Sadler makes late free throws as Perkiomen Valley sinks Spring-Ford, 49-47
GRATERFORD >> It took about 38 minutes for the rival student sections to get engaged during Friday’s Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division game at Perkiomen Valley High School.
Chalk it up to rust after only limited fans were allowed in area high school gyms last winter.
But with Vikings sophomore Julian Sadler at the free throw line with two seconds left, the Spring-Ford student section stomped its feet and made some noise as the PV supporters held their breath and put their fingers up.
The young guard was ready for the moment, blocking out the noise as he sunk both shots to clinch a 49-47 rivalry win for the Vikings in a gym atmosphere unseen in the area in two years.
“I knew it was a big crowd, and the game was on the line,” Sadler said. “I knew if I hit those shots and focused I would seal the game.”
.@ValleyBoysBBall sophomore Julian Sadler, right, hit the game-winning FTs and senior Dawson Debebe had a big night in PV’s win over S-F. pic.twitter.com/0TRK5XUQUe
— Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) December 22, 2021
Senior Dawson Debebe scored 15 points and Sadler and senior Josh Pelzer both had nine for the Vikings (3-2, 1-0 PAC Liberty), the reigning Liberty Division champs. Senior Cole Turner netted 11 and sophomore E.J. Campbell had eight for the previously undefeated Rams (4-1, 0-1 PAC Liberty).
The division showdown was a return to previous big-game atmospheres after crowds were significantly limited at area high school hoops games due to COVID-19 protocols last season.
“This one’s definitely one to remember,” Debebe said. “It’s been a while since we had that big of a crowd in there with COVID last year.”
The Rams had three one-possession wins in their first four games, including a triple overtime win over Freedom and overtime victory over Exeter last week, but they came up just short on Tuesday night.
“They (are) obviously disappointed with the loss, especially since we hadn’t lost yet,” Spring-Ford coach Joe Dempsey said. “The kids played well. I think they’re a little mentally tired now. We’ve been in back-to-back overtime games, and Perk Valley was well-coached; they had a great game plan. It was still a great atmosphere.”
Sadler scored all nine of his points in the second half, scoring two late buckets in the third before Pelzer stole the ball and went coast-to-coast to put the Vikings ahead, 32-30, heading to the fourth.
“I just knew that if we D’d up and I was aggressive, punched the ball well, I knew that would seal the game and that would help us,” Sadler said.
FINAL: Perk Valley 49, Spring-Ford 47. … Gavin Schauder/ Ethan Kohler almost tip-in game tying basket but it rolls off the rim. pic.twitter.com/qGtopEsahJ
— Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue) December 22, 2021
PV held a six-point advantage with 1:15 to go, but threes from freshman Jacob Nguyen (six points) and Turner helped Spring-Ford climb back into the game.
Campbell took a charge with 22.6 seconds left to get the Rams the ball trailing, 47-45, and Rams’ junior Alex Lewis, who had all six of his points in the fourth quarter, tied the score, 47-47, with about 13 seconds to go.
“We did a lot of good things,” Dempsey said. “We didn’t quit. I’m proud of them. Right until the last play. We executed really well at times. We were horrific at the foul line. We ran some good stuff and got the foul line and got nothing out of it. In a two-point possession game like that, everything matter. You’ve gotta learn from it.”
Sadler had the ball in his hands as the Vikings headed down the court with a chance to take the lead. He was bumped on a drive with 2.1 seconds left before knocking down the clutch free throws.
The Rams nearly got a miracle bounce to tie the game when PV senior Ethan Kohler tipped a rebound up on his own rim, but the ball hung there for a second before falling off to secure the Vikings’ victory.
“We put a lot of trust in him early on in the season, and he’s really playing well in his spot,” Debebe said of Sadler. “We’re all working really well as a team, and he’s really finding his way right now.”
The Vikings graduated three starters from last year’s Liberty winner and District 1-6A quarterfinal squad, and came into 2021-22 as a bit of an unknown in the division hierarchy.
Tuesday’s victory was an announcement that they’ll again be right in the mix — if not the team to beat — in the Liberty.
“This was a big one,” Debebe said. “First divisional game, and we lost a lot of our guys last year. We had almost a whole new lineup this year, just me and Ethan (Kohler) coming back. It’s just a big statement tonight.”
COVID CONCERNS >> As exciting as it was to have a big crowd at Tuesday’s game, events around the league preceding the contest on Tuesday were a reminder that things are still different this season.
The Phoenixville boys basketball team announce a pause in team activities due to COVID on Monday, postponing league games against Pottsgrove and Pope John Paul II this week. On Tuesday, Norristown and Owen J. Roberts had both of their games this week postponed.
“Obviously with all the stuff going on with the threat of the virus and some programs being shut down, we were fortunate to play tonight,” Dempsey said. “I hope to gosh things continue for the positive.”
NOTES >> The Vikings finished 12-of-18 from the free throw line, while the Rams went 6-for-12 on foul shots.
Perkiomen Valley 49
Spring-Ford 47
Spring-Ford: Nguyen 2 0-0 6, Turner 4 1-2 11, Campbell 3 2-2 8, Kressley 2 1-6 5, Schauder 2 2-2 7, Lewis 3 0-0 6, Little 2 0-0 4, M. Zoller 0 0-0 0, Huntington 0 0-0 0, Totals 18 6-12 47.
Perkiomen Valley: V. Sadler 1 1-2 3, Hansen 0 0-0 0, Koehler 2 0-0 5, Kohler 1 0-0 2, Debebe 5 2-4 15, Pelzer 2 4-4 9, Nelson 2 2-3 6, J. Sadler 3 3-5 9, McKinney 0 0-0 0, Totals 16 12-18 49.
Spring-Ford 11 14 5 17-47
Perk Valley 13 8 11 17-49
3-point goals: SF – Nguyen 2, Turner 2, Schauder; PV – Koehler, Debebe 3, Pelzer.
