Bear boys split at Pottsgrove Shootout
POTTSGROVE SHOOTOUT >> Boyertown’s Jerry Kapp registered a game-high 22 points but it was Central Bucks East coming out victorious, winning 60-52 over the Bears in the opening round of the Pottsgrove Shootout in both team’s season openers.
Matt Pattyson led a quartet of Patriots shooters who finished with more than 10 points. Pattyson finished with 15, including a 7-for-9 effort from the free-throw line, while Sean Dann and Elijah Seger each pitched in 11 with Collin Stein finishing with 10.
The Patriots defeated Pottsgrove in the championship Saturday while Boyertown got its first win of the season, 80-51 over West Chester Henderson in a consolation game Saturday.
“CB East is a very disciplined team and we didn’t make smart plays defensively,” Boyertown head coach Mike Ludwig said. “We were giving up backdoor cuts and if you do that, then you are going to be in trouble. Our kids will learn from it and they’ll come back tomorrow and be better.”
Marcus Thomas was a bright spot for the Bears as he finished with 16 points with one 3-pointer. His tactful play in the paint mixed with Kapp’s torrid start from the field (6for-8 for 17 points) gave the Bears a 28-24 lead at the half before CB East outscored the Bears 20-9 in the third quarter before putting the game away late in the fourth via free throws from Seger and Pattyson.
Bloodied Up
The Bears’ Jack McCloskey was forced to make a jersey change in the first half as his shorts and top were covered in blood. The senior guard finished the game with two points.
Looking Up
Junior Zachary Benning sparked
the Bears off the bench as he finished with four points, all coming in the fourth quarter. He, along with Keegan Schealer (three points) drew some praise from Ludwig following the loss.
“I think that we just have a bunch of young guys that are learning to play on this level and sometimes that takes a little bit longer than you would want it to,” Ludwig said. “I know them and they are all hard workers and they’re dedicated. They are going to do what they need to do to make themselves better and compete.”
BOYERTOWN 80, WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 51 >> The Bears got their first win of the season in the consolation game of the Pottsgrove Shootout on Saturday.
Jerry Kapp drained a game-high 29 points, Boyertown’s lone player in double figures. Marcus Thomas chipped in the nine points while Keegan Schealer added eight and Ben Margavich seven.
Girls Basketball
BOYERTOWN 48, LAKEWOOD RANCH 45 >> Boyertown rallied in the final quarter as Abby Kapp scored seven of her game-high 20 points in the final frame as the Bears dealt Lakewood Ranch its first defeat of the season after a 10-0 start Friday evening at the She Got Game Classic in Washington, D.C.
In Boyertown’s season opener, Katie Armstrong chipped in 10 points, including four in the decisive fourth quarter, and received Player of the Game recognition.
The Bears led 26-22 at halftime but Lakewood Ranch (Fla.), which entered the game ranked No. 21 in the country and was a state runner-up a season ago, pulled ahead in the third quarter, 39-33. The Bears also got six points on a pair of 3-pointers from Victoria Boalton.
SANFORD 50, BOYERTOWN 48>> Abby Kapp’s 3-pointer came a fraction of a second after the buzzer sounded, allowing Sanford to escape with a victory in the She Got Game Tournament in Washington, D.C. Kapp finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, her second double-double in two games. Allie Marcus added 13 points with Katie Armstrong adding nine for the Bears.
Sanford was led by Olivia Tucker’s 17 points including four 3-pointers.