Upper Perk boys win shootout with Pottsgrove, go atop Frontier

Both teams lit up the scoreboard Friday.

But the Upper Perkiomen boys were a bit brighter than Pottsgrove, due in part to a big third-period scoring effort.

The Indians used a 24-6 edge in the third period to overcome the Falcons’ early lead, and they stayed strong down the stretch to post a 74-68 victory. The win enabled Upper Perkiomen to keep pace with Phoenixville atop the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s Frontier Division while dropping thirdplace Pottsgrove another notch back of the leaders.

The Tribe (6-2 division, 6-5 PAC), which faced a 4431 deficit going into the second half, reversed it into a 55-50 advantage prior to the fourth. It got a big scoring night from Ryan Kendra, who hit the nets for a game-high 31 points as part of a double-double that included 13 rebounds.

Kendra was one of four UP players to hit double figures. Liam Boyle (five assists) added 15 while Jon Brown (13 boards) and Will Walker each scored 13.

Pottsgrove had a trio of double-figure scorers, led by Jason Hein’s 21. Khaliym Smith followed with 17, and Jayden Blakey with 15. OWEN J. ROBERTS 56, BOYERTOWN 52 » Keyed by Shyheed May’s 18-point showing, the Wildcats held off the Bears to come away with the PAC Liberty Division victory.

Roberts also got 12 from Dawson Stuart as it saw Boyertown cut its 28-19 halftime lead to a pair (3735) by the end of the third quarter. The Bears’ scoring was topped by Jerry Kapp’s game-high 20, Aarick Salata’s 11 and Zach Benning’s 10. POPE JOHN PAUL II 58, UPPER MERION 38 » Vince Viney and Aidan McCarthy combined for 28 points to lead the Golden Panthers past the Vikings in PAC Frontier Division play.

Viney hit for a game-high 15 while McCarthy followed with 13. PJP’s offense was particularly potent in the second half, scoring 38 to break open a closer 23-20 halftime lead. READING HIGH 66, DANIEL BOONE 30 » Larry Wingo scored 17 points and Ricki Lopez added 10 as the Red Knights topped the Blazers in their Berks Conference matchup.

Chaunce Johnson led Daniel Boone with nine points.

Girls basketball

METHACTON 54, NORRISTOWN 41 » Olivia Pennypacker was a force from the floor and off the glass for the Warriors in their PAC Liberty Division victory over the Eagles.

Pennypacker scored 15 points to key Methacton’s establishment of a 28-15 halftime lead, and she pulled down seven rebounds. The Warriors also benefited from Nicole Cooper’s 14 points — she was 12for-14 from the line, part of her team’s 32-for-39 freethrow efficiency — and Abby Penjuke’s 12 boards. PHOENIXVILLE 40, POTTSTOWN 13 » Peyton Graham singlehandedly outscored the Trojans’ entire offense as the Phantoms added solid defensive play in their PAC Frontier Division win.

Graham had a game-high 16 points for Phoenixville, which took a 26-8 lead into the fourth quarter after holding Pottstown scoreless in the third. Jasmine Hamilton chipped in with another 10 while the Trojans were led by Ebony Reddick’s six counters. POTTSGROVE 55, UPPER PERKIOMEN 17 » Riley Simon and Sierra Potts headed the offense for the Falcons in their PAC Frontier Division roll over the Indians.

Simon came up with a game-high 14 points, Potts adding aonther 10. Their efforts helped stake Pottsgrove to a 29-12 halftime advantage that went to 4314 by limiting UP to a lone point in the third.

Sierra Kelly scored seven to emerge as the Tribe’s leading scorer. POPE JOHN PAUL II 45, UPPER MERION 35 » Lauren Ciuba headed a trio of double-figure scorers who propelled the Golden Panthers past the Vikings in PAC Frontier Division action.

Ciuba hit for 13 points while teammates Julia Owens and Kayla Mesaros added 11 and 10, respectively. They were key to PJP opening a 25-14 halftime lead.

Boys swimming

BEARS SWEEP » Boyertown took both ends of a PAC meet with Upper Merion and Upper Perkiomen. The Bears topped the Vikings 108-75 and the Indians 9866.

Tye Oliver was a two-race winner for Boyertown, taking the 200 IM in 2:03.29 and the 100 fly 54.40, Nolan Benner made a similar showing with his firsts in the 100 free (49.86) and 100 breast (1:03.72),

Girls swimming

BEARS WIN PAIR » Boyertown swept both ends of its PAC meet with Upper Merion and Upper Perkiomen. The Bears handled the Vikings 204-55 and the Indians 95-73.

Boyertown got individual firsts from Julia Clark (200 free, 2:08.95), Hannah Shaner (200 IM, 2:18.92), Angie Nelson (50 free, 26.89), Carolyn Cooley (diving, 219.95 points), Grace McKee(100 fly, 59.59), Gabrielle McKee (100 free, 56.04) and Teresa Draves (500 free 5:34.33).

Noel Fresa was a twoevent winner for UP, taking the 200 free (2:03.02) and the 100 back (1:03.09).