(PHOENIXVILLE, Pa.) – Nirobi Peeler Jr. (Jr., Largo, Fla. / Clearwater / Millersville) and
Jalen Pierce (Jr., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate / Millersville) each tied single-game program records as Wilson defeated Valley Forge on Saturday afternoon. The rest of the Phoenix also lived up to their namesake by catching fire and shooting a season-best 50.8% en route to the victory.
Peeler Jr. etched his name in the record books by sinking eight 3-pointers on the night to match Rick Godwin Jr. who set the mark on January 29, 2022, in a win against Bryn Athyn. Pierce was stealthy on the defensive end and swiped away seven Patriot possessions. The steals mark also belongs to Godwin Jr. who had seven against McDaniel on November 19, 2022.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 84, Valley Forge 74
Venue: UVF Gymnasium
Records: Wilson 10-13, 8-6 UE; Valley Forge 10-14, 8-6 UE
How It Happened
- A fast start by the Patriots saw them take an early 6-0 lead, but Wilson eventually got on track and tied the game at 16-all thanks to a Trea Keys (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake / Howard C.C.) 3-pointer. Keys kept the momentum going as he put the Phoenix in front after he was fouled on a fastbreak layup and converted the and-one opportunity for a 24-23 lead with five minutes to go in the first. A 3-point barrage followed as Jaylin Davis (Jr., Hampton, Va. / Kecoughtan / Lynchburg) found Peeler Jr. and Antonio Perez Jr. (So., Frederick, Md. / Saint John's Catholic) scored from long range. Another Peeler Jr. triple gave Wilson a 37-30 lead, and although UVF cut the deficit back down to three, Gary Robertson (Gr., Washington, D.C. / Potomac / Bryant & Stratton) sent the Wilson Blue and White into the halftime break on a high note with a driving layup as the seconds winded down.
- Valley Forge used another strong start to the half to tie the game at 46 as Quinton Renigar tied the game on a 3-pointer. That was the closest they could get as Peeler Jr. immediately with a 3-point on a dish from Robertson. After the Patriots attempted to tie the game again from long range, Pierce pulled down the rebound and found Peeler Jr. for yet another jumper behind the arc. And he wasn't done. Peeler Jr. added his fourth in a span of a little more than four minutes to make it 57-48. His fifth of the half and final of the game put Wilson up by a dozen at the 10:29 mark.
- The Patriots made one last push as a 6-0 run made it a six-point game with five minutes remaining. Keys immediately answered with a jumper which was followed by makes from Armani Jones (Jr., Chicago, Ill. / Christ The King Prep / Bryant & Stratton) and Robertson who added an and-one free throw. Pierce made it a 9-0 run with a steal and layup to give Wilson its largest lead of the game at 15.
Inside The Numbers
- Peeler Jr. provided most of the heat in the gym by going 12-for-18 overall from the field and 8-for-13 from behind the arc. In the second half alone, he was near perfect by going 7-for-8 overall and 5-for-6 on 3-point attempts for 19 points.
- Keys added 16 after he made 6-for-10 from the field.
- Robertson was right behind him with 15 points and was 6-for-11 overall with a pair of 3-pointers. He set up the offense and chalked up six assists, the eighth time this season he's had six or more.
- Jones was jonesing on the glass once again as he pulled down 15 rebounds, all of which were on the defensive end. It's the 10th time this season he's recorded double figures in the carom category, and fourth time he's recorded at least 15.
- As a team, Wilson dished out a season-best 18 assists for the second time this year. The other time also came against Valley Forge in January's triple-overtime thriller.
Playoff Picture
- With a playoff bid already secure and two games left in the regular season, the Blue and White currently sit in a three-way tie for seventh along with Cairn and Saint Elizabeth.
- The Phoenix could finish anywhere from tied for fourth to 10th. Seeds 5 through 8 will host first round games of the United East Championship against seeds 9 through 12. The top four seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals.
Up Next
Wilson will head on the road for the final time in the regular season to take on Penn State Brandywine on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
