Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

It was the matchup that many Berks County girls basketball fans had hoped to see and it came down to the wire. Top-seeded Wilson versus second-seeded Wyomissing for the Berks League crown. The Spartans used a big second half to capture their second straight county championship and remain undefeated. They knocked off the Bulldogs 45-36 at Santander Arena. Sophomore Laila Jones drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Wilson a 21-16 halftime edge. Annie McCaffrey scored eight consecutive points in the third quarter to tie it at 24. The 5’9 lefty finished with 16 points. “She rises to the occasion. It was just awesome. She played an amazing game and she did it when we needed it the most,” said head coach Aaron Anders. McCaffrey is an All-State soccer player who’s committed to UMass. Audrey Hurleman, another soccer standout, came up with a steal and layup in transition for a 31-27 advantage entering the fourth quarter. Wyomissing outscored the Bulldogs 15-to-6 in the third period. Wilson committed eight of its 18 turnovers in that quarter. Sophomore guard Kacey Maggs hit a triple to put the Spartans in front 34-29 with 4:15 remaining. Maggs converted a pair of free throws with 1:03 left for a 38-31 cushion. Amaya Stewart went 2-for-2 from the stripe with 56 seconds to go for a 40-34 lead. Stewart, an All-State selection last year, had a game-high 20 points. The 6’1 junior set the tone with seven points in the opening quarter. “They made her work for every basket. Coach Gallo had a great plan. She just works harder and wanted it more,” remarked Anders. The Spartans were 9-of-10 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and 13-of-16 overall. Jones led the (23-2) Bulldogs with eleven points. Freshman forward Kailani Hardy added eight points off the bench. Wilson’s 16-game winning streak came to an end. The Bulldogs were searching for their first BCIAA title since 2014. They were held 14 points below their season average. Wyomissing improved to (25-0). “I’m just so humbled to be their coach. It’s a reflection of what you want. It’s a reflection of our community, our school. I’m so proud of these kids,” emphasized Anders.