Berks Catholic – Berks Sports Report https://berkssportsreport.com Paul Roberts Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:13:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Henry Pflomm-Berks Catholic https://berkssportsreport.com/henry-pflomm-berks-catholic/ Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:12:17 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5512 Henry Pflomm has a unique arm slot. The Berks Catholic senior right-hander was one out away from a complete game in a 10-2 victory over Wyomissing on Wednesday. “The fall of my sophomore year, I really wanted to start making an impact on my travel team. I found pitching sidearm was a way I could be effective and it’s been evolving,” explained Pflomm. He held the (4-3) Spartans to two runs, one earned, on four hits over 6.2 innings. “He was able to mix up his pitches for strikes. He threw the splitter for a strike. He threw the slider for a strike so we were able to throw that behind in the count or start off a hitter with that. He kept the ball down most of the game,” noted head coach Tom Frees. Pflomm finished with 101 pitches. He had five strikeouts and three walks. Two of the hits that he gave up were infield singles. “The key for me was getting ahead early so I could have everything on the table,” emphasized Pflomm.

The (4-3) Saints put up two runs on three hits and a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning. Dom Valent got things started with a single up the middle off senior Chase Bailey. Valent scored on a groundout to second by first team All-State pick Owen Schalk. Victor Mejia made it 2-0 with a RBI double down the left field line. Wyomissing got one run back in the top of the second thanks to two errors. Berks Catholic didn’t commit another error the rest of the game. The Saints tacked on two runs in the fourth for a 4-1 cushion. Gio DiSabatino and Valent provided RBI singles.

Senior southpaw Ryan Graham took over for Bailey in the fifth. Bailey allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Aidan Curley walked with one out in the fifth. After stealing second, he came home on a two-out single up the middle by Pflomm. Berks Catholic ended up with eight hits from six different players. Curley and Valent each had two hits and a walk.

The Saints blew it open with five runs in the sixth inning. After an error, freshman Austin Acevedo was hit by a pitch and Valent walked to load the bases with no outs. A bloop single to center by Jack Wentzel made it 6-1. Schalk walked to force in another run and a wild pitch gave Berks Catholic a 8-1 advantage. Curley then ripped a two-run single to left field. Graham was charged with six runs, five earned, on three hits in two innings. He walked three batters and struck out two. The Alvernia commit had two of the Spartans’ four hits. Graham was a second team All-State selection in Class 3A a season ago. He’s 13-for-23 with a team-high 11 RBI this year.

Sophomore Bennett Ernst came off the bench and knocked in a run with a groundout to third in the seventh. Pflomm reached the limit on pitches so Schalk got the final out. Pflomm has an interesting perspective on the rivalry with Wyomissing. “It’s probably one of the biggest in the county. I went to Wyomissing as a child so it’s different being on the other side, but I love it over here. I wouldn’t want it any other way,” he remarked. The Saints and Spartans tied for first place in Division 3 last spring with (9-3) league records.

Berks Catholic won 20 games in 2025 under Brandon Shurr. The Saints beat top-seeded Bermudian Springs 8-0 in the District 3-3A Championship. They advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Berks Catholic is searching for consistency this season. “I think this has to be the turning point. We were talking before the game how something has to change here. We haven’t played our best baseball. I’m pretty confident we can turn it around,” replied Pflomm. He added, “I know that we can make a deep run. I know what we have. They’re a great bunch of guys. We have a lot of talent.”

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Baseball Scoreboard-April 1st https://berkssportsreport.com/baseball-scoreboard-april-1st/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:39:42 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5499 Wilson defeated rival Gov. Mifflin 8-1. We will have a full game story and interview with winning pitcher Jack Gabel.

Exeter beat Reading 10-3. Mason Goodhart threw a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts. Brenton Feathers had two hits and drove in three runs.

Fleetwood scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to top Conrad Weiser 10-3. Ty Kleppinger finished with four hits. Wylie Loy struck out a dozen over 6.2 innings.

Hamburg lost to Wyomissing 7-3. Designated hitter Noah Rauenzahn knocked in four runs.

Oley Valley got past Kutztown 4-1. Tim Fries went the distance with 13 strikeouts and no walks. He allowed three hits and one unearned run.

