On Thursday (1/29), the Upper Merion Vikings girls basketball team played host to Pottstown Trojans. In a close, hard fought game, they came out on top, 44-36. Not only did they win, not only was it a resilient win, they also had the opportunity to secure the PAC (Pioneer Athletic Conference) Frontier Division Title, which they did.
Earlier in the season, these two teams faced off and the rematch was nothing like the first. In the first matchup, the Lady Vikings won by a huge score of 58-28. A lot happens during the season, teams grow, not all rematches will contain the same exact outcome as the first game.
Things started slow, both teams ending the first quarter in single digits. Upper Merion started fast, going up 9-3 early in the first. With the help of Kennedy Coles two triples, by the end of the quarter, Upper Merion held a 9-6 lead.
In the second quarter, it was all Upper Merion. Their lockdown defense, creating turnovers, and not turning the ball over much was what held a 21-16 Vikings lead at the half.
The second half was where things started to get chippy. This game was already looking a lot different from their first matchup, and it didn’t get much better. In the third quarter there was a point and time as to where the Pottstown Trojans took the lead, and they had one goal in mind, ruin senior night. It was turnover after turnover, players and coaches were getting frustrated on the Upper Merion bench.
It was time for the fourth and final quarter, with so much on the line. About four minutes into the quarter Pottstown used a timeout, while the score was tied all at 31. The Vikings only let up five more points after this, and went on a little run, which was just enough to come out on top.
Now that Upper Merion has the PAC Frontier Division Championship, they have officially qualified for the PAC Playoffs. These will start up next week, February 6th. With the way the Lady Vikings have been hooping this season, they are definitely not done yet.
