Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Michael Pereira, seen dunking against Methacton earlier this season, helped PW dominate Garnet Valley Friday night. (Mike Cabrey – MediaNews Group)
By Matthew DeGeorge
Michael Pereira’s mom told him there would be nights like Friday, though in a more hopeful tone than The Shirelles ever imagined.
When Pereira and Mani Sajid, now both juniors, started playing together at Plymouth Whitemarsh, Pereira’s family made a quick read on what their connection could be. Pereira now stands 6-9, Sajid 6-5, though one operates in the lane and the other on the perimeter. Each would space off the other ideally, with Pereira’s rebounding and Sajid’s shooting packing the potential for a potent pairing.
Friday was one example of how devastating it can look.
Sajid scored 27 points, and Pereira tallied 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Colonials blitzed Garnet Valley in the first half, building a lead it wouldn’t relinquish in a 72-58 win in the quarterfinals of the District 1 Class 6A Tournament.
By halftime, the fifth-seeded Colonials led by 14 points, an edge that would stretch to 23 and never be in single digits again the rest of the way, despite No. 4 Garnet Valley playing them even in the third and fourth quarters.
(click on this link for the full article, subscription may be required)