A solid second-half performance by the Perkiomen School's girls

Tera Heintz, a Green Lane resident, attempts  to go around a defender.  Heintz finished with nine points in Perkiomen School's 30-22 win on Feb. 7.

basketball team last week allowed the team to advance to the championship round of the Tri-County Independent School playoffs.

In a 30-22 victory over Collegium Charter School, the Panthers allowed just seven points after halftime. Chardae Stone finished with a team-high 12 points. They were scheduled to take on the Barrack Hebrew Academy at the AIM Academy in Whitemash on Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the title game.

            Tera Heintz contributed nine points and seven rebounds to help the team snap a five-game losing streak to help her team snap a five-game losing streak. The sophomore from Green Lane spearheaded a second-half rally with a solid defensive performance.

            "Tera played great," head coach Nicole Misevicius said. "She really stepped up."

Her three steals helped limit the visiting Cougars to just three points and allowed Perkiomen School to overcome a 15-10 halftime deficit and snap a five-game losing streak.

            "We've been a better team in the second half all season," Misevicius said. "I'm not sure why that is."

            Misevicius was visibly upset when she took her team into the locker room at halftime after the Panthers failed to generate a shot on the final possession of the second quarter. Stone lost the ball driving to the basket as time expired. Misevicius said he made sure her players understood the finality of the situation.

            "I told the girls that if we don't win, we were done, that we wouldn't practice (Friday), the coach said "This might be the bitter end."

            According to Heintz, the players understood the coach's message and played the second half with a sence of urgency. She said they wanted to extend their season.  "We really pulled it together in the second half," Heintz said.

            Misevicius highlighted the defensive performances of Maddi Springman, a freshman from Boyertown, and Heintz. Springman guarded Cheyenne Rivas, Collegium's point guard. Heintz shadowed the opposition's top offensive player.

            Heintz delivered three 3-point goals in the second half. Her shot from the left corner opened the third quarter scoring. A shot from the top of the key, off an assist from Sophia Taylor, a freshman from Gilbertsville, capped ended the quarter and staked the Panthers to a 25-19 edge.

            Misevicius described it as Heintz's most consistent offensive performance of the season. Heintz said she made some adjustments with her feet on her shot.  "I worked really hard on getting my feet set," the player said. "And I was more calm and collected than I had been in past games."

            In between, they took control of the game by hitting five of their initial shots from the field to open the third quarter. Stone scored six points during the decisive 12-0 run. Her driving layup off a steal by Heintz put her team ahead for good, at 20-19, with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter.