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Prepping for Preps '22-23: Methacton (Boys)

11/29/2022, 11:15am EST
By Owen McCue

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)

(Ed. Note: This story is part of CoBL’s “Prepping for Preps” series, which will take a look at many of the top high school programs in the region as part of our 2022-23 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)
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While not traditionally thought of as one of District 1’s powerhouse program’s, the Methacton boys basketball team put itself up there in the past five seasons.

Once an annual Pioneer Athletic Conference contender, the Warriors made their mark at the state and District 1 levels on a consistent basis.

Seniors Cameron Chilson and Matt Christian don’t plan on that changing.

Even with another talented group graduating after last season, the Warriors still have their eyes on the PAC and more in 2022-23. 

“It means a lot to me. I know it means a lot to the other guys, just trying to continue that legacy of being winners,” Chilson said. “That’s always my goal is to keep Methacton on top. I feel like ever since I came in as a freshman, I haven’t seen a Methacton team that’s not elite. 

“Now that I’m a senior, we’ve lost some guys, but I’m hoping we can still compete at that elite level like we’ve been and keep the legacy going for these guys. And then once we leave next year, they know what they’re doing and we can pretty much pass the torch to them.”


Methacton senior Matt Christian was the PAC's 3-point leader last season. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

Methacton finished last season with a 24-5 mark that included an 18-0 start to the season. The Warriors defeated Pope John Paul II for their fourth league crown in five seasons. After earning the top seed in District 1 for the second time in three seasons, they made their second trip ever to the district semifinals and qualified for states for the fourth time in five seasons.

The Warriors' 2021-22 campaign ended with three straight losses. They were upset by Norristown in the district semis after taking down the Eagles three previous times, dropped a tight seeding game to Cheltenham and then fell in overtime to Northampton in their state opener to conclude another banner season.

“Me and Cam got to play in some huge games, district, state games,” Christian said. “I think it will help late in games when the pressure’s up and you need a bucket or a stop. I think me and Cam will be ready for that and help the other guys through that.”

There is plenty to replace from last season’s group with four members of the rotation and three starters gone. 

Forward Cole Hargrove (15.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 3.1 bpg) and guard Brett Byrne (12.9 ppg) were the final holdovers from the Warriors' 2020 District 1 championship squad. Forward Colin Meyer added some size and Matt Blakemore was an energy and defensive boost off the bench.

Christian (9.2 ppg, PAC leading 57 threes) and Chilson (6.6 ppg, 23 threes) are the only two returning starters. Senior guard Jason Lagana was also in the rotation last season.

The 6-3 sharpshooter Christian, who said D-III King’s College is at the top of his list of college suitors, exploded for some monster outings for the Warriors this summer when he wasn’t playing baseball. He should be the new go-to guy for Methacton this season.

“I am ready for the role,” Christian said. “I think I’m going to be tightly guarded all year … but I’m just focused on being a good teammate and getting myself open and my teammates open when they focus on me.”


Methacton senior guard Cameron Chilson, above, is one of just two starters back this season along with Matt Christian. (Photo: Owen McCue/CoBL)

There is very little varsity experience behind that senior trio as third-year coach Pat Lockard will look for several players to make the jump from JV.

Junior guard Anthony Daddazio and sophomore guard Sal Iemmello saw spot minutes during last season’s District 1 playoffs. Senior forward Evan Spang and junior forward Preston Hull will be relied on in a front court that tops out around 6-4.

Junior wing Alex Hermann (6-3) is poised for a breakout season. On an undersized squad, he will have to help out down low on defense, but he’s long and athletic and will help take some of the scoring load of Chilson and Christian on the offensive end.

“It will definitely be interesting to see how those guys jel together and how they handle the scouting report, the playbook, all the stuff that goes into a varsity game,” Lockard said. “They showed some growth over the summer, so we’ll see how it plays out during the regular season.”

Methacton will look a lot different from its teams of the recent past.

Hargrove, a 6-9 forward now at Drexel, followed Jeff Woodward. a 6-11 junior forward at Colgate, as another Division I big man at Methacton. This will be the first time in six years the Warriors won’t take the court with a true post player on offense and rim protector on defense.

Both offensively and defensively, the Warriors have had to adjust how they function. 

Instead of funneling offensive players to their shot blocker inside, Lockard said it will be more about ‘every guy doing their job’ and competing. Offensively, the Warriors will obviously be much more perimeter oriented.

“I’m still getting used to not having a 6-8 guy to throw to in the middle,” Chilson said. “Sometimes I overthrow the guy. Definitely I feel like really this year we’re trying to emphasize Marty (Matt Christian) and his shooting ability where last year it was, ‘Find Cole in the middle.’ That’s definitely a big change just looking to get him off screens or anyway possible to get him the ball and get him a shot. 

“Also trying to adjust plays where last year we had looks that were specifically to get Cole in the middle one-on-one and he could just reach over the rim. This year we don’t really have that kind of size.”

The 2022 group led by Hargrove and Byrne were able to follow up in the footsteps of those like Woodward, David Duda (East Stroudsburg), and Erik Timko (Jefferson), who elevated the program to one that not just competed for league titles but also made deep District 1 and PIAA runs, including Woodward and Timko’s district title team in 2019-20.

Even though they are a mostly new-look group, the Warriors know their predecessors put a target on their backs. 

The Pioneer Athletic Conference seems wide open this season with just one first team all-league player returning, but Methacton’s four titles in five seasons make the Warriors the PAC’s top dog once again until someone knocks them off.

“We’re following some of the best players to ever come through the program,” Christian said. “It’s finally our chance for the big stage and I think we’re really looking forward to it.”


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