Berks Catholic blew out Antietam 13-3 in six innings. The Saints piled up 13 hits. Aidan Curley had a triple and 3 RBI.

Schuylkill Valley outlasted Tulpehocken 10-7. The Panthers scored six times in the bottom of the sixth. Bryce Bailey provided a pair of hits and 2 RBI.

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“Roberts Rankings”-Boys Basketball https://berkssportsreport.com/roberts-rankings-boys-basketball-20/ Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:45:22 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5478 The high school basketball season, which started on December 5th, has come to a close for teams in the BCIAA. A lot of memories were made during the 2025-26 campaign. There were thrilling overtime classics, game-winning shots at the buzzer, and plenty of standout performances. Colgate commit Kingston McKoy of Berks Catholic was voted the Berks County Player of the Year for the second straight season. I’ve been fortunate to cover 52 games so far, and I’m looking forward to attending the PIAA Championships again next week at the Giant Center in Hershey. Hopefully, I will see some of you there.

Berks Catholic won its first county title since 2018. The Saints went on to capture their seventh District 3 crown and second in a row at Class 4A. Snip Esterly will enter next season with 865 career victories.

Reading was the runner-up in the BCIAA tournament after falling to Berks Catholic 62-57 in overtime at Santander Arena. Jostin DeCastro, Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones, Javon Merriweather, Jamier Jacob, and Raybin Rubio will all be back for Rick Perez.

Exeter knocked off Wilson 43-41 in the Berks County quarterfinals thanks to Aidan Dauble’s bucket with one second left. The Eagles qualified for the PIAA field for the fifth consecutive year.

The Bulldogs advanced to the state playoffs for the fifth time in the past eight seasons. Wilson has a talented group of sophomores to keep an eye on. Matt Coldren holds the school record with 449 wins.

A promising season in Laureldale ended in a flash. The Muhls dropped a nailbiter to rival Reading 60-57 in the BCIAA semifinals. Muhlenberg was eliminated in the first round of the District 3-6A bracket by #13 seed Cedar Crest. The Falcons stunned the Muhls 66-60 in overtime. The good news is that Eli Hemmings, LJ Armstrong, and Nelson “Coco” Malave will return.

Schuylkill Valley defeated Wyomissing 63-52 to reach the District 3 semifinals for just the second time. The Panthers made their third appearance in the PIAA tournament.

Antietam finished on top of the Division 4 standings. The Mounts blew out Wyomissing 61-40 in a key crossover matchup on January 8th. Antietam’s season ended with a 87-71 loss to Lancaster Catholic in the District 3-3A third place game.

The Spartans overcame some midseason turmoil to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2011. Second-year head coach Konlan Krick deserves credit for keeping his troops together after two starters quit. Wyomissing took fifth place in the District 3-4A field.

Gov. Mifflin receives an honorable mention. The (10-12) Mustangs didn’t have a single bad loss on their resume. Life in Division 1 of the BCIAA is no picnic.

Without further ado, here is the final edition of the “Roberts Rankings” for the Berks Conference. Remember that no matter where your favorite team is ranked, the sun will come out tomorrow!

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (25-3)

2.Reading (18-8)

3.Exeter (18-11)

4.Wilson (17-11)

5.Muhlenberg (16-8)

6. Schuylkill Valley (16-11)

7.Antietam (16-9)

8.Wyomissing (16-11)

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PIAA Basketball Scoreboard https://berkssportsreport.com/piaa-basketball-scoreboard/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 13:15:02 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5474 The first round of the PIAA basketball tournament wasn’t kind to teams from Berks County. The boys teams that qualified from the BCIAA went (0-5) in the opening round. High Point Baptist from Birdsboro did advance to the second round in the Class A bracket. The Eagles beat Lincoln Leadership Academy 41-27. High Point Baptist will face Phil-Mont Christian on Tuesday at 6pm at Pottstown. Wilson’s girls team is also moving forward. The (28-2) Bulldogs will meet Cardinal O’Hara from the Philadelphia Catholic League in the second round. They square off at Coatesville on Tuesday at 6pm. Here are the results from the first round.

Class 6A:

The Wilson boys fell at New Castle 68-38. The Bulldogs finished (17-11).

The Wilson girls defeated Conestoga 59-46 in West Lawn.

