Perkiomen School's National basketball team relied on its defense to win its initial two games. The team also displayed its depth in the victories at home.
The Panthers struggled with their medium and long-range shots. Head coach Harry

Adrian Mathis, right, prepares to release a shot against Erie Prep Academy. Perkiomen School's point guard scored a team high 16 points in a victory on Saturday Nov. 8.

Morra said he expects their shooting to make significant strides by the second half of the season.
           Ten players scored in Perkiomen School's season-opening 89-59 victory over Garden State Academy on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Three days later, all nine who got on the floor scored at least three points in a 72-54 win over Erie Prep Academy.
"The parts on this team are much more interchangeable than last year," the second-year head coach said. "We got production from everyone during both games."
           Perkiomen School's reconstructed starting lineup sparked its Nov. 8 victory over the Yetis. Adrian Mathis, a senior from Texas, scored a team-high 16 points.
Bennett White, a 6-foot-8 senior guard, scored 14 points. Tyler Royal, a 6-foot-9 sophomore power forward from Carlisle, finished with 12 points. Three new seniors -- Isaiah Johnson, from Los Angeles, Evan Colao, from northern New Jersey, and Alec Roumph, a Denver, Colorado native -- delivered critical defense and playmaking off the bench.
           The Panthers notched only three 3-pointers against EPA. The coach said he expected his team to be elite from beyond the arc.
           "Right now we're on the other side," said Morra, whose team posted six 3-pointers in its season opening win.
           Against EPA, Perkiomen School squandered at least 30 points in layups, according to Morra. He described the issue as correctable.
            "It's a good problem to have this early in the season," he said. "I'm confident we'll be a good shooting team by January or February."
            After taking an early 7-4 lead against the Yetis, Perkiomen School never trailed. The Yetis pulled within 16-14 midway through the first half, but got no closer.
            The Panthers used a 22-8 run during the second half to maintain control. Reeve Sysko, a senior from Wilmington, Del., scored eight points during the flurry off the bench.
            Jayden Leatherbury scored four points. The sophomore from Bethlehem started the outburst with a jumper in the lane. His layup on his own miss staked them to a 38-22 lead with 1:09 left in the second half.
           Perkiomen School extended a 41-24 halftime lead in the second half. Mathis, a 6-foot-1 guard who helped Italy win a silver medal in the Under 17 World Cup two summers ago in Turkey, scored six points during an 18-5 run. Leatherbury's steal and layup staked the team to a 59-34 advantage.
           Mathis led the Panthers to victory in their season opener with 24 points. Darnell Lloyd IV, a 6-foot-9 senior center, and Bennett White each scored 14. Charlie Yartz added 12.
           Morra identified Lloyd, who has already committed to play at Boston University, as one of four Division One prospects. He included Royal, who may have the highest ceiling, Bennett and Yart, a 6-foot-6 senior guard from State College.