Minutes after their final game concluded, players on the Upper Perkiomen boys basketball team, their families and friends lingered in the home gymnasium last week. Owen Williams described the experience of Senior Night as the highlight of the season.

            "A lot of people came to see us play," he said.

            The Indians ended their season with a 67-33 loss to Pottstown in the Pioneer

Owen Williams, center, drives to the basket against Potts- town.

Athletic Conference on Thursday, Feb. 1. Eight seniors – including Isaiah Brown, Joe Carnesi, Cole Hodges, Aidan Keyser, Braden Rieg, Stephen Schmittinger and Williams – were honored before their final high school game.

            "It was fun being around my boys, even if we didn't win a lot of games," Williams said.

            Williams scored a game-high 12 games for the Tribe (2-20, 0-14 PAC), whose last win came on Dec. 5 against Brandywine Heights. Keyser added six points, while Carnesi added five points.

            Williams wasn't feeling necessarily nostalgic because he expects to play organized basketball. The 6'1 post player said he hopes to earn a spot on a college roster.

            Three 12th graders – Carnesi, Hodges and Schmittinger – made their first starts of the season for the Indians. Head coach Michael DeCarolis said it was important to reward them for several years of hard work. He described a basket by Hodges, who has played sparingly during his career due to multiple injuries, early in the game as a highlight.

            According to Williams, seven of the eight seniors have played together since elementary school. He said their travel team was rarely defeated.

            Abdul Jackson scored a game-high 24 points for the visiting Trojans, who appear headed to the District One playoffs. Sadeeq Jackson contributed 15 points.

            Dillon Mayes, a junior wing player, registered nine points for Pottstown, currently the No. 5 seed in the Class 5A power rankings. The visitors used a dominant third quarter to pull away for its fourth victory in its last five games. Abdul Jackson delivered 10 points after halftime to help his team turn a 31-17 halftime lead into a 55-25 advantage.

            At the outset of the game, the Tribe took a 5-2 advantage on 3-pointer from Carnesi and a long jumper by Hodges from the left corner. However, the Trojans responded with 14 consecutive points.

            Sadeeq Jackson delivered nine of those points on three straight 3-pointers. Abdul Jackson scored two layups, and Mayes hit a free throw with 1:21 left in the first quarter to open a 16-7 lead.

            Williams scored all the Indians' eight points in the second quarter to get them within 10 points twice. He hit two foul shots with 2:34 remaining to make it 27-17.

            Pottstown opened the third quarter on a 15-4 outburst. Eight of its points came on the fast break. Abdul Jackson notched six points.

            The Indians scored most of their points from the perimeter due to a height and quickness disadvantage. However, Williams made several strong drives to the basket and went to the line five times.

            "It's tough to get inside when the other team has five six-foot players," Williams said.