 26, Peduto 1 1-2 3, Markowski 0 2-2 2, McDaniel 0 0-0 0, Metrick 1 0-1 3, Schembri 0 0-0 0, Hedge 1 0-0 2, Short 0 0-1 0. Totals 24 12-16 67.

Pottstown     11 16 6 14-47
Great Valley 28 14 15 10-67.
3-point goals: Tinson, Moore, Di Medio, Gal 2, Wallace 2.
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