The locker-room wait to compete in the District I Class 5A basketball playoffs felt surreal, according to Nolan Graber.  "This had been our goal the entire season, and we finally made it," he said. "We were a little bit nervous."

        However, Graber and his Upper Perkiomen teammates could not overcome a slow start in the game against Great Valley Feb. 22.

        "We couldn't make any shots," he said.

        The team continued to battle in a 54-43 loss.

        "We couldn't climb out of that early hole," said Jared Krupp, Upper Perkiomen's head coach. 

        The visiting Indians (12-11 overall), attempting to overcome an eight-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, pulled within 34-30 midway through the fourth quarter on a basket by Graber.

        But the host Patriots pulled away at the free throw line. Alex Capitano converted eight consecutive foul shots in the final quarter to help the No. 2 seed avoid an upset.

        Kendra said his players were focused and eager to compete.  "They knew what wanted they wanted to do," the coach said. "They were really excited."

        Ryan Kendra finished with a team-high 15 points for Upper Perkiomen in the season-ending loss. Graber, a senior, added 10 points, while classmate Nick Groff contributed six points.

        "No one wanted the season to end like this," said Graber, a 6-foot-4 post player.

        Still, Krupp considered the season, which included the team's first winning season and district playoff appearance since 2009-10, a success. He said the effort put the program back on the map. 

        "We had a great opportunity to compete," Krupp said. "We held our own with the No. 2 seeded team in the district, and it was great to get a team dominated by juniors so much experience."

        According to the coach, Great Valley's relied on a disciplined offense that often possessed the ball for two minutes and took only high-percentage shots. 

        "At times, it was tough defending them," Graber said. "You would run all over the floor locked in on your defender, and then all of a sudden someone would get open."

        According to Graber, the Indians put in the work during the offseason to earn the post season berth. He said he could see the improvement.  "We all kind of felt this was our year," Graber said. "I could see that everyone wanted to get there. Everything just came together. We had a ton of skill. A few games into the season, I realized this isn't the same team as the previous year."

        The victory over Pottsgrove on Dec. 22, which snapped a 72-game Pioneer Athletic Conference losing streak, further boosted the team's confidence according to Graber.  "That feeling was amazing," he said.

        Graber, who provided a defensive presence near the rim, evolved as an offensive threat. Later in the season he developed additional confidence as a shooter and passer.

        However, most of his success on offense was based on Kendra and Liam Boyle. When their shots were falling, Graber had more room to maneuver. "When those guys were hitting their shots, it was something else," Graber said.