Aaron – Berks Sports Report

Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

Paul Roberts — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:34:00 +0000

Delone Catholic has won seven District 3 championships and four state titles. Head coach Gerry Eckenrode has racked up 665 career victories including 587 over the past 25 years with the Squirettes. Over the past two seasons, however, Wyomissing’s defense has shut down mighty Delone Catholic. The Spartans allowed just 30 points last year when they claimed their first District 3 championship. On Thursday afternoon, it was deja vu all over again. Wyomissing defeated the top-seeded Squirettes 45-32 in the District 3-4A Final at the Giant Center. Head coach Aaron Anders was thrilled with how his team controlled the boards. “They did an unbelievable job of one shot and done. There’s not too many times where they got second shots,” he said. Anders stressed that being unselfish was another key factor. “These girls find each other. Whoever is open, they get it. They don’t care who’s scoring. It’s just a matter of the W,” he stressed. Amaya Stewart piled up 14 points and 18 rebounds. Audrey Hurleman provided ten points including eight in the second half. Annie McCaffrey, the lone senior in the starting lineup, added eight points. Sophomore guard Kacey Maggs gave the (28-0) Spartans an early boost with five points in the opening quarter. Wyomissing had a 13-8 cushion after eight minutes. Delone Catholic scored the first five points of the second quarter, but the Spartans ended the first half with a 9-0 run. They limited the (22-3) Squirettes to six points in the third quarter. Wyomissing was in front 33-19 entering the final period. Delone Catholic came into the game averaging 51 points. The Spartans’ defense has been suffocating all season. They held third-seeded Northern Lebanon to 15 points in the semifinals on Monday. The Squirettes were content to launch from the perimeter, while Wyomissing attacked the basket. Delone Catholic made six 3-pointers and six shots inside the arc. The Spartans hit just two triples. They were 6-of-6 from the free throw line. The Squirettes went 2-for-2 from the stripe. Wyomissing has won two straight BCIAA championships and back-to-back District 3 titles. This is uncharted territory for the program. The players and coaches are enjoying the ride. “It’s special. These kids believe in one another, play for one another and sell out every day,” said Anders.

Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

Paul Roberts — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 01:03:00 +0000

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.

Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

Paul Roberts — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 11:47:00 +0000

A 15-game winning streak, a 1,000-point scorer, and a trip to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. It’s been quite a season already for Wyomissing’s girls basketball team. Amaya Stewart surpassed 1,000 points on Saturday during a 43-36 victory over Middletown. The 6’1 junior reached the milestone on her birthday. Stewart is averaging 19 points per game with a team-high 15 3-pointers. “She’s taken a lot more of those shots and it’s because she’s capable of doing it. She puts the work in. She works on her craft so that’s the result,” said head coach Aaron Anders. Stewart, an All-State selection, made just six triples last year. The (15-0) Spartans returned three other starters from their Berks County and District 3-4A championship squad. Speedy point guard Alexis Hardy provides 7.5 ppg. Annie McCaffrey and Audrey Hurleman, both All-County soccer players, add toughness. They’re combining for 11 points a night. Wyomissing is suffocating on defense. The Spartans allow a mere 26 ppg. “They play for one another. It’s a lot of fun to see. They get after it and they enjoy it,” emphasized Anders. Wyomissing pitched a shutout in the fourth quarter against ELCO on December 18th. The Spartans and Raiders squared off on the 76ers’ home court. “It was a neat moment for all the kids…It’s one of those things where you check off the bucket list,” replied Anders. The boys and girls teams from both schools got to watch the Sixers take on the Bulls that night. Wyomissing has impressive non-league wins over Downingtown West, West York, and York Catholic. Many local fans are anticipating a matchup with Wilson at Santander Arena in the BCIAA Championship. The Bulldogs are (13-1). “They’re a young group and they’re very well coached. They’re a good team, but I don’t get caught up in that stuff,” said Anders. The former Antietam and Alvernia standout was named Berks County Coach of the Year a season ago. He guided the Spartans to a (28-3) record and their first BCIAA and District 3 titles. Expectations are high once again in Wyomissing and for good reason.

Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

Paul Roberts — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 11:29:00 +0000

Committing 22 turnovers and shooting 7-18 from the free throw line usually isn’t the formula to win a District 3 Championship. However, when you play defense like Wyomissing, anything is possible. The Spartans held top-seeded Delone Catholic scoreless for the final two minutes and twenty seconds of a 35-30 victory in the Class 4A Final. It’s the first District title in the history of Wyomissing’s girls basketball program. “I’m just really excited for these kids. They played an unbelievable game against a storied program and they matched the challenge,” said head coach Aaron Anders. The third-seeded Spartans jumped out to an 8-1 advantage after eight minutes. The (24-3) Squirettes battled back as you would expect from a seven-time District 3 champion with a legendary coach. Gerry Eckenrode has 642 career wins. He’s (564-147) over 24 years at Delone Catholic. They outscored Wyomissing 12-4 in the second quarter thanks to ten points from Kaitlyn Schwarz. The 5’11 junior forward finished with a game-high 14. Schwarz had five field goals. The rest of her team had just six. The Squirettes were held 21 points under their season average. Anders was thrilled with his team’s defense. “They just followed the script. They did such a great job of recognizing, communicating and talking on the defensive end,” he replied. The (26-2) Spartans dominated on the glass and limited Delone Catholic to one shot. Wyomissing trailed 22-21 after the third quarter. Annie McCaffrey found Audrey Hurleman for a layup with three minutes remaining. Hurleman, an all-county soccer player and defensive standout, provided ten points. She’s one of three sophomores in the starting lineup. Megan Jacoby answered with a 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Squirettes back on top 30-29 with 2:20 left. They were looking for their third straight Class 4A title. Hurleman sank a pair of foul shots with 1:11 to go for a 34-30 edge. Alexis Hardy went 1-2 from the stripe with 32 seconds to play for the final margin. The 5’5 sophomore chipped in with eight points. Wyomissing prevailed despite going 4-11 from the free line in the final period. Amaya Stewart led the Spartans with twelve points including two buckets in the fourth quarter. “She’s writing her story. She’s just an unbelievable player. She’s an unbelievable kid. She’s an unbelievable teammate. You’re gonna hear a lot more about Amaya Stewart,” emphasized Anders. The 6’1 sophomore was named the Berks County Player of the Year this season. Stewart powered Wyomissing to its first Berks League Championship. The Spartans are hoping to make more history when the state playoffs begin. They’ll host a first round matchup on Saturday.

Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

Paul Roberts — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:22:00 +0000

Wyomissing hadn’t made a 3-pointer all game. Amaya Stewart had only made four shots from beyond the arc all season. The beauty of sports is there isn’t a script. Stewart drilled a top of the key trey with six seconds remaining to give the Spartans a stunning 24-23 victory over rival Berks Catholic in the District 3-4A semifinals. The 6’1 sophomore had a team-high 13 points including seven of Wyomissing’s nine in the final quarter. “She is a complete player and she’s gonna continue to show people that day in and day out. Every game she shows a little bit more. She loves to play. She loves her teammates,” said head coach Aaron Anders. Stewart was recently voted the Berks County Player of the Year. The (25-2) Spartans trailed 8-5 at halftime and 16-15 after the third quarter. The Berks County champions were averaging 52 points. “That’s Coach Birmingham for you right there. He took everything that we do and made it really, really difficult,” remarked Anders. Birmingham is (636-305) over 34 seasons. He guided Holy Name to three District 3 titles. The (19-7) Saints were without 5’10 sophomore Sydney Corado for the second straight game due to an illness. They took a 15-7 lead in the third quarter, but #3 seed Wyomissing answered with an 8-0 run. Gianna Roberts splashed a 3-pointer with five minutes left to put second-seeded Berks Catholic on top 19-17. Caraline Herb made a short baseline jumper two and a-half minutes later for a 21-17 edge. The Chestnut Hill commit knocked down a pair of foul shots with 42 seconds to go. Herb, who finished with 13 points, gave the Saints a 23-19 advantage in front of a sold out crowd at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. After three consecutive turnovers, sophomore Madison Langdon missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 28 seconds left. A jumper by Stewart got the Spartans within 23-21 . Langdon, an all-division guard and 74% free throw shooter, couldn’t connect on another 1-and-1 opportunity with 15 seconds on the clock. That set the stage for Stewart’s heroics. Anders replied, “What an atmosphere…just so proud of these kids right now. Every time you interview me, I have trouble finding words. All I know is that we’re going to Hershey.” Wyomissing is making just its third appearance in the District 3 Final, and its first since 2004. The Spartans take on top-seeded and defending champ Delone Catholic at 11am on Thursday at the Giant Center. Wyomissing is looking for its first District 3 title. “I feel blessed and honored to be a coach in a community that I live in. I’m a blessed man,” stated Anders.

Aaron Anders-Wyomissing

Paul Roberts — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 09:05:00 +0000

As we get ready to ring in a new year, only one girls basketball team from Berks County remains undefeated. Wyomissing has rattled off eight straight wins in impressive fashion. The Spartans are averaging 54 points while allowing just 26.5 per game. “They’re doing a great job whether it’s on ball [or] whether it’s help defense. They’re doing a nice job locking down,” said head coach Aaron Anders. Wyomissing has a combination of very talented underclassmen along with three seniors. There are nine sophomores on the roster. “They love each other, and as a coach that’s all you can ask for. When you have that camaraderie, there’s so much more that you can accomplish,” stated Anders. One thing the Spartans are trying to accomplish is bringing a county title to Wyomissing. That hasn’t been done in the history of the program. Anders replied, “It’s pretty exciting when you could be the first team to do something like that. We talk about that a lot and the kids buy in. They’re working hard towards that.” The Spartans reached the county championship game in 2001 and 2021, Anders’ first season at the helm. He was a two-time, all-county selection at Antietam. Anders went on to play at Alvernia and was a captain on the 1997 squad that reached the Division III Final Four. He’s now working with a very promising sophomore in Amaya Stewart. The 6’1 forward is averaging a team-high 15.6 points and nearly nine rebounds. Stewart was an all-division pick a season ago. “She’s got a really, really high ceiling and she just continues to get better and better. I’m super excited to see how she grows and develops. She’s gonna be special,” said Anders. Alexis Hardy, who’s also part of the sophomore class, is contributing 12 points a night. Seniors Maddie Campbell, Lexi Loeb, and Kaitlyn Brunner provide valuable experience. Campbell has started for four years and Loeb is a three-year starter. The 5’3 guard led Wyomissing with 42 treys last season. The Spartans finished the 2021-22 campaign at (13-10, 7-4). They were in second place in Division 3 behind Schuylkill Valley. Wyomissing beat the Panthers 42-31 two weeks ago with Stewart dropping a career-high 23 points. The Spartans return to action on Tuesday against (5-1) York Catholic. Wyomissing lost in the first round of the Berks County and District 3-4A playoffs last year. The Spartans have much higher hopes for this season.