Boyertown takes down Owen J. Roberts for Liberty win

First wins are something high-school coaches remember fondly.

First league wins are even more memorable, particularly those coming against division opponents. Achieving that feat against a quality opponent makes the feat even more significant.

Odds are Tony Haley will long remember Saturday’s match with Owen J. Roberts ... for many of the above-mentioned reasons.

The Bears got Haley a “first” in his brief tenure as the program’s head coach Saturday, and in a big way. Their 49-14 roll over host Owen J. Roberts was his first against a Pioneer

Athletic Conference Liberty Division opponent, and the biggest highlight of the 2021 season to date — a season that marks Haley’s return to Boyertown after more than a decade of service as its assistant coach, and two stints at the helm of Methacton.

Boyertown (1-1 PAC, 4-1 overall) never trailed after seeing Asher Sigler get its first lead with a pin in the 113-pound opener. It broke open what started out as a close contest through the first four weights, winning eight of the final nine to put away a Roberts unit (1-2, 4-2) that had split previous PAC matches with SpringFord Wednesday (41-26 loss) and Pottstown Thursday (68-6 win).

Pinning its way through three of the final four weights, the Bears got the match clincher from Anthony Bauer, whose 1:38 fall at 189 gave them a 3414 lead with three weights left to contest. Their finishing flourish included by drops from Robert Terra (285) and Gavin Sheridan (106) after Preston Fox edged OJR’s Francis McCoy at 215, 3-2.

Dominic Sheridan broke open the 9-9 tie at 138 by scoring a 38-second pin that was the day’s fastest. Chance Babb followed with a 14-5 major decision at 145, Ryder Gehris added a 5-1 decision of Skylur Davidheiser at 152 and Jimmy Sinclair was awarded a forfeit at 172.

In the early action, the Bears saw Jay Maldonado — he recently joined the area’s career win leader ranks with his 100th victory — decision Matthew Englehardt at 126, 11-5.

Cole Bechtel’s technical fall at 160 was the biggest single-bout points score for Owen J. Sam Gautreau had a 5-2 decision of Luke Heimbach at 120, and Mason Karkoska scored a 2:59 fall at 132.

Girls basketball

PERKIOMEN VALLEY 45, BOYERTOWN 38 » Jennifer Beattie led Perkiomen Valley with 24 points (four 3-point goals) as the Vikings defeated the Bears in Friday’s PAC Liberty Division action.

Naiya Daisey added 12 points for PV (2-4, 1-3 PAC Liberty) in a close contest which saw the Vikings up by one point at halftime.

Boyertown’s (3-4, 1-4

PAC Liberty) Ashley Kapp scored 14 points, and Madison Konnick added nine points.

Upper Perkiomen 36, Upper Merion 23 >> Upper Perkiomen knocked off Upper Merion, 36-23,on Friday night, breaking a 60-game Pioneer Athletic Conference losing streak and snapping a 33-game skid overall dating back to Dec. 27, 2018.

Freshman Erin States led the Indians with 21 points, followed by junior Hannah Keeney and senior Olivia Rogers with six points apiece in the squad’s first league victory since a win over Phoenixville Jan. 27, 2015.

“It was exhilarating because I don’t think I ever thought we’d get that far to win a game,” Keeney said. “Having that feeling of being proud of our team and working this hard, it felt great.”

Boys basketball PERKIOMEN VALLEY 52, BOYERTOWN 44 »

Tyler Lapetina claimed game scoring honors Friday, his 19-point effort heading the Vikings’ PAC Liberty Division win over the Bears.

Dominic Miceli followed with 14 points, while Kameron Parks and Ethan Kohler added nine and eight, respectively, for the Vikings (3-2, 3-1 PAC Liberty). Aarick Salata scored 13, and David Leh 11 for Boyertown (3-2, 2-2 PAC Liberty).

PV led by two points entering the fourth quarter before outscoring the Bears, 12-6, over the final eight minutes.