Game summary

Player Statistics

Upper Merion

• 13-9 overall
• 8-6 SOL, tied with Norristown for fourth place in American Conference
• Highlight of season was 49-47 win over then previously undefeated Upper Dublin
• 11-5 in last 16 games after a 2-4 start
• Junior Regie Robinson averages 18 PPG to lead the Vikings

Players to watch:  Regie Robinson, Katherine Bailey, Shekema Gentles, Anna Davis, Tatiana Pleasant, Eryn Brady, Jessie Michael
Coach Tom Schurtz says:  “While on the surface it seems that Robinson’s 18.0 ppg makes Upper Merion a one-player team, what is often overlooked is the balance from the contributing players. The opening matchup between these two teams was decided in the paint as was the end-of-the-season contest. In the opening game, Gentles, Brady and Pleasant combined for 20 points and 36 rebounds. In the game at Upper Dublin at the end of the year, those post players were held scoreless. Since both Upper Merion and Upper Dublin are SOL American opponents, each team is familiar with the other. This game will more than likely be decided by the team that is able to manufacture points in the paint.”

Tom Schurtz has dubbed his team the ‘Cardiac Kids.’
With good reason.
For the second time in as many games, the Vikings pulled out a dramatic win, this time rallying from 15 down in the second half to win in overtime.
“It was definitely quite the exciting game,” Schurtz said. “They have a good team – they have a lot of nice guard play. I just think we made some critical opportunities.
“They were calling a tight game. It could have easily gone the other way, and we could have been the team in foul trouble. It was an unbelievable finish.”
The Vikings needed a Regie Robinson three at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
“She made a three-pointer with 00.04 on the clock,” Schurtz said. “We ran an inbounds play for her, she pump faked and buried a three as the buzzer sounded.”
Robinson finished with 29 points and did literally all of her damage in the fourth quarter and overtime. The junior standout had one point in the first period, none in the second and three in the third but exploded for 21 in the fourth quarter and tacked on four more in OT. Robinson took 31 foul shots, connecting on 20 of them. All told, the Vikings made 48 trips to the foul line while the Eagles took 33 foul shots and converted 22.
“Both teams dealt with foul trouble, obviously, with that many free throws shot,” Schurtz said of a game that featured 81 foul shots. “We managed to survive it a little bit better.”
Norristown starters Briana Hedgepeth, Devon Morse and Brianna Schools all fouled out in the fourth period.
“I think that was key because we were able to turn up the defensive pressure and create some turnovers,” Schurtz said.
The Vikings’ coach went on to laud a pair of unsung heroes in the win.
“They each only had one point, but given when those points happened, they were critical,” Schurtz said. “Liz Botto, a senior, had the first point of her career from the free throw line after a steal with two minutes left to put us down four.
“Tatum Thomas had a steal and free thrown with under a minute left to put us down two. They went down and hit a free throw to go up three with 15 seconds to play. We had a jump ball inbounds under our basket with four seconds to go. I called timeout, we drew up a play, and Regie buried it to send it to overtime.”
The basket by Robinson capped a 26-14 fourth quarter tear by the Vikings.
“In overtime, I felt we survived the foul onslaught, and I felt as long as we kept the ball in our starters’ hands, we’d find a way to win it,” Schurtz said.
The Vikings outscored the Eagles 10-5 in OT to earn the dramatic win.
“A freshman really salted the game away for us,” Schurtz said. “In back-to-back league games, Jessie Michael has made big three-pointers for us.
“She had a three-pointer in the first quarter to kind of get us going when we were really struggling offensively, and she hit a big three-pointer in overtime to put us up three with two to go, and we never relinquished the lead.”
Michael and Tatiana Pleasant both finished with eight points while Eryn Brady had nine points.
For the Eagles, Hedgepeth led the way with 16 points. Keifonna Ferguson had 13 while Essence Williams added 11 and Schools had 10.
“Briana Hedgepeth played great for them,” Schurtz said. “She’s a great player, and we had trouble containing her all day off the dribble.”
The Vikings evened their SOL record at 4-4 and improved to 8-6 overall while the Eagles are 5-3 in the league (7-6 overall).
Upper Merion won’t have a whole lot of time to celebrate. The Vikings will face the Indians in the SOL Challenge at Souderton (2 p.m.).
“We’ll see if we can find a way to get our legs back under us,” Schurtz said. “We’ll do the best we can against another great team. We’ve played some tough teams this week. Upper Dublin, Norristown and Souderton – that’s a tough week.
“We’re a young team, and we’re starting to find our way.”
Norristown     9          10        17        14        5-56
Upper Merion6          15        4          26        10-61

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This season the Lady Vikings had a tough start to the season with an opening record of 2-5, but finished the season extraordinarily well, earning a trip to the AAAA District ONe playoffs and a number of unbelievable wins along the way including: beating undefeated Upper Dublin on a last second shot, making a clutch three pointer to send the game into overtime against Norristown, and charging back to beat PW in the final 7 seconds of the game.  This season was a constant fourth quarter battle, playing to multiple overtime victories, the girls team seemed to never give up. The Upper Merion Lady Viking basketball team developed a new confidence mirroring their team motto: “no fear.” Words also echoed by senior captain Katherine Bailey who always reminded her team “I believe in us.”

The team was always spirited, supportive and appreciated each other’s accomplishments and contributions to the team, even the smallest ones. The team will always remember the unbelievable buzzer beaters, the crazy pre-game rituals and the never-ending wall sprints. The toughest times of the season brought the greatest victories. We will always remember Nikki Briskin, Liz Botto and Gabby Legendre’s incredible hard work and effort everyday at every practice along with 3-year starter Katherine Bailey whose motivation and energy was the spark that lit the fire during each game. Regie Robinsons overall 408 points on the the season was unforgettable along with Anna Davis’s furious defense that helped the Lady Vikings pull out each close game.