The Gov. Mifflin girls battled District 7 champion Canon-McMillan down to the wire, but the (18-9) Mustangs came up short 48-46.

Class 5A:

Exeter ran into a buzz saw at Chartiers Valley. The Colts went 15-of-28 from 3-point range. The (18-11) Eagles lost 66-42.

Class 4A:

Berks Catholic was upset by Carver High School of Engineering & Science 40-35 at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. The Saints end their season at (25-3).

Schuylkill Valley got tripped up by District 2 champion Scranton Prep 65-48. The (16-11) Panthers made their third appearance in the PIAA playoffs.

Wyomissing fell to Archbishop Carroll from the Philadelphia Catholic League 77-52. The Spartans finished (16-11).

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Carver E&S ends Berks Catholic’s Season https://berkssportsreport.com/carver-es-ends-berks-catholics-season/ Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:23:48 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5472 When the PIAA-4A boys basketball bracket was released, Berks Catholic coach Snip Esterly was well aware that the Saints had a tough draw. Carver High School of Engineering and Science forfeited in the Philadelphia Public League quarterfinals after an altercation on the court. The Engineers were leading Constitution by twelve points with one minute remaining. They ended up getting the fifth seed out of District 12. “That’s not a #5 seed,” said Esterly. Berks Catholic was familiar with Carver E&S. They squared off at Exeter’s tip-off tournament with the Saints pulling out a 53-49 win. In January, Carver E&S took District 12 champion Imhotep Charter to overtime before falling 65-57. The Engineers lost a nailbiter to District 1-6A champ Plymouth-Whitemarsh 51-50. Esterly knew his team would have its hands full. Carver E&S held Berks Catholic to five points in the fourth quarter and knocked off the Saints 40-35 at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. “It was a great game, both teams battled. We knew what we were walking into. It feels amazing,” remarked head coach Dustin Hardy-Moore.

Berks Catholic came out hot on Friday with four 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Kingston McKoy and Carmelo Harper hit back-to-back triples to put the Saints in front 16-10. Fareed Brown, a first team selection in the Public League, picked up two fouls in the first quarter and didn’t play the rest of the half. The 5’9 senior guard averages a team-high 13 points and four assists. Matt McField, another first team pick in the Public League, stepped up with Brown on the bench. The 6’ senior guard scored eight points in the first eight minutes and drilled two treys. However, the Engineers trailed 16-12 entering the second period.

Oye “Junior” Guilavogui splashed a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 20-14. That was the only shot Berks Catholic made in the entire quarter. Carver E&S struggled on the offensive end as well. The Engineers outscored the Saints 6-4 in the period to pull within 20-18 at halftime. Brown connected on a jumper to begin the third quarter. A spin move by McKoy gave the Saints a 30-24 cushion with 2:20 left in the quarter. Berks Catholic was limited to five points over the final ten minutes. Samir Roberts-Mouzon came off the bench and nailed a triple from the right wing at the buzzer. His only field goal of the contest evened things up at 30-30.

A layup by Brown started the fourth quarter. His three-point play with 6:42 to go put Carver E&S on top 35-31. McKoy, a Colgate commit, threw down a breakaway dunk with just under four minutes left. That was the only shot the Saints made in the last quarter. Sahin Rodriguez, a 6’3 senior forward, went to work in the low post with 2:45 on the clock. His bucket provided the Engineers with a 37-33 edge. McKoy connected twice from the free throw line to make it 38-35 with 2:03 remaining. Roberts-Mouzon missed a pair of foul shots with 48 seconds to play. Carver E&S committed a turnover with 29 seconds left, but Berks Catholic didn’t take advantage. McKoy got trapped in the left corner which led to a steal by the Engineers. McField finished off a 2-on-1 fast break to ice it with four seconds on the clock.

The Saints were held 24 points below their season average of 59 ppg. “They really doubled Kingston. When we had some guys that were open, we just didn’t hit the shot,” explained Esterly. Berks Catholic connected seven times from long range, but just twice after halftime. Carver E&S made three 3-pointers and went 11-for-15 from the foul line. The Saints were 4-for-6 from the stripe. McKoy poured in a game-high 19 points. The two-time All-State guard wrapped up an outstanding career with 1,679 points. McKoy averaged 22 ppg. this year. Harper, a 6’1 sophomore, chipped in with nine points and Johnny Giesa had four. McField led the (21-6) Engineers with 14 points. Rodriguez added nine points and Brown had seven in limited minutes due to early foul trouble.

