Through nine games, offensive consistency has proved elusive for the Upper Perkiomen boys basketball team. Though the team is averaging more than 44 points per game, it has exceeded 40 points in only one of its last four outings.

Aidan Keyser, center, prepares to take a shot against Perk- iomen Valley.

           "We're too inconsistent on offense," head coach Mike DeCarolis said.

            The Indians will need to rely on their entire roster to score, according to Owen Williams. He said they will need to rely on their depth to compete.

            "We don't have a star scorer," said Williams, a senior guard. "We need all five players on the floor to do that job."

            Williams, one of four players to lead his team in scoring, has accomplished the feat in four games. Rieg has posted the top output three times, while Evan Bosler and Aidan Keyser have done it once.

            "I feel like I can take over the game whenever I need to," Williams said.

            Last week, in its final game before the winter break, the Tribe suffered a 58-26 loss in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. Julian Sadler led the visiting Vikings with a game-high 22 points on six 3-pointers during the crossover contest on Thursday, Dec. 21.

            Williams, an East Greenville resident, led the Indians (2-7 overall, 0-3 PAC) with nine points. He added seven rebounds.

            "Owen was active, especially in the first half," DeCarolis said. "I expect a lot of him, which is why he's a captain. I know that if he is healthy, every time he steps on the floor, he is going to give me 1000 percent."

            Williams led the Indians in scoring for the fourth time this season. Darius Reed, one of two ninth graders who is receiving significant minutes, scored eight points, while Bosler added five against the Vikings.

            According to DeCarolis, his team has shown signs of being able to compete in the conference. The coach pointed out that, in a Dec. 19 loss to Upper Merion, it was outscored only by a combined four points in the first and fourth quarters.

            "I believe we can compete with anybody," said DeCarolis, whose team is averaging 37.5 points over its last four games.

            The Tribe, which missed Braden Rieg for the second straight game due to an injury, fell behind 13-4 early against the Vikings. The team got within 21-15 late in the second quarter on a layup by Bosler.

            "We were only down six," the coach said.

            However, Kyle Shawaluk hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key as time expired to extend the Vikings' halftime edge to 24-15.

            Perkiomen Valley pulled away in the third quarter. Sadler poured home eight points during the quarter, and Josh Tagert registered five points to help the Vikings go ahead 42-21.

            Shawaluk finished with 17 points for the Vikings, who converted half of their 22 field goals from beyond the 3-point line to help secure the Tribe's sixth consecutive loss. Patrick McDonald, a junior, notched eight points.

            The Tribe is scheduled to resume its season on Wednesday, Dec, 27 in the Fleetwood Holiday Classic.