Josh McKoy-Berks Catholic

When you’re on the road in a tough league game, most coaches rely on their seniors to step up. That’s exactly what Josh McKoy did for Berks Catholic on Thursday night in West Lawn. The 6’3 forward scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half of a 44-40 victory over Wilson. The (11-5, 5-2) Bulldogs raced out to a 9-3 lead. Junior guard Cam Zullinger provided seven points off the bench in the first half. Wilson was on top 24-21 at the break. The undefeated Saints outscored the Bulldogs 12-to-6 in the third quarter. Both teams came in allowing under 48 points per game. Snip Esterly and Matt Coldren have been emphasizing defense for decades. The two head coaches have 1,206 combined wins. Esterly improved his record to (804-217) over 35 seasons. Josh’s brother, Kingston McKoy, threw down a thunderous dunk with seven minutes remaining to put Berks Catholic in front 38-30. The promising 6’2 sophomore finished with 13 points. Josh McKoy added a slam of his own one minute later to make the margin 40-32. Wilson came roaring back to get the crowd in a frenzy. Madyx Gruber’s left-handed layup pulled the Bulldogs within 40-38 with two minutes left. Gruber, a 5’11 junior, ended up with 15 points. With the Saints up 41-38, Correll Akings was off the mark on a top of the key 3-pointer with 45 seconds to go. Parker Nein’s layup on the other end gave Berks Catholic a 43-38 advantage. The 6’2 senior then went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe with 13 seconds on the clock. Nein, who was averaging 17 ppg., had five points. The Saints extended their winning streak to a dozen. “Just staying composed, don’t let the pressure get to us, keep the ball moving, and knock down the free throws,” explained Josh McKoy. Berks Catholic was 10-of-13 from the foul line, while Wilson went 4-of-5. Each squad made only two shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Brady Altimar hit both triples for the Saints. They’re on top of the Division 2 standings. Wilson and Muhlenberg are tied for first place in Division 1 with Reading just a-half game behind. “Everybody’s tough this year. I feel like the county is up for grabs,” said Josh McKoy. As for who the better dunker is, he replied, “I’ll definitely give it to my little brother tonight.”