METHACTON 65, NORTH PENN 64
The Knights came oh so close to pulling off the non-league road win but came up just short in Saturday’s back-and-forth non-league thriller.
“We had the ball down by one with 22 seconds left – we got three really good shots off, but we just couldn’t finish, which is just the game,” NP coach Bri Cullen said. “It’s how it goes sometimes.”
The difference in the game, according to the Knights’ coach, came down to experience.
“Methacton is a very good team, they’re well coached,” Cullen said. “I just think with a floor full of seniors – my team is very scrappy, very competitive, but an older team with more experience is capable of finishing a little bit stronger.”
Underscoring Cullen’s point is the fact that 62 of Methacton’s 65 points were scored by seniors. By contrast, the Knights’ seniors combined for 18 points while their underclassmen accounted for 46.
Saturday’s game was tightly contested from the outset. The Knights – sparked by a pair of Cam Crowley 3s – led 17-16 after one quarter. The Warriors held an 18-15 advantage in the second quarter and took a 33-32 lead into halftime. Abby Plaugher’s seven points led a balanced North Penn attack in the first half. Mairi Smith’s 14 points led the Warriors, who also received 10 points from Cassidy Kropp.
The Knights – behind nine points from Liv Stone – outscored their hosts 23-17 in the third quarter and took a 55-51 lead into the final quarter that saw the Warriors hold the Knights to just nine points while they scored 14 to eke out the win.
Cullen was especially pleased with her team’s overall effort.
“There was never a moment I doubted that we were going to stay in the game,” the Knights’ coach said. “We picked up Methacton knowing that they’re a very good team. I would prefer to play the best teams we can possibly play to give us the experience down the line.”
Stone’s 17-point effort, which included three 3-pointers, led the Knights.
“Olivia Stone had a very big game today,” Cullen said. “She came in, she understood her assignment, and she really pushes it. We see more of a defensive presence from her in most games, but today she stepped up offensively.”
Three players – Crowley, Plaugher and Caleigh Sperling – each added 10 points while Kelly Donnelly had nine, which included two 3s.
The Warriors were led by Smith’s 26-point effort. Kropp finished with 22, and Ashley Fisher added 11.
North Penn (9-7, 7-4 SOL) will travel to Pennridge Tuesday.
North Penn      17-15-23-9   64
Methacton      16-18-17-14   65
North Penn (64) – Cam Crowley 3 2-2 10; Emily Orth 2 0-0 4; Caleigh Sperling 4 2-3 10; Koomba Samassa 2 0-0 4; Abby Plaugher 4 0-0 10; Kelly Donnelly 3 1-2 9; Liv Stone 5 4-6 17; TOTALS 23 9-13 64.
Methacton (65) – Ashley Fisher 4 0-0 11; Cassidy Kropp 6 9-10 22; Reana Torres 1 0-0 3; Ava Cingiser 1 0-0 3; Mairi Smith 11 4-6 26; TOTALS 23 13-16 65.
3-point goals: NP – Liv Stone 3, Cam Crowley 2, Abby Plaugher 2, Kelly Donnelly 2; Methacton – Ashley Fisher 3, Cassidy Kropp, Reana Torres, Ava Cingiser.

Methacton 65, North Penn 64

Highlights: Cassidy Kropp dropped 22 points in a win for Methacton and is 46 away from hitting 1,000 in her varsity career. Kropp also made nine assists while Mairi Smith had a game-high 26 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Ashley Fisher also scored double figures with 11 points for the Warriors. Olivia Stone led North Penn with 17 points while Cameron Crowley, Caleigh Sperling and Abby Plaugher had 10 each.

North Penn: Crowley 3 2-2 10; Orth 2 0-0 4; Sperling 4 2-3 10; Samassa 2 0-0 4; Plaugher 4 0-0 10; Donnelly 3 1-2 9; Stone 5 4-6 17; Smink 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 9-13 64
Methacton: Fisher 4 0-0 11; Kropp 6 9-10 22; Coupe 0 0-0 0; Torres 1 0-0 3; Cingiser 1 0-0 3; Freese 0 0-0 0; Smith 11 4-6 26. Totals 23 13-16 65
North Penn 17 15 23 9 – 64
Methacton 16 18 17 14 – 65
3-point goals: Crowley 2, Plaugher 2, Donnelly 2, Stone 3, Fisher 3, Kropp, Torres, Cingiser