Kropp, Methacton continue to roll
With a talented trio of classmates, Owen Kropp’s name can sometimes get lost in the mix when Methacton boys basketball is brought up.
Towering big man Jeff Woodward, sharpshooter Erik Timko and vocal point guard Brett Eberly have been regulars in the Warriors’ starting five for more than a year now. Kropp, one of the top reserves for last year’s state quarterfinal team, has joined them this year in the starting lineup, serving as the team’s “glue guy” as he plays a different role on a nightly basis.
Sometimes Methacton needs him to be a lock down defender.
Other times Kropp acts as a primary ball handler or spot up shooter. In Saturday’s 7442 win over North Penn, Kropp was an aggressive driver to the hoop, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the first half as the Warriors built up a commanding lead.
“I’ve just been trying to push myself to be able to do everything on the court,” Kropp said. “That’s what my job is. I can do a little bit of everything. Whatever the team calls upon me, I’m able to take charge and lead my team to victory.”
Kropp was one of a quartet of Methacton double-figure scorers in Saturday’s win over North Penn. Erik Timko led Methacton with 20 points, all of which came in the second and third quarters. Jeff Woodward
scored 15 points and Brett Eberly had 10. Josh Jones and Joe Larkins led North Penn with nine points.
Eberly and Kropp combined for 14 points in the first quarter as Methacton led 25-9 after one and 45-23 at halftime.
“We just tried to bring the energy,” Kropp said, “because a game like this, 12 o’clock in the afternoon, not many people in the stands, we gotta bring that energy and punch them right in the face, put them back on their heels.”
PHOENIXVILLE 48, OCEAN CITY 42» The Phantoms came on stronger in the second half Saturday, erasing Ocean City’s early lead and winning their opening-round game from the Boardwalk Classic’s Crest Savings
Bank bracket.
Will Allain scored 16 points to head Phoenixville, which used a 12-9 third quarter to overtake OC’s 23-22 halftime advantage. Steven Hamilton and Clay Kopko each kicked in eight points, and the locals got a seven-rebound game from Christopher Weiah.
TWIN VALLEY 53, POTTSGROVE 51» With a 17-10 scoring edge in the fourth quarter Saturday, the Raiders overtook the Falcons to pull out victory in Holiday Tournament play.
Nick Stringer scored 18 points to head a trio of double-figure performers for Pottsgrove, which led 41-36 after three. Stringer, who also cleared 10 rebounds, was fol
lowed in the scorebook by Luke Kaiser (11) and Zion Dyches (10). FLEETWOOD 48, UPPER PERKIOMEN 33 » Tournament MVP Max Lafranchise scored 17 points Saturday, and All-Tournament Team selection Will Ryan added 14 as the Tigers outscored Upper Perkiomen by 24 in the second half to win the Tiger Classic.
Hunter Flack, an AllTournament selection alongside teammate Sean Boyle, scored 16 points to lead Upper Perk. Drew Kupchak chipped in with another 10 for the Tribe. BOYERTOWN 52, AVON GROVE 27» A strong defensive effort guided the Bears to an opening round victory in the Boyertown Holiday Tournament Friday.
The Bears did not allow more than eight points in any quarter on the way to a lopsided win. Mason Marinello led Boyertown with 12 points, and David Leh scored 10.
UPPER PERKIOMEN 54, BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS 49 » A 21-point second quarter enabled the Indians to turn Friday’s game with the Bullets around, and they held off BH’s fourth-quarter surge to win Friday’s opening-round contest from the Fleetwood Classic.
Hunter Flack scored 21 points, and Sean Boyle added 17 in turning UP’s 12-5 first-quarter deficit into a 26-19 halftime advantage.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 46, NORTH PENN 43 » With a 2715 edge in second-half scoring, the Vikings overtook the Knights to win Friday’s opening round game from the Perkiomen Valley Holiday Shootout.
Tyler Lapetina scored a game-high 16 points to help PV recover from a 28-19 halftime deficit. The Vikes capped their comeback by winning the fourth quarter, 13-5.
POTTSGROVE 69, HIGH POINT The Falcon defense held the Eagles to a pair of points in the third quarter, and the offense went on a tear in the same frame to break open their Holiday Tournament game Friday. James Thompson had 15, Lennie Hall 12 and Zion Dyches 11 for Pottsgrove.
METHACTON 67, WISSAHICKON 40 » The Warriors handled the Trojans at the Perk Valley Holiday Shootout Friday.
Erik Timko led all scorers with 28 points (4 threes and 8-for-9 in free throws), Jeff Woodward contributed 15 and Owen Kropp added eight. POPE JOHN PAUL II 57, DELCO CHRISTIAN 55 » Drew McKeon was particularly hot from long distance while claiming game scoring honors for the Golden Panthers in Friday’s Marple Newtown Tournament opener against Delco Christian.
