When Maddy Parisi fouled out early in the fourth quarter with The Perkiomen School clinging to a three-point lead, head coach Nikki Duggan worried that the team would turtle up.

Instead, the Panthers relied on the ball handling skills of Hanna Chiesa and Helena Tang to post a 39-31 non-league victory over Upper Perkiomen on Friday night.

                "I was really proud of the way the girls played in the fourth quarter," Duggan said. "In some of our close games, the girls went into a shell. But against Upper Perkiomen, I saw a different team. They were confident and determined. They refused to lose."

                Chiesa scored a team-high 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, while Tang added 12 points for The Perkiomen School, which extended a 30-27 advantage in the final five minutes. Nikki Ciocari contributed four points down the stretch to spark a decisive 9-2 run.

                Kaitlyn Mundy finished with a team-high 13 points for the Indians, who finished the season with just one victory. Sierra Kelly contributed 12 points and 17 rebounds.

                Kelly's layup, less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, pulled them within 30-27.

                Parisi extended The Perkiomen School's lead to 32-27 with 5:41 remaining, but fouled out moments later. The game was delayed while Duggan argued that an Upper Perkiomen player took down Parisi in a headlock.

                "I'd like to think me standing up for the girls provided some fuel for their fire," said the coach, who argued vehemently with the referees after the call. "It was a crucial moment. The girls really stepped up."

                Duggan lauded the performance of her seniors including Chiesa, Tang, Ciocari, Halle Brown and Destiny, who were recognized before the game.

                Tang scored 10 of her points in the first half. Her layup late in the second quarter staked the Panthers to a 24-15 halftime lead. 

                "Helena is such a tough player," Duggan said. "She would throw her body in front of a bus to help the team."

                The Indians, despite falling behind 11-4, reeled off nine straight points. Mundy scored five of the points and Shy'Anne Rumer, a freshman forward, scored four to put them ahead 13-11 early in the second quarter.

                Mundy described Upper Perkiomen's first quarter performance as one of its best of the season.  "We worked together and scored a lot of points," she said. 

                Down the stretch, the Indians found themselves in an unusual position, according to head coach Greg Swavely.

                "Our girls hung tough," he said. "We committed some turnovers, but kept our composure. They looked like they had been there before."

                According to Swavely, the team made significant offensive strides over their final four games. He said they displayed improved composure and poise by improving ball movement and taking better shots.

                "It's a great sign that comes with experience," the coach said.

                Swavely also installed freshman Ayden Pidgeon as the team's point guard. The coach described her as a good dribbler who sees the court and can hit the open shot.

                "We expect her to grow into a great point guard over the next three years," Swavely said.

                Though the team suffered 18 losses of more than 20 points, the players remained upbeat, according to Mundy. She said they made significant progress in all facets of the game, especially on offense.

                "We got much better at moving the ball and getting open," Mundy said. "We are also taking better shots."

                She expressed optimism about the future of the program, which loses only senior forward Jasmine Dupee to graduation. 

                "We showed that we were improving no matter what the record," Mundy said. "We all know what we're doing, and we've got some talented eighth graders coming up."

According to Swavely, the players never let the losses affect their effort. He said they understand the effort necessary for success.

                "This group of girls is special," the coach said. "They came to practice every day to work as hard as they could. They know what it takes to be good, and I know they will get there."