Berks Catholic ends its campaign with a mark of (25-3). The Saints, who reached the state final a season ago, saw their 19-game winning streak come to a halt. They did bring home BCIAA and District 3-4A championships this winter. “I’m so proud of them, the way they developed over the last two years. We just came up short tonight,” replied Esterly.

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PIAA Boys Basketball Preview https://berkssportsreport.com/piaa-boys-basketball-preview/ Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:24:43 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5470 The PIAA boys basketball tournament tips off on Friday. Five teams from the BCIAA qualified for the state playoffs this year. Find out what their head coaches are saying as they prepare for some difficult matchups. From here on out, it’s win or go home.

Wilson visits District 7 runner-up New Castle on Saturday at 1pm. The (17-10) Bulldogs are in the state bracket for the fifth time in the past eight years. They defeated Cedar Crest 48-36 to finish seventh in the District 3-6A field. Shippensburg football commit Correll Akings is averaging a team-high 11.5 points per game. The 5’9 guard is the only returning starter for Wilson. He reached 1,000 career points in a 50-45 loss at Red Lion in the District 3 quarterfinals. The (23-2) Hurricanes fell 52-51 to Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL Championship. Their only other loss was by two points against Pine-Richland on January 30th. “They’re probably the most well-rounded team that we have faced this season. They can play fast and be effective. They can also be effective in the half-court. When you have three guys that can score from all three levels, it makes them extremely hard to defend. We’re looking forward to the challenge,” replied Bulldogs’ coach Matt Coldren. He added that freshman Marino Graham is the best point guard that he’s seen this year. Graham is also the starting quarterback at New Castle. He threw for 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns during the fall. Graham ran for another 856 yards and 11 TD.

Exeter is making its fifth consecutive trip to the PIAA tournament. The (18-10) Eagles earned the ninth and final berth from District 3. They won elimination games versus ELCO, Greencastle-Antrim, and Red Land. Aidan Dauble, a 1,000-point scorer and Shippensburg football commit, leads Exeter at 14.6 ppg. The 6’3, 215-pound senior is also an excellent rebounder. The Eagles have a balanced attack with Dylan Donate, Jayden Ware, and Braylon Reinert each providing 10-to-12 points a night. They head west to battle District 7-5A champion Chartiers Valley on Friday at 6pm. The (23-2) Colts ran over Thomas Jefferson 63-37 in the WPIAL Final. Luca Federico, a lean 6’5 sophomore, exploded for 31 points and eight boards. Moon and Fox Chapel are the only teams to beat Chartiers Valley this season. “Chartiers Valley is a very good, well-coached team. They have five guys in the lineup who can all shoot it and play hard defensively. We also have veteran players who have not only played in, but won games in the state tournament. I know they’re excited about the opportunity to compete against another good program on the western side of Pennsylvania,” noted Exeter coach Jeff VanGorder.

Wyomissing has advanced to the state playoffs for the first time since 2011. The (16-10) Spartans cruised by Oley Valley 67-44 in an elimination contest last week. Wyomissing ended up in fifth place in the District 3-4A tournament. Point guard Dom Arguelles is putting up 17.8 ppg. this year. The All-County selection loves to attack the basket. Sophomore Brady Eisenhower gives the Spartans a threat from beyond the arc. He’s connected 36 times from long range. Daniel Moyer, a 6’ senior forward, is averaging 13.3 points. Wyomissing travels to Radnor on Friday to take on Archbishop Carroll from the mighty Philadelphia Catholic League. They will get underway at 7pm. Don’t be fooled by the Patriots’ record of (14-10). They’ve faced an extremely challenging schedule. “They’re a very good team from one of the top leagues in the state. We look forward to playing them,” stated Spartans’ second-year coach Konlan Krick. Archbishop Carroll knocked off PCL champion Father Judge, Neumann-Goretti, and Bonner-Prendergast in January. Father Judge won the PIAA-6A title a season ago. Neumann-Goretti has claimed ten state crowns in its history. The Patriots had three players named to the second team in the PCL this year in Nasir Ralls, Ian Williams, and sophomore Yasir Turner.

