Despite a lopsided non-league loss Tuesday, Perkiomen School's girls

basketball team has positioned itself admirably. The team leads the Tri-County Independent School League and can clinch an undefeated regular season run with a win over Mercy Career Technical Academy on Thursday.

            According to head coach head coach Nicole Misevicius, the Panthers should be the No. 1 seed in the league playoffs, which opens Feb. 5.  'We're in a very good spot," Misevicius said. "With only two seniors, this program has a bright future."

            On Wednesday, Jan. 16, Perkiomen School registered its fourth straight win, a 39-21 victory over Kimberton Waldorf. Naomi Knight scored a game-high 17 points. Tera Heintz, a Green Lane resident, contributed eight points and Sophia Taylor added six.

            Since then, the Panthers have lost twice out of conference. Germantown Friends School handed them a 33-28 loss on Friday, Jan. 18. Chardae Stone posted 13 points and Maddi Springman delivered eight points.

            Most recently, they absorbed a 45-24 loss against The Hill School. They managed just four first-half points and trailed 30-4 at halftime.

            Misevicius described the Blues as her team's toughest opponent of the season. She said Perkiomen School could not contend with their superior height and quickness.

            Stone, a sophomore from Bethlehem, scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the second half. Springman finished with 10 points.

            "I was happy with the way we responded in the second half," the coach said. "The team really stepped up. I was trying hard to keep the girls feeling positive. Sometimes, when they fall behind they get down emotionally."

            During the first half, while the Panthers struggled to generate quality shot opportunities, Stone was knocked down on several drives to the basket. Her foul shots with 2:11 left in the second quarter ended their scoring drought. Her driving layup late in the quarter capped the halftime scoring.

            "I wasn't intimidated," said Stone, who has played AAU basketball for several years. "I've faced better competition than this before."

            The point guard continued to push the offensive envelope in the second half. Stone drained a 3-point shot from the right wing midway through the third quarter, then converted a steal into a layup early in the fourth quarter.  "I'm always trying to uplift my team," she said. 

            The coach described Stone as Perkiomen School's most important player. "We ask Chardae to do a lot, including handling the ball," Misevicius said. "But she can handle it, because she has the most basketball experience of anyone on the team."

            Following its league finale, the Panthers conclude their regular season with a pair of non-league games at Phil-Mont Christian (Jan. 25) and at home against the Hun School (Jan.31) before starting the post-season.