Jaworski’s composure, clutch shooting lifts Perkiomen Valley past Spring-Ford

GRATERFORD >> Perkiomen Valley’s Justin Jaworski stood at the top of the key with the clock winding down inside four minutes, the Vikings on the ropes after seeing a formidable double-digit second-half lead dwindle to only three.

Calling out a set play, the senior guard settled a frantic and reckless pace. He dished it out before receiving it right back along the left wing and nailed what ended up being the tide-turner 3-pointer en route to a 65-58 Perkiomen Valley victory over Spring-Ford Friday night in a Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division matchup.

The win is the 14th straight for the Vikings (7-1 Liberty Division, 10-1 PAC overall) and the second consecutive over their neighboring rivals. Sean Owens added 11 points in the win, which saw Perk Valley build a 49-35 lead to start the fourth quarter before a valiant Spring-Ford comeback attempt was thwarted by the play of PV’s star senior guard.

“You don’t (game plan for Jaworski),” Spring-Ford head coach Chris Talley said. “He’s too good that even if you take him away, he’s going to make the other guys better. He’s a tough one to game plan on because he’s not one-dimensional like most high school guards.”

Jaworski, who shot 10-for-13 from the field after missing his first two shots, finished with a season-high 34 points. His 14 second-quarter points off a 5-for-5 shooting effort lifted the Vikings to a sizeable 33-23 lead at the half. His best, however, came in the fourth quarter as he responded to the Rams’ increased defensive pressure and 11-0 run that cut a double-digit lead to 49-46. His 3-pointer from the left wing doubled the Vikings’ lead before he split through a double team on the next possession and took it to the rim for a 54-46 lead — a lead that wouldn’t fall below five the rest of the way. 

“As a leader, I like having the ball in those situations,” Jaworski said. “I like hitting the big shot. It was nice that it went in. We had that play set up coming out of a timeout so it was nice.

“They stepped up the pressure a lot in the fourth quarter and after they went on that run, (Coach Mike) Poysden called me over and told me, ‘Look it’s your game now. Be the best player on the court and take over.’”

Jaworski’s night was much needed against a Spring-Ford (6-2, 9-2) team that looked nothing like the squad that lost 74-46 in the teams’ previous matchup. Winners of three of their last four, the Rams were down by double digits from halftime until their comeback effort midway through the fourth.

“We’re a much different team than the first time we played them and I think that showed tonight,” Talley said. “I think our kids needed a quarter to realize we can play with them and I think we then settled in. It was just a matter of too little, too late.” 

Chucky Drummond was sensational off the bench for the Rams, finishing with a team best 16 points while big man Austin Hokanson was trouble down low throughout the final two quarters, finishing with 15 points — nine in the fourth quarter.

The duo made their largest impression in the fourth in the midst of the Rams’ aforementioned 11-0 run. Drummond started with a putback to make it 49-40 before Hokanson responded with a bucket of his own on the team’s next possession. Drummond converted 1-of-2 from the line to make it 49-43 before the big man’s spirited effort closed the gap to three as he controlled two offensive boards before going up for a tough bucket and the harm.

From there, it was all Jaworski.

“We have more to play for,” Jaworski said. “We have bigger aspirations than just this game.” 

Loss of Jazlynn May

Perkiomen Valley student Jazlynn May, sister of Owen J. Roberts basketball player Shyheed May, died Thursday morning after suffering a severe asthma attack at her home. Donations for May are being collected via a GoFundMe account. As of 10 p.m. Friday night, more than $14,000 had been donated.