Perkiomen Valley edges Upper Dublin in district semifinal

Possession after possession, the shot went up for the Perkiomen Valley girls' basketball team.

Sometimes the ball would hit the backboard. Other times it bounced off the rim.

The shots went up on Wednesday night at Council Rock South for the Vikings.

But it wasn't until the third or fourth try that the ball finally went in.

Second-chance points and great rebounding helped P.V. edge Upper Dublin, 30-29, in the District 1 Class 4A semifinals.

It was the 13th win in a row for the Vikings (27-2), a victory that secures the squad's place in the district title game for the first time in program history. At 6 p.m. Friday, the Vikings will face off against Downingtown East at Temple.

"It's crazy. It feels unreal right now," senior KT Armstrong said. "It is so amazing how much progress we made this year. We made leaps and bounds."

With all five of their starters 5-foot-9 or taller, P.V. used its size advantage to wreak havoc on the boards, in a game that was physical down low for all 32 minutes.

"We are so big and so lanky," sophomore forward Taylor Hamm said. "Underneath we can box out and get rebounds. I think that is how we win - rebounds."

Rebounds - specifically the 17 that Megan Jonassen grabbed to go along with her game-high 14 points. The sophomore was terrific, consistently corralling the rebounds and laying the ball back in.

"With rebounding it is just who wants it more and I want the ball," the 5-foot-11 Jonassen said. "I know that is what it comes down to, and if our shots aren't falling that is when it really comes into play."

Even though the Vikings led by as many as seven with just over two minutes to play, the Cardinals (21-6) battled back, getting within one after Demi Balasa knocked down a three.

Upper Dublin would get a chance to win after high pressure on the press caused a turnover, but it couldn't convert in the waning seconds.

"It just came down to guts at the end," Armstrong said.

Guts - the reason P.V. is headed to the Liacouras Center.

Upper Dublin 12 4 5 8 - 29

Perkiomen Valley 12 8 4 6 - 30

UD: Allison Chernow 12, Josie Barrett 7, Ashley Barber 4, Demi Balasa 3, Maggie Weglos 3.

PV: Megan Jonassen 14, KT Armstrong 7, Taylor Hamm 4, Hanan Richmond 3, Tori Walter 2.