Medearis powers Spring-Ford past Upper Merion in PAC playoff debut
ROYERSFORD >> Spring-Ford senior Tre Medearis waited a long time for Wednesday night.
After missing the early part of last season with a sprained right ankle, Medearis sprained his left ankle just before the start of the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs and missed the Rams’ entire run to the state playoffs.
Medearis entered Wednesday’s PAC Final Six playoff opener against Upper Merion with no playoff experience. In addition to getting his first taste of postseason action, Medearis had a chance to avenge an overtime loss to the Vikings earlier this season.
Medearis powered his way to a career-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his postseason debut as Spring-Ford defeated Upper Merion, 48-46, to advance to Friday’s PAC semifinal against Pope John Paul II.
PHOTO GALLERY: Spring-Ford vs Upper Merion 2.5.20
The frustration of all that missed time last year coupled with feelings of revenge seemed to be unleashed with one dunk late in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game as Medearis went up with his left hand and slammed the ball through the hoop, plus the foul to help send the Rams on their way to the win.
“I was mad because that kid and I have a little bit of history,” Medearis said. “When I saw the chance to dunk on him, I couldn’t pass it up.”
Monster slam from Tre Medearis plus the foul. 47-42 Spring-Ford with 35 and change to play. WOW pic.twitter.com/80odCtecM8
— Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) February 6, 2020
Upper Merion knocked off Spring-Ford, 80-77, in overtime on Jan. 23 with a last-second three by sophomore Collin Bowman, who was in Medearis’ path to the hoop on the slam. Bowman led the Vikings with 12 points on Wednesday, while senior Nick Shepperd finished with 11 to round out the game’s double-figure scorers.
Medearis fouled out in the fourth quarter of Spring-Ford’s previous loss to Upper Merion, finishing with 18 points before having to watch his team drop a heartbreaker from the bench.
After a modest start Wednesday, Medearis put together a strong second quarter to send Spring-Ford into halftime with a 20-15 lead. Medearis then scored or assisted on 11 straight points for the Rams after the break as they opened up a 31-20 advantage midway through the third quarter.
“I didn’t think anyone could stop me, so I just kept going in,” Medearis said of his approach.
“He really wanted to get back on the court against these guys, and play a full four quarters to help his team win,” added Spring-Ford coach Chris Talley. “It was just a constant pressure on that offensive glass and finishing at the rim, which he does best.”
Upper Merion is no stranger to digging itself out of a hole, however. The Vikings needed to win seven of their final eight PAC games to lock up a playoff spot for the first time since their league debut in 2016-17.
The Vikings used an 8-0 run late in the third quarter to pull back into the game. Upper Merion head coach Jason Quenzer noted the play of senior Chaz Clark who came off the bench to add some size inside and try to slow down Medearis.
Upper Merion pulled within one on a three by Lukas Kim, who had eight pints, late in the fourth and tied the score, 39-39, on a three by Bowman with about three minutes left in the game.
“This team’s been through a lot, and I think they’re not afraid of the moment or afraid of looking up and being down 11,” Upper Merion head coach Jason Quenzer said. “They just take it one at a time, and they did. It’s only a few possessions that can change a game like that.”
Tyler Scilingo cans a triple. 44-40 Spring-Ford with 1:36 left. pic.twitter.com/2bD7qg93Rb
— Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) February 6, 2020
Spring-Ford was without junior guard Zack Skrocki (10.3 ppg), who was out sick with the flu Wednesday. Senior guard Tyler Scilingo, a key part of last year’s playoff rotation, stepped into the Rams’ starting lineup and delivered two big 3-pointers.
Sclingo’s biggest moment was a three from the left wing in front of the Spring-Ford bench that extended a one-point lead into a 44-40 advantage with 1:36 left in the game. Medearis came down on the next possession and put the Rams up 47-42 with 35 seconds left on his thunderous left-handed slam plus the foul.
“That’s his greatest asset is he’s fearless,” Talley said of Scilingo. “Putting him out there, we were fully confident. Skorcki’s our point guard, our quarterback, but we were equally as confident in Scilingo. He’s battle tested. He’s played in big games before, so we were confident.”
Spring-Ford missed three free throws down the stretch to leave the door open for Upper Merion.
After Scilingo went one-of-two from the line, Vikings freshman guard Madison Tatom drove the length of the floor to pull Upper Merion within two, 48-46, with 6.3 seconds left.
The Rams missed the front end of two straight one-and-one’s but Nate Santiago, who came off the bench to score five points, and Medearis both came up with offensive rebounds to prevent Upper Merion from having an opportunity to send the game into overtime.
“We had to fight to get here, and our road was definitely different from a lot of people,” Upper Merion coach Jason Quenzer said. “It’s nice to get here to have this experience. It’s a good event. But obviously you want to win the game, especially when it’s that kind of game. It’s right there.”
Medearis said he gave up on any dreams of playing college basketball after his injuries last season. He’s headed to Villanova University next school year to study business.
Every win from now on will present another chance to extend his playing days by at least one game. It just so happens Friday’s contest against Pope John Paul II, who the Rams defeated 50-47 on Dec. 14, is another game packaged with extra incentives for the senior forward as well.
“PJP last time, I didn’t play too well that time,” Medearis said. “I’m looking for another revenge game personally for me. I think we’re going to be ready Friday, and then we’ve got our eyes set on Methacton in the finals.”
PAC FINAL SIX
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Spring-Ford 48, Upper Merion 46
Phoenixville 45, Boyertown 41
Friday, Feb. 7
Pope John Paul II vs. Spring-Ford, 6 p.m.
Methacton vs. Phoenixville, 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Semifinal winners play at 7 p.m.
Spring-Ford 48
Upper Merion 46
UPPER MERION: Bowman 4 2-3 12, Clark 1 0-0 3, Jones 1 5-8 8, Kim 3 0-0 8, Shepperd 5 0-0 11, Tatom 2 0-0 4, Totals 16 7-11 46.
SPRING-FORD: Fitzgerald 0 0-1 0, Kovaleski 2 2-2 6, Kressley 3 0-0 6, Medearis 10 4-6 24, Santiago 2 0-0 5, Scilingo 2 2-7 7, Totals 19 7-11 48.
Upper Merion 6 9 15 16-46
Spring-Ford 4 16 15 13-48
3-point goals: Bowman 2, Kim 2, Clark, Jones, Shepperd, Scilingo 2, Santiago.
