GRATERFORD >> While the Perkiomen Valley boys basketball team finally got its season underway Monday night, Pope John Paul II continued the roll its been on the past two weeks.
Powered by a career-high 22 points from senior guard Luke McCarthy and 18 points from junior Kevin Green, the Golden Panthers cruised past the Vikings, 76-52, for a Pioneer Athletic Conference crossover victory, improving their record to 4-0 .
“We’ve really just been focusing on our defense in practices,” Green said. “That’s like what coach preaches most is our defense. Offense will come. We’re just focused on defense. That’s about it.”
McCarthy, who was scoreless in the first quarter, scored 18 of his points in the second half, tallying eight in the third and 10 in the fourth.
He knocked down three 3-point shots and was 7-for-8 at the foul line in the contest.
“We have a lot of good ballhandlers on our team and we just get to two (feet) and kick,” McCarthy said. “I was able to find open spots on the floor and make my shots.”
Justin Green, who temporarily left the game with an ankle injury, and Jaden Workman added 11 points apiece to the winning cause. Kameron Parks and Tyler Lapetina shared scoring honors for PV with 14 apiece.
Monday’s victory was the second victory of 20-or-more points for PJP this season. They’ve won each of their four games by at least 14 points.
“We’re playing well, but we’re nowhere near where we’re supposed to be to reach our potential,” Kevin Green said.
Upper Merion 64, Owen J. Roberts 57 >> Three Vikings combined to score 43 points, that balanced offense key to Monday’s PAC divisional crossover victory over the Wildcats.
Lukas Kim had a game-high 15 points for UM, one more than teammates Ty Jones and Collin Bowman. It was able to erase Roberts’ 23-17 first-quarter lead and take the fourth, 15-8, for the deciding margin.
Jake Bolyn scored 13 to head OJR’s quartet of double-figure scorers, which included Chase Johnson’s 12 and 11s from Sam Cerimele and Luke Fryer.
Girls Basketball
Spring-Ford 70, Upper Perkiomen 7 >> Senior guard Lucy Olsen became Spring-Ford all-time leading scorer while scoring 10 points in a one-sided PAC crossover game with Upper Perkiomen.
Olsen, the two-time Mercury All-Area Player of the Year, ran her career total to 1,370, passing past Spring-Ford great Sammy Stipa (1,366), a 2014 graduate.
Emily Tiffan scored a team-high 13 for S-F while Abbey Boyer added 10 for 5-0 Spring-Ford.
The Rams led 49-2 at halftime.
Boyertown 66, Pottstown 40 >> Ashley Kapp had a big statistical outing for the Bears during Monday’s PAC crossover game with the Trojans.
Kapp complemented her game-high 29 points by pulling down eight rebounds, making five steals and three assists. Carlie Schweizer chipped in with 13 points as Boyertown augmented a 44-23 halftime lead in a 17-5 third quarter.
Trinell Watson and Tanya Jarrett were Pottstown’s scoring leaders with 16 and 11 points, respectively.
Pope John Paul II 40, Perkiomen Valley 33 >> Amelia Kennedy garnered game scoring honors for the Golden Panthers in Monday’s PAC divisional crossover game with the Vikings.
Kennedy had 17 points, and Kallan Bustynowicz had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Golden Panthers made a 19-8 halftime lead hold up, capitalizing on 14 made free throws and four three-point goals.
Emma Miley led the Lady Vikings with 10 points.
Twin Valley 48, Daniel Boone 15 >> Ava Morrow scored a season-high 19 points and the Raiders posted their fifth consecutive win Monday against the Blazers in their Berks League game.
Boone’s scoring leader was Allyson Boyer with nine points.