Schuylkill Valley is making its third appearance in the state bracket. Despite losing its top three scorers to graduation, the (16-10) Panthers reached the District 3-4A semifinals for the first time in 22 years. They took third place with a 60-52 victory over Big Spring. Schuylkill Valley has a balanced squad with no one averaging more than 11 points per game. Josiah Urbaez and Alex Aletras have been sparks off the bench. Logan Cammauf, an All-State linebacker, provides some muscle and 10 ppg. The Panthers hit the road on Friday to square off with Scranton Prep at 7pm. The (20-5) Cavaliers took down Dallas 68-52 in the District 2-4A Championship. Sophomore guard Chicky Skoff poured in 28 points and hit three triples. Scranton Prep brought home its eighth District title since 2017. The Cavaliers allowed just 14 points in the second half. “Prep has multiple guards who can shoot consistently from the perimeter and score putting the ball on the floor. Their defensive ball pressure causes turnovers and they’re really strong scoring in transition,” explained Schuylkill Valley coach Taylor Grim. The Cavaliers dropped a nailbiter to Berks Catholic 51-47 in the second round of last year’s PIAA-4A tournament.

Speaking of Berks Catholic, the Saints meet a familiar foe at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium on Friday at 6pm. They battle Carver High School of Engineering & Science from Philadelphia. Berks Catholic beat the Engineers 53-49 in its season opener at the CoBL Winter Showcase at Exeter. The Saints trailed by five points at halftime. Kingston McKoy took over with 28 points and four 3-pointers. Fareed Brown had a team-high 17 points for Carver E&S. The 5’9 senior averages nearly 14 points and 4 assists. Matt McField (13 ppg.) and Billy Henighan (12 ppg.) are also capable scorers for the Engineers. Carver E&S forfeited its Public League quarterfinal against Constitution due to an altercation. The (20-6) Engineers were up twelve points with one minute remaining when one of their players was pushed. His teammates left the bench and fans came on the court. Carver E&S was ruled eligible for the PIAA tournament and was given the fifth and final seed in District 12-4A. Meanwhile, Berks Catholic outlasted Reading and then Bishop McDevitt in the BCIAA and District 3-4A Finals. Both of those instant classics went to overtime. “I think it builds so much confidence in these guys. We never think we’re out of it,” remarked longtime coach Snip Esterly. He’s (52-30) all-time in the PIAA playoffs. Esterly has 865 career victories over 37 years. The Saints lost to Devon Prep 55-39 in the state championship game a season ago. Berks Catholic is making its 12th appearance in the PIAA tournament.

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Snip Esterly-Berks Catholic https://berkssportsreport.com/snip-esterly-berks-catholic-13/ Sat, 28 Feb 2026 18:47:30 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5461 The District 3-4A Championship lived up to the hype. Top-seeded Berks Catholic and second-seeded Bishop McDevitt put on a show for the fans at Garden Spot High School on Friday. They even gave an encore. The (25-2) Saints outlasted the (21-4) Crusaders 58-52 in overtime. “All I can say is these kids have a heart of gold. I’ll tell you what, they won’t let us lose,” remarked head coach Snip Esterly. Colgate commit Kingston McKoy was the star of this intense drama. The 6’4 senior guard poured in 35 points, including 17 after the third quarter. “I’m so spoiled because I get to see him every day at practice. I’m running out of adjectives to speak about Kingston. What a great performance in a championship game,” emphasized Esterly. Berks Catholic earned its seventh District 3 title and second in a row. The Saints are a perfect (7-0) all-time in District 3 Finals.

McKoy, a two-time All-State selection, drilled a pair of 3-pointers and made a layup to put Bishop McDevitt in an early 18-8 hole. The two-time BCIAA Player of the Year squeezed nine points into the opening quarter. Berks Catholic led 18-10 after eight minutes. The Crusaders went on a 9-0 run to pull within 22-21 with 1:21 left in the first half. The action heated up before the break with Kenyon Portee throwing down a breakaway dunk. The 6’2 junior guard entered the night averaging 16 ppg. Portee, a transfer from Trinity, had 20 points in Bishop McDevitt’s 64-46 rout of Big Spring in the semifinals. Brady Altimar answered with a trey from the right wing in the final seconds to even the score at 25-25.

