City of Basketball Love

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 2023-24 season preview coverage. The complete list of schools previewed thus far can be found here.)

~~~

The 2023-24 Methacton boys basketball season ended earlier than the program has become accustomed to.

Three of the Warriors’ final four games resulted in defeat — a last-second shot, a double-overtime loss and an epic comeback thwarted to conclude the season in the district playback bracket.

“All really, really close losses, which is a positive, like, hey you were that close, but our season ended on them as well, too,” fourth-year coach Pat Lockard said. “We want to not put ourselves in that position this year, and I would hope that taste is still fresh in the guys’ mouths and the guys who weren’t even part of the team last year (but) were either on the bench or doing stats or film for us. I think they’re all aware of the effort, the focus and the patience it takes to be a successful team.” 

The Warriors finished last season 16-10, second in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division (7-3) behind Spring-Ford. A last-second shot by Perkiomen Valley’s Julian Sadler knocked them out in the first round of the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs, keeping them from winning their fourth league title in five seasons.

Methacton then entered the district playoffs as a No. 9 seed and won a home game against Conestoga before the double-overtime loss to Garnet Valley and a playback loss to West Chester Henderson, falling just short of a state playoff trip that would have marked the program’s fourth in five years as well.

Those in the program who were around for the deep postseason runs of the past are eager to get back.

“I’ve been on a bunch of great teams, so I know what it takes to get a winning team,” senior Anthony Daddazio said. “I’ve played with some great leaders like Brett (Byrne), Cole (Hargrove), so I’m just trying to teach these young guys plays, stuff like that, anything they need help with.”

The Warriors graduated Matt Christian (15.1 points per game, 88 3-pointers), Cameron Chilson (9.6 ppg, 25 3s) and Evan Spang from last season’s starting lineup.

Senior 6-foot-4 wing Alex Hermann (13.9 ppg) and junior 5-11 guard Sal Iemmello (8.5 ppg, 28 3s) are the team’s top returning scorers. Senior 6-4 forward Preston Hull and Daddazio, a 6-foot guard, are two others returning to the rotation.

Hermann had a breakout junior campaign, emerging as a first-team all-league player. He’s a terrific scorer and rebounder who can also pass and defend. It will be his team this season as he takes the next step.

“I think some guys don’t realize how quickly the leadership role sneaks up on them,” Lockard said. “They look around and it’s like, no, you’re the senior. You’re the most experienced player around. That’s one of the conversations with him is like, ‘Hey you be that leader. We’re going to lean on you a lot but understand you have some talent around you too that you can use.’”

Iemmello, who saw action on a PAC champion and District 1 Class 6A semifinal team as a freshman, is also ready to shoulder more of the load.

“I think I need to be more of a point guard this year,” Iemmello said. “I was more of a role player last year, hit the three. I think I need to dish out a little more to my teammates this year, just get my teammates involved.”

There aren’t too many others on the roster who have played at the varsity level. Seniors Emmanuel Rodriguez and Jason Savage have waited their turns. Sophomore guards Mason Conrad and Christian Matos and wing Wesley Robinson appear to be some of the young pieces ready to contribute.

“We got a lot of young guys, some players people don’t really know, a lot of players gotta prove themselves, so everybody’s gonna be hungry,” Daddazio said. “I think it’s going to be exciting to watch.”

For the second straight year, the Warriors won’t have a true center on the team like Hargrove or Jeff Woodward. They also won’t have a sharpshooter with the reputation of Christian.

Methacton plans to continue to shoot the 3-ball this season, but Lockard is also excited about the versatility of a number of players who can use their skill and athleticism to make things happen. 

“We just need to get out and run,” Iemmello said. “We have a lot of skill position players this year. There’s going to be a lot of guards. We can beat our men. There’s not really a weak link on this team. We’re faster than every other team. I feel like we can be pretty good this year.”

The PAC Liberty Division has turned into one of District 1’s deepest with five of the six teams qualifying for the postseason in 2023. League champion Spring-Ford reached the District 1-6A title game to make it three of four years with a Liberty Division team in the championship.

Methacton was right there with the Rams last season and took both regular season matchups from PV before the postseason loss. There’s confidence this season the Warriors can get back on top.

“Each game we get better and better,” Daddazio said. “The offseason started kind of shaky, but we played really good this offseason as we played more and more games, so I think as we get more games under our belt, we’re going to play well together.”