Fourth-quarter surge lifts Valley Forge past Normandy, 41-38
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAT | 6 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 41 |
| NOR | 11 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 38 |
Valley Forge used a dominant fourth quarter and a late 3-pointer from Justin Harb to erase a double-digit deficit and defeat Normandy 41-38 in a home boys basketball game Wednesday at Valley Forge High School.
The Patriots trailed 22-13 at halftime and still faced a seven-point deficit with 4:30 remaining before closing on a decisive run. Harb provided the game’s turning point, knocking down a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left to give Valley Forge its first lead of the night, capping a comeback fueled by pressure defense and timely scoring.
Valley Forge’s defense changed the game over the final minutes. The Patriots held Normandy to just three points in the fourth quarter and only 16 after halftime, repeatedly disrupting the Invaders’ offense. In the final two minutes, Valley Forge forced four straight turnovers, preventing Normandy from answering the late surge and preserving the narrow lead down the stretch.
Harb paced Valley Forge with 13 points, leading a balanced Patriots attack. Jaden Gill added 10 points from the forward spot, giving the team an interior presence to complement the perimeter play. Mykel Robinson and Isaiah Paoletto each finished with eight points, and Colin Warner chipped in two points as Valley Forge steadily cut into the deficit over the second half.
Normandy controlled the tempo early, building a 22-13 lead by halftime behind consistent scoring and solid half-court defense. The Invaders kept the advantage through most of the third and into the fourth quarter, leading by seven with just over four minutes to play before Valley Forge’s full-court pressure and traps began to take effect.
From there, the Patriots’ defense and execution swung the momentum. Valley Forge converted Normandy’s late turnovers into points, setting up Harb’s go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute. With the win, the Patriots showed resilience in closing out a tight conference-style contest and demonstrated their ability to finish games with strong fourth-quarter defense.