Portee began the third quarter by hitting a triple, the first of the game for the Crusaders. He then found Ethan Hammer for a layup and a 30-25 edge. Hammer, a 6’ senior, finished with a team-high 16 points. Portee and Pat Denisco added ten points apiece. McKoy splashed another 3-pointer with 3:35 remaining in the period to put the Saints on top 34-32. Berks Catholic connected eight times from beyond the arc, while Bishop McDevitt was limited to three shots from long range. The Saints had a slim 37-33 cushion after the third quarter.

Portee started the final period with a three-point play. Denisco, a 5’10 senior, came alive in the fourth quarter. He hit a triple from the right wing and then dished the ball to Hammer for a layup on a 2-on-1 break. Denisco then drained a pull-up jumper to give the Crusaders a 45-44 lead with 2:42 to go. After McKoy dropped off a pass to Johnny Giesa for a bucket, Denisco delivered another 3-pointer from the right wing. Bishop McDevitt was up 48-46 with 1:36 to play, but a layup by McKoy knotted things up. Dom Baker grabbed an offensive rebound and put it home with 46 seconds on the clock. The 6’3 freshman chipped in with nine points off the bench. McKoy drove to the basket and was fouled with 25 seconds left. He went 2-for-2 to tie it at 50-50. Portee’s off-balance scoop shot rimmed out with one second remaining. This instant classic would be decided in overtime.

McKoy started the extra session with a floater in the middle of the lane. He powered his way to the basket and scored again with 1:32 to go. After Portee was called for traveling, Gavin Welker made a pair of free throws for a 56-50 advantage with 56 seconds to play. Baker knocked down two foul shots to get the Crusaders within 56-52. Those would be their only points in overtime. Following two missed free throws by Giesa, Baker was unable to finish a drive down the right side of the lane. McKoy sealed the deal with two more foul shots with 14 seconds left. He ended up 15-of-18 from the stripe. “He should’ve got there 30 times,” stated Esterly. Berks Catholic was 18-of-25 from the foul line, while Bishop McDevitt went 9-of-11.

Altimar had eight points, including a couple of 3-pointers. Carmelo Harper helped the cause with seven points and Welker provided five. The Saints are (37-9) all-time in the District 3 playoffs. Esterly picked up his 16th District 3 championship over 37 years. Berks Catholic will head to the state tournament riding a 19-game winning streak. “I think it builds so much confidence in these guys. We never think we’re out of it. There was a time it looked dim when they took a lead, but we came storming back,” said Esterly.

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Carmelo Harper-Berks Catholic https://berkssportsreport.com/carmelo-harper-berks-catholic-2/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:19:06 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5453 Carmelo Harper said that Berks Catholic head coach Snip Esterly has been pretty “chill” lately. That’s understandable considering the Saints beat Eastern York by 30 points last Friday in the District 3-4A quarterfinals. Berks Catholic entered Tuesday riding a 17-game winning streak. However, Esterly was far from chill at halftime at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. After trailing 16-0, Schuylkill Valley pulled within 25-22 late in the second quarter of the District 3-4A semifinal. “He said a lot. He told us we can’t take them as an easy team…He was intense,” emphasized Harper. The top-seeded Saints got the message loud and clear. They outscored the fifth-seeded Panthers 20-to-4 in the third quarter and cruised to a 62-35 victory. Esterly earned his 864th win over 37 years.

Harper, Kingston McKoy, Brady Altimar, and Gavin Welker each knocked down a 3-pointer to put Berks Catholic on top 16-0 after six minutes. Schuylkill Valley was scoreless until Zach Reeser hit a triple with a minute left in the opening quarter. Alex Aletras came off the Panthers’ bench and sank a trey from the left wing at the buzzer to make it 18-6. That shot ignited a 19-to-7 run for Schuylkill Valley. The (15-10) Panthers were making their second appearance in the District 3 semifinals and their first since 2004. They got hot from long range in the second quarter, drilling four 3-pointers. Aletras buried two more triples in that period. Reeser and Derek Grim also connected from downtown. The (24-2) Saints managed to stop the bleeding with the final five points of the half. McKoy found Johnny Giesa underneath the basket for a layup before the buzzer and a 30-22 advantage.

