Perkiomen Valley keeps playoff hopes alive with 54-47 win over Pope John Paul II

GRATERFORD >> There’s no denying that the postseason is on the minds of the Perkiomen Valley and Pope John Paul II girls basketball teams.
It should be considering every game these days holds major stakes determining if they’ll be invited entirely.

Tuesday night’s visit from the Golden Panthers was all but a playoff eliminator for the Vikings.

That urgency showed in the second half as they ratcheted up the defense and found success getting to the hoop on offense, a formula that built a lead big enough to hold off the 3-point prowess of PJP in a 54-47 win for Perkiomen Valley in a Pioneer Athletic Conference crossover matchup.

The balanced Vikings had double-digit scoring from sophomores Emma Miley (13) and Jen Beattie (12) and junior Naiya Daisey (11) while senior forward Grace Ramsey added nine. Pope John Paul II was led by junior Kayla Ciuba’s 16-point night.

“We knew this was the biggest game, that we had to win this one,” Daisey said. “Just keeping our heads in it the whole time and not giving up gave us the turnout we wanted.”

Turning point >> Tied 21-21 at halftime, Perk Valley owned the third quarter, forcing a barrage of turnovers and not allowing PJP to score until the three-minute mark while starting the frame on a 9-0 run and growing the lead to as large as 10 on two occasions (36-26 and 46-36).

“We always say ‘Let’s get the first four points.’ And they got the first four,” PV coach Kelly Sorber said. “Then they got the next five. There was a timeout called and I said, ‘I don’t know if you realize this, but you’ve shut them out right now. Take some pride in this.’ That really fueled them the rest of the third quarter as well.”

The Golden Panthers got as close as 46-41 with 2:10 remaining after a Kayla Viney steal and score. But Ramsey had a big block and Daisey dished to Beattie for an easy layup that rebuilt the lead to nine with 1:02 to play, effectively clinching the win.

Three cheers >> PJP stayed in the game in the second half thanks to 3-point shooting success with Ciuba and senior Mary Kate Shannon (9 points) hitting three apiece (7 total for the team).

“It felt good,” Ciuba said of having the hot hand for PJP. “It was helping us get the points we needed.”

Big Picture >> Perk Valley (3-6 PAC Liberty, 8-7 PAC, 8-12 overall) is chasing the final wild card for next week’s PAC Final Six playoffs, which consist of the top two teams in each division plus two wild cards (determined by PAC record). Spring-Ford, Owen J. Roberts and Methacton are already qualified from the Liberty, but Boyertown and PV are neck-and-neck at 8-7 in the PAC with one league game remaining apiece. The Bears’ matchup (at Norristown Jan. 30) is more favorable than Perk Valley’s (at Spring-Ford Jan. 30), but there is no future if you don’t take care of the present.

“We’ve had a really good second half of the season,” said Beattie. “We’ve been coming to games and practice really ready to work. Everyone’s being more unselfish and putting the team before ourselves. We’re right in there and we need these last few games to secure a spot. This Spring-Ford game coming up is going to be a really big game.”

Pope John Paul II (6-2 Frontier, 7-7, 12-8), despite Tuesday’s result, remains tied with Phoenixville at 6-2 in the Frontier. The Golden Panthers have the inside track to the Frontier’s second spot, but their head-to-head meeting with the Phantoms on Feb. 3 looms large, not just for PACs, but also districts: Phoenixville is currently No. 16 and PJP No. 17 in District 1 Class 5A, which qualifies 16 teams.

Play of the day >> Sophomore Beattie has become a bigger factor for PV as the season has progressed. One play in the fourth quarter showed why.

After Miley scored on a strong drive, Beattie immediately swiped the PJP inbounds pass directly under the basket for a layup and a pivotal four-point swing midway through the fourth.

“You just have to take advantage of what they’re going to give you,” Beattie said. “If they’re not paying attention and it’s there, you’ve gotta go for it. You’ve gotta do those little things that will help you win.”

“She does it in practice all the time,” Sorber said.

Beattie scored a career-high 19 points in PV’s 62-49 win on Jan. 21, a result that kept the stretch run alive.

PV has been notable for having many different players capable of being the team’s leading scorer on a given night.

“I like that we’re able to work the ball for each person’s talents,” Daisey said. “Working the ball on offense and everyone contributing their own special talent has been good.”

Stretch run >> Perkiomen Valley, presently No. 27 in the District 1-6A rankings, visits District 1-6A No. 1 Spring-Ford (17-2) on Thursday and closes the regular season at Central Bucks South on Feb. 1.

Pope John Paul II visits Upper Merion Thursday, heads to Methacton on Saturday and closes out with the rescheduled Frontier matchup with Phoenixville on Monday.

“We’ve had a lot of close games,” Ciuba said. “We always work hard even though some of them don’t go our way. The next three games we have we’re hoping to get wins.”

Perkiomen Valley 54
Pope John Paul II 47
POPE JOHN PAUL II: Cabot 1 0-0 2, Crossan 2 0-3 4, Shannon 3 0-0 9, Viney 2 0-0 5, Kennedy 4 1-2 9, Ciuba 6 1-2 16, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Totals 19 2-7 47.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY: Beattie 5 1-2 12, Daisey 5 1-7 11, Quoos 0 0-0 0, Monaco 0 0-0 0, Miley 6 0-0 13, Marinacci 2 2-2 7, Hallissey 0 2-2 2, Ramsey 2 5-7 9, Totals 20 11-20 54.
Pope John Paul II 9 12 8 18-47
Perkiomen Valley 12 9 15 18-54
3-point goals: Shannon 3, Ciuba 3, Viney, Beattie, Miley, Marinacci.