City of Basketball Love

By Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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There have been some fun storylines on the Pioneer Athletic Conference girls side this season with teams like Norristown and Upper Merion emerging as postseason teams, Phoenixville dominating the Frontier and Pope John Paul II continuing its consistency. However, a third heavyweight bout for the PAC championship between Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford seems inevitable unless someone pulls off a major surprise. 

The tournament kicks off Thursday night at Spring-Ford with the host Rams playing Norristown before division rivals Pope John Paul II and Upper Merion cap the night. Unbeaten division champs Perkiomen Valley and Phoenixville will the winners on Saturday with the championship following on Wednesday night at Spring-Ford at 7 p.m.

Here’s a quick look at the teams and matchups:

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1) Perkiomen Valley (21-1, 10-0 Liberty)
The defending champions went through the league unbeaten for the first time since in a long, long time (MaxPreps only goes back to 2006-07). A 49-33 loss to Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.) on Dec. 28 is the lone blemish on the Vikings’ season, though rival Spring-Ford took them to OT in the final game of the regular season. Junior 6-foot wing Grace Galbavy and junior 6-3 forward Quinn Boettinger are game-changers on both ends, while junior point guard Bella Bacani runs the show. Senior Anna Stein (Kutztown) and juniors Lena Stein, Julia Smith and Grace Miley would be featured pieces on most other squads. Last season's title marked the Vikings’ first since 2016. They’ll try for their first back-to-back this year.

2) Phoenixville (16-6, 10-0 Frontier)
The Phantoms repeated as champs in the Frontier Division to earn the No. 2 seed for the second year in a row. Sophomore guard Kayden Baratta was the breakout player in the league this season, leading the PAC in scoring. Phoenixville has some size in sophomore forward RIley Ford-Bey and senior Maliyah Warren, a Wilkes commit. There’s quite a few other consistent contributors, including junior Emine Ulcay, who returned from injury this season. A matchup with league power Spring-Ford likely looms in the semifinals.

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3) Spring-Ford (18-4, 11-2 Liberty) vs. 6) Norristown, 6 PM

Spring-Ford’s two losses to PV are its only losses since Dec. 27, taking care of the rest of its PAC foes with ease. No other league opponent has come within 28 points of the Rams this season. Seniors Anna Azzara (Wright State) and Mac Pettinelli (St. Bonaventure) are chasing their third PAC crown in four years along with classmates Aaliyah Solliday, Katie Tiffan and several others. Junior 5-10 forward Kareena Preuss has had to play big in the frontcourt on a squad that is very perimeter-oriented.

Norristown put together its best season since becoming a conference member in 2016-17, winning its first Liberty Division game in early January against Boyertown and adding three more along the way to reach the PAC playoffs for the first time. Senior Azjiona Golston put together a terrific senior campaign and classmate Briana Minick is another guiding force who made sure to end their careers with some postseason experience. Sophomore Adrianna Golston-Witter will hope to keep things moving in the right direction next season.

4) Pope John Paul II (12-9, 7-3 Frontier) vs. 5) Upper Merion (13-9, 7-3 Frontier), 7:45 PM

This should be the game of the tournament prior to a potential championship bout between Spring-Ford and Perk Valley. Upper Merion broke an 11-game losing streak to the Golden Panthers with a 40-32 Feb. 1 victory, which avenged a 55-53 loss to PJP on Jan. 11. The sophomore backcourt trio of junior Devon Maiden and sophomores Levayada Fuqua and Kennedy Coles lead the way for the Vikings. The leadership of a senior class, including Olivia Smith, that went winless in their freshman campaign has also been a driving force in getting Upper Merion back to the PAC playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Pope John Paul II is in the league postseason for the sixth straight time, looking to win its first PAC playoff game since 2019. Senior forward Katie Nilles is the team’s leading scorer, but it’s a very balanced group with freshman Sophie Vigliotta, junior Grace Fitzgerlad, sophomore Rylee Derecola, junior Brooke Albeck and a handful of others all capable of chipping into the scoring column.

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First Round
Thurs., Feb. 8
At Spring-Ford
3) Spring-Ford vs. 6) Norristown, 6 PM
4) Pope John Paul II vs. 5) Upper Merion, 7:45 PM

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Semifinals
Sat., Feb. 10
At Spring-Ford
1) Perkiomen Valley vs. TBD
2) Phoenixville vs. TBD

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Championship
Wed., Feb. 14
At Spring-Ford