Welker made a trey from the left corner and then a layup to put Berks Catholic in front 39-25 with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter. The 6’3 senior forward finished with eight points. “He’s very important. He can shoot it,” noted Harper. Altimar drained another 3-pointer midway through the third period. After a turnover by Schuylkill Valley, Altimar fed McKoy for a layup and a 44-25 cushion. The Saints increased the margin to 50-26 entering the fourth quarter. Eight of McKoy’s 18 points came in the third period. The 6’4 senior guard is up to 1,625 career points. The Colgate commit was recently voted the BCIAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. “He’s a very poised player, he’s humble. Every practice, he’s pushing all of us. He just wants to win most importantly. He makes sure nobody is slacking,” explained Harper.

The Panthers were held to 13 points in the second half. All six of their 3-pointers came before halftime. “We were communicating more on defense. In the first half, we weren’t communicating so they were getting open 3s,” replied Harper. Aletras had a team-high eleven points and Reeser added ten. The junior guards combined for five triples. Berks Catholic made eight shots from beyond the arc. The Saints were 6-for-6 from the foul line, while Schuylkill Valley went 3-for-5. Harper provided 16 points. The 6’1 sophomore guard got off to a quick start with seven points in the first eight minutes. Giesa chipped in with eight points and Altimar had six.

These teams also met in the BCIAA quarterfinals with Berks Catholic prevailing 58-42. The Panthers will host Big Spring in the District 3-4A third place game on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Saints square off with #2 seed Bishop McDevitt in the championship on Friday at 7pm at Garden Spot. Berks Catholic is the defending champion. The Saints are searching for their seventh District 3 title. The Crusaders are looking for their fifth crown and first since 2019.

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All-Berks Boys Basketball Team https://berkssportsreport.com/all-berks-boys-basketball-team-3/ Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:21:40 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5450 Snip Esterly and Kingston McKoy of Berks Catholic were selected as the 2025-26 Coach of the Year and Player of the Year in Berks County. Voting was done by the coaches in the BCIAA. Esterly has led the Saints to a record of (23-2) this winter. They’ve won 17 consecutive games. Berks Catholic captured its first BCIAA Championship since 2018. The Saints outlasted Reading 62-57 in overtime at Santander Arena. Berks Catholic is the #1 seed in the District 3-4A tournament. The Saints host Schuylkill Valley in the semifinals on Tuesday at 6pm.

McKoy is a repeat choice as the Berks Conference Player of the Year. The Colgate commit is averaging 22.1 points this season with a team-high 46 triples. The 6’4 senior guard is also a standout defensive player. McKoy finished with 29 points in the BCIAA Championship. He has 1,607 career points.

Here’s the 2025-26 All-County team:

Kingston McKoy-Berks Catholic-Sr. (POY)

Jostin DeCastro-Reading-Jr.

Aidan Dauble-Exeter-Sr.

Eli Hemmings-Muhlenberg-Jr.

Mason Senna-Fleetwood-Sr.

Dom Arguelles-Wyomissing-Sr.

AJ Scheifley-Antietam-Sr.

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Brady Altimar-Berks Catholic https://berkssportsreport.com/brady-altimar-berks-catholic/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:10:39 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=5430 Brady Altimar is averaging 3.7 points per game. He was just 6-of-15 from the free throw line this season entering Friday’s BCIAA Championship at Santander Arena. When his team needed him most, the 5’9 senior guard came through. Altimar splashed a 3-pointer from the left corner to tie the game with 2:17 left in overtime. He then drained a pair of foul shots to put top-seeded Berks Catholic in front of third-seeded Reading 59-57 with 1:39 remaining. “What a big time shot that was and then the free throws. They were pure as can be. Brady is a great shooter. He shoots the lights out at practice. We’re trying to get him to shoot more,” noted head coach Snip Esterly. The (22-2) Saints defeated the (18-7) Red Knights 62-57 for their first Berks County title since 2018. Berks Catholic extended its winning streak to 16 games.