McKeon got all but two of his 20 points off six shots in 3-point territory. Kevin Green kicked in with another 13 in helping PJP to a 36-25 halftime lead. POTTSTOWN 61, GREAT VALLEY 56 » Scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter, the Trojans overtook the host Patriots to claim victory in Friday’s opening-round action from the Great Valley Tournament.
GV, fueled by Will Fredrick’s game-high 26 points, took a 44-40 lead into the fourth. Pottstown’s scoring lead was shared by Trey Bass and Robert Burress, both of whom scored 13 points.
WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 74, OWEN J. ROBERTS 39 » The Wildcats were unable to keep up with Rustin’s early point run Friday, falling to their hosts on the opening day of the West Chester Rustin Tournament.
Jalen Lucas scored 10 points to head Owen J, which trailed Rustin by a 43-21 count at the end of the first half.
Girls basketball
POTTSGROVE 37, HARRITON 35» Sierra Potts completed the Falcons’ comeback from an early deficit against Harriton in their Winter Shootout game Saturday. Potts made a layup with no time left on the clock to secure the win for Pottsgrove. Sydney Mowery was the game’s runaway scoring leader with 14 points, helping the Falcons rebound from a 19-8 deficit in the first quarter.
WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 33, POPE JOHN PAUL II 27 » The Golden Panthers fell off the Warriors’ pace in a 12-4 second quarter Saturday, coming up short in their non-league outing.
Amelia Kennedy and Haley Jackson each scored six points to lead PJP, which played Henderson close in a 7-6 first quarter. The Panthers closed the gap by outscoring their hosts in the fourth, 11-8.
OWEN J. ROBERTS 50, HAMBURG CENTRAL 38 » Olivia LeClaire and Avery White combined for 29 points to key the Wildcats’ victory over Hamburg Central in Saturday’s action from the Disney Tournament.
LeClaire hit for 16, and White 13, in helping Owen J. get back on the winning track. Roberts’ next game will be 11:30 a.m. Monday against Iowa (La.). METHACTON 37, CAMDEN CATHOLIC 29 » The Warriors held a one-point lead after three quarters and used an 11-4 advantage in the fourth to pull away in Saturday’s win at the Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood.
Cassidy Kropp had 14 points and seven rebounds for Methacton, and Nicole Timko followed with nine points. Sydney Tornetta added eight points and six boards, while Sydney Hargrove led the team with nine boards.
VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 62, BOYERTOWN 58 » Julia Beck poured in 28 points as Villa Joe recovered from a 21-7 first-quarter hole to beat the hosts in the opening round of the Boyertown Holiday Tournament.
Ashley Kapp had 23 points (five threes) for the Bears, who led 30-24 at halftime before a big third quarter swung the game
Villa Joe’s direction. Amber Marburger and Mikayla Moyer both had eight points in the loss.
PEQUEA VALLEY 64, DANIEL BOONE 33 » The Blazers were overwhelmed by the Braves in the middle frames of Friday’s pairing from the Brandywine Holiday Tournament. Caroline Horst scored 32 points to lead PV. Allyson Velez scored 11 points and Lyndsay Surkosky scored 10 for Daniel Boone, which was outpointed by a combined 36-8 margin in the second and third.
OXFORD 52, PHOENIXVILLE 42 » Falling off Oxford’s early pace, the Phantoms saw a late rally fall short in Friday’s opening round of the Ridley Holiday Tournament.
Aubrie Breisblatt scored 18 points to lead Phoenixville, which went on a 17-5 tear down the stretch after falling behind 47-25. Nailah Green also scored in double figures for the Phantoms, netting 15.
BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS 59, UPPER PERKIOMEN 20 » Ashlyn Clark scored 19 points and the Bullets pulled away from the Indians with a 14-1 run in the second quarter of Friday’s Brandywine Holiday Tournament opener. UPPER MERION 50, SPRINGFIELD-MONTCO 38 » Izzy LeGendre’s 17-point effort keyed the Vikings to victory in Friday’s opening round from the Lady Viking Holiday Invitational.
Kate Frey gave UM another nine points.
Wrestling
RALPH WETZEL CLASSIC » Phoenixville turned in a solid showing at the Ralph Wetzel Classic this weekend, coming home with five medalists from the 35-school competition at Hatboro-Horsham.
Anthony Stevenson was the highest-finishing Phantom, placing fourth at 170 after going 4-2. Owen Koch (4-2) followed with a fifth at 160, Antonio Valenteen (5-3 at 120) and Angelo Franzone (2-3 at 152) were both sixth, and Justin Meyers (32) was seventh at 113.