Laila Jones-Wilson

Laila Jones was an All-County selection as a freshman and sophomore. Wilson’s point guard missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Jones is back for her senior campaign which makes the Bulldogs the favorite in the BCIAA. They cruised to a 54-35 victory at Gov. Mifflin on Monday. “I feel great. It feels great to be back playing the sport I love with the teammates I love,” emphasized Jones. The 5’8 senior scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Wilson rattled off the first ten points. The (6-1) Bulldogs quickly built a 13-2 advantage against their rivals from Shillington. “I always take it personal. We gotta get the win,” said Jones of facing the Mustangs. She had seven points in the opening quarter and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the first half. “She’s a stabilizing force for us. She’s a player that makes everybody better around her…It’s huge for us to have her back,” remarked second-year head coach Matt Raquet.

Wilson was in front 15-7 after eight minutes and 30-16 at halftime. Jones provided seven points in the third quarter when she went 5-of-6 from the foul line. Ryan Leaman, a North Carolina lacrosse commit, gave the Bulldogs a boost with 14 points off the bench. “She can bring up the ball, push on transition, and give us the 3,” noted Jones. Leaman hit three of their six triples.

Kailani Hardy was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer a season ago when they went (20-10) and reached the second round of the state tournament. The 5’10 guard averaged 14 ppg. as a sophomore and was voted to the All-County team. Hardy was given the assignment of guarding Bella Super on Monday. The 5’7 junior was averaging 21 ppg. Super was a third team All-State pick in Class 6A last year. After scoring seven points in the first quarter, she was limited to two free throws the rest of the game. Raquet was thrilled with Hardy’s defensive effort. “It was unbelievable. I think she’s one of, if not thee best defender in the county. She shut her down tonight. She loves those matchups against the other team’s best player,” stated Raquet. Hardy also contributed eleven points, including nine in the second half. Wilson was on top 43-24 entering the final quarter.

Super is up to 938 career points. Jones isn’t far behind at 888. She’s averaging 14.3 ppg. this season. Violet Houck was a factor on both ends of the floor. The 6’ senior forward had 8 points and 11 rebounds. Houck is a three-time All-Division selection on the court and a record-setting hurdler on the track team. Bridget Martin finished with a team-high eleven points for the (4-3) Mustangs. Saray Renninger, a 5’10 sophomore, chipped in with nine points and Brooklyn George had six. Super, Martin, and George are all three-year starters for head coach Mike Clark. He’s won 319 games over 18 seasons, including four years at Oley Valley.

Gov. Mifflin struggled from long range. The Mustangs connected just three times from beyond the arc. They went 10-of-18 from the foul line, while the Bulldogs were 6-of-10. Wilson lost to Gov. Mifflin 60-56 in the BCIAA semifinals last season. The Bulldogs haven’t won a Berks County championship since 2014. “It’s definitely in my mind. We do not talk about it. We just stick to playing to our standards and taking it game by game,” said Jones.