Kingston McKoy-Berks Catholic

Eastern York had to feel like it was getting hit by a tidal wave. One 3-pointer after another after another rained down on the Golden Knights in the first quarter of the District 3-4A Championship. Berks Catholic splashed its first six shots from beyond the arc. The top-seeded Saints raced out to a 22-6 advantage and cruised to a 67-44 victory. “We came out hungry. We wanted to play this game really bad,” emphasized Kingston McKoy. The 6’2 junior broke his tibia last January and missed the postseason. He had to watch as Eastern York defeated Berks Catholic 51-44 in the District 3 semifinals at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. McKoy exploded for 29 points against the second-seeded Golden Knights on Thursday. “I think it shows what would’ve happened last year,” replied the All-State guard. McKoy jammed 14 points into the opening quarter. The (21-5) Saints were up 28-10 after eight minutes. Zach Suski came out on fire as well. He hit three triples in the first quarter. “He knows his role. He knows we need him on the offensive side. He shoots it with confidence. I love him,” said McKoy. Eleven of Suski’s 19 points came in the first period. Berks Catholic made its first nine shots from the field and didn’t commit a turnover until the 6:31 mark of the second quarter. The Saints put on a clinic in Hershey. Eastern York trailed 41-26 at halftime. The (21-5) Golden Knights, who claimed their fourth District 3 crown a season ago, pulled within eleven points in the third quarter. McKoy scored eleven consecutive points for Berks Catholic as the Saints built their cushion back to 52-35. Eastern York, which was averaging 58 points per game, was down 56-37 after the third period. Carter Wamsley, a 6’7 Gannon commit, finished with 21 points. “He’s a great player. He’s a smart player. He’s a big body. He gets to the foul line a lot,” noted McKoy. Wamsley was 9-for-11 from the stripe. Noah Cunningham, one of ten seniors on the roster, chipped in with a dozen points. He sank four of the Golden Knights’ five treys. Berks Catholic connected nine times from long range and went 4-for-4 at the foul line. McKoy and Suski each nailed three 3-pointers. The Saints only turned the ball over three times. Bryce Gumby provided ten points off the bench. Berks Catholic earned its sixth District 3 championship in 14 years. The Saints are a remarkable (34-9) all-time in the District 3 tournament. McKoy won a District 3 title as a freshman when Berks Catholic blew out Fleetwood 73-44 at the Giant Center. “It’s amazing, I love playing here. I’ve been dreaming about it ever since,” he said.