“Roberts Rankings”-Boys Basketball

The BCIAA boys basketball playoffs begin on Monday with quarterfinal action. If it’s anything like the regular season, the postseason should be a thrill ride! Here are my rankings for the Berks Conference. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow.

Rudy Tomjanovich once said, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion.” After struggling early in the season, Reading is rolling now. The Red Knights have won eight of their last nine games. They hammered Muhlenberg 83-46 for the Division 1 championship. Reading is trying for a three-peat in the BCIAA tournament.

Exeter remains second in my poll. The Eagles are riding a five-game winning streak which includes a 63-55 victory over Berks Catholic. If Exeter gets hot from beyond the arc, look out. The Saints traded places with Reading in my rankings. Berks Catholic has dropped two of its last three contests. Sophomore Kingston McKoy was a Player of the Year candidate in Berks County before suffering a fractured tibia.

Muhlenberg and Wilson have flip-flopped in my poll. The Muhls held off the Bulldogs 61-56 last week in Laureldale. Wilson has come up short in three of its last four games. Fleetwood stays put at #6. The Tigers earned their third straight Division 3 title.

Gov. Mifflin is back in the rankings after showing significant improvement since mid-January. The Mustangs took down Hempfield and Muhlenberg. They led Reading after the third quarter late last month. Schuylkill Valley is allowing just 49 points per game. The Panthers qualified for the BCIAA playoffs as the second place team from Division 3. The (8-14) Conrad Weiser Scouts fell out of my poll, but keep an eye on them next season. There’s a nice junior class in Robesonia.

“The Great 8”

1. Reading (15-7)

2. Exeter (15-7)

3. Berks Catholic (19-2)

4. Muhlenberg (13-8)

5. Wilson (14-8)

6. Fleetwood (19-2)

7. Gov. Mifflin (8-13)

8. Schuylkill Valley (15-5)