Altimar, who finished with seven points, said it was one of the best games that he’s ever played in. “It’s definitely top 5. Reading is always a tough team. They play good defense, they hustle, and they play hard. It was a great game,” replied Altimar. Esterly, who earned career win #862 over 37 years, agreed that this was an instant classic. “I’m not gonna say it was the best [BCIAA] Final ever, but it was a great game,” he emphasized. Altimar mentioned that most people have the wrong impression of Esterly. “Everyone thinks he’s just mean and yells, but he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He always asks how I’m doing. He’s probably the best coach I’ve ever had,” stated Altimar. Esterly has nine Berks Conference championships on his resume, including four with the Saints.

Both teams came out on fire. Kingston McKoy hit two triples in the opening quarter and Berks Catholic led 19-16 after eight action-packed minutes. Before the second quarter began, there was a delay to replace one of the nets. The scoring slowed down considerably in second period as the Red Knights built a 26-21 advantage. The Saints were held to two points until Oye “Junior” Guilavogui drained a trey from the left corner with six seconds to go. The senior guard had 16 points in the Saints’ 68-47 rout of Reading on January 31st at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. The Red Knights took their first meeting 48-40 at the Geigle Complex on December 29th.

McKoy started the second half with five quick points. His three-point play put Berks Catholic in front 29-26. The Colgate commit and two-time All-State pick poured in 29 points, including eleven in the third quarter. Carmelo Harper, a 6’1 sophomore guard, added 14 points. “He’s gonna be good. He’s frying everybody. It’s gonna be scary for the county next year,” remarked Altimar. Harper sank a 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 32-28 with 6:27 to play in the third period. Reading responded and took a 33-32 lead on Raybin Rubio’s three-point play. The 6’1 sophomore guard was recently inserted into the starting lineup. The Saints answered with a 8-0 run. Guilavogui, who chipped in with eight points, and McKoy drilled shots from beyond the arc to give Berks Catholic a 40-33 cushion with 4:36 left in the third quarter. Weshly Rosario, the lone senior starter for the Red Knights, made a short jumper at the buzzer to even things up at 45-45. Rosario and sophomore Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones contributed twelve points apiece. Jamier Jacob had nine points, while Jostin DeCastro was limited to eight. The 6’3 junior guard came into Friday averaging 20.8 ppg.

McKoy opened the fourth quarter with a triple from the top of the key. He found Johnny Giesa for a layup and a 50-47 edge with just over six minutes remaining. McKoy went 2-for-2 from the stripe with 3:24 to go. Reading trailed 54-48 before scoring the next six points. DeCastro split a pair of foul shots with 1:24 on the clock to tie it at 54-54. The Red Knights missed five free throws in the fourth quarter. They were 12-for-19 overall, while the Saints knocked down eight of their nine attempts.

Berks Catholic held the ball for one final shot. McKoy drove down the right side of the lane with five seconds to play. Rosario got a piece of the ball as McKoy was going up and his layup rolled off the rim. In overtime, Jones buried a trey from the right wing with 2:49 on the clock. That was Reading’s only 3-pointer all night. It would also be the last time they scored. Altimar responded thirty seconds later with a long range strike of his own. “Kingston and all my teammates were telling me to keep shooting it, shoot it with confidence. I got open in the corner and let it fly,” he said. It was the tenth 3-pointer for the Saints who played without 6’3 senior forward Gavin Welker for the second straight game due to a school-related issue. Altimar’s clutch free throws made it 59-57. After sophomore Javon Merriweather misfired on a triple from the top of the key, McKoy went 2-for-2 from the stripe with thirty seconds left. The Red Knights were down 61-57 when they committed a turnover with 16 seconds remaining. McKoy split a couple of foul shots for the final margin. The Colgate commit is up to 1,583 career points.

Berks Catholic outscored Reading 8-to-3 in overtime. Both teams did a terrific job of taking care of the basketball. There were only 15 combined turnovers and just seven by the Saints. This heavyweight battle lived up to the hype.

The Red Knights will face #12 seed York High on Tuesday at 7pm at the Geigle Complex in the first round of the District 3-6A playoffs. The Saints don’t play again until Friday, February 20th. They host #8 seed Eastern York at 6pm in the District 3-4A quarterfinals. Berks Catholic blew out Eastern York 67-44 in the District 3-4A Championship last year. It was the sixth District 3 crown for the Saints. Altimar is confident that they will have a long postseason run. “We’re gonna win District’s. We’re gonna go far in State’s too,” he stated.

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