Bulldogs – Berks Sports Report

Correll Akings-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:39:26 +0000

Expectations are always high on Grandview Boulevard in West Lawn. Wilson’s football team currently holds the state record with 49 consecutive winning seasons. The Bulldogs have racked up 611 all-time wins and haven’t had a losing year since 1963. “You definitely try not to think about it, but it’s human nature to think about all the things that could be lost. You don’t want to be that class to lose it,” acknowledged Correll Akings. The 5’10, 170-pound senior is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs. He was also an All-County selection in basketball. Akings ran for 1,078 yards and scored 18 touchdowns last fall. He was a weapon out of the backfield with 27 catches in a very balanced attack. “It definitely makes it harder to guard us on offense. You have to counter the run and the pass. It’s a lot to deal with at once,” replied Akings.

Akings will have a new quarterback throwing to him this season. Mason Young, a 6’2 senior, takes over for All-State pick Madyx Gruber. “I feel like he’s ready to play,” said Akings. Young looked sharp in Wilson’s scrimmage with Coatesville. He had a 75-yard touchdown run and hit All-State tight end Mike Glover for a long score. Glover is a physical presence at 6’3 and 223 pounds. “His patterns are getting that much crisper. His hands are getting that much better,” noted Akings. The Bulldogs are still ironing out the offensive line, but Jesse Etchberger and Avery Manara return up front.

Wilson returns five starters on offense and six on defense from a squad that went (11-2, 6-0). The Bulldogs captured the Section 1 title in the Lancaster-Lebanon League with a resounding 34-16 victory at Manheim Township. They lost to powerhouse Harrisburg 42-14 in the District 3-6A Championship. Inside linebackers E.J. Brownback and Ethan Harding are back, along with an experienced secondary. Akings will spend time at corner with speedy senior Jaiden Carpenter and promising sophomore Damian Greer. Chase Herb and Monty Greer, Damian’s older brother, give Wilson a pair of quality safeties. Glover, Rahmel Gaston, and Barima Archampong will provide the pass rush. The Bulldogs’ 81st season begins tonight against Cheltenham at John Gurski Stadium. Doug Dahms enters his 20th year as head coach and 50th with the program. Since Dahms started as an assistant coach in 1976, he’s been a part of 460 wins. “It’s definitely a good thing to have someone that’s very experienced. It’s something that you don’t get at every school district. It’s something that you should be proud to have,” said Akings.

Doug Dahms-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:00:10 +0000

Wilson’s football program is an institution in West Lawn. Doug Dahms has been part of the juggernaut for five decades. “I bleed red and white. I can’t go anywhere that football is not mentioned. It’s been so much a part of my life,” said Dahms. The Muhlenberg High School and Lebanon Valley College graduate started as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs in 1976. He’s entering his 20th season as head coach with a remarkable (196-44) record. Dahms owns the highest winning percentage in Berks County football history. If you count his years as an assistant, he has 460 total victories. Dahms was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame this year. He’s quick to credit his assistants for the success of the team. “Our coaching staff is like a family. They’re great guys, they work hard. They know how to put their nose to the grindstone when it’s time to get it done. It’s hard to leave a group like that,” emphasized Dahms. Defensive coordinator Ernie Wolber has been on the Bulldogs’ staff for 26 years. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Palm is close behind at 25 years.

Wilson claimed its record 30th section title in the Lancaster-Lebanon League last fall. The Bulldogs finished (11-2, 6-0) and reached the District 3-6A championship before falling to Harrisburg 42-14. They enter the 2025 campaign with 611 all-time wins.

Wilson will have a new quarterback following the graduation of All-State pick Madyx Gruber. Mason Young and Cole Peterson have been battling this offseason for the starting job. “We don’t have another Madyx in the wings. Cole has a little bit better grasp offensively, but Mason is a little bit better athlete. Right now, Mason has the edge. He has the physical tools to have a really good year,” explained Dahms. The Bulldogs won’t be the biggest team this season, but they have plenty of speed. Correll Akings returns at running back after rushing for 1,078 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns as a junior. The All-County basketball player added 27 receptions a season ago. All-State tight end Michael Glover (6’3, 225) caught a team-high 40 passes as a sophomore. “If he was 6’5, every school in the country would want him, but he’s 6’3…He’ll play Division I football, but probably FCS unless he grows,” replied Dahms. Glover finished with 670 receiving yards and 7TD last year. Senior receiver Jaiden Carpenter will supply the speed on the outside. Offensive tackles Avery Manara and Jesse Etchberger are back. Manara has slimmed down to 215 pounds. EJ Brownback and Ethan Harding will be in the middle of Wilson’s defense at linebacker. Rahmel Gaston (6’1, 240) will cause trouble on the defensive line. Meanwhile, Chase Herb, Monty Greer, and Akings should form a solid secondary.

The Bulldogs kickoff the season at home against Cheltenham on August 22nd. They host Nazareth on September 5th in a marquee non-league matchup. Wilson ends the regular season versus Manheim Township at John Gurski Stadium. That battle on October 24th could once again decide the Section 1 title. One thing is for certain; Dahms is very happy in West Lawn. “The community is behind you. The alumni are behind you. The school is behind you. The players buy into everything you want to do,” he said.

Madyx Gruber Commits to Widener

Paul Roberts — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:17:23 +0000

After an outstanding career on the court and gridiron, Madyx Gruber has made his college decision. Gruber will continue his basketball career at Division III Widener University. He made the announcement on social media.

Gruber averaged a team-high 17 points per game during his senior season at Wilson. The 5-11 guard demonstrated the ability to get to the basket and shoot from long range. He knocked down 58 three-pointers this year. Gruber reached 1,000 career points on January 18th when he scored 22 points against Harrisburg. He’s just the seventh player in Wilson history to accomplish that milestone.

Gruber led the Bulldogs to their second straight BCIAA Championship this winter. They defeated Reading 55-39 in the Berks County Final at Santander Arena. Gruber racked up 23 points, five rebounds, and four steals versus the Red Knights. He’s a two-time All-County selection. Wilson finished (24-7) during the 2024-25 campaign and made it to the second round of the state tournament.

Gruber was also a star on the football field. He made the transition to quarterback as a senior and threw for 2,018 yards with 25 touchdowns. He completed 65% of his passes and added 702 yards on the ground with nine more scores. As a defensive back, Gruber had a team-high five interceptions. The (11-2) Bulldogs won the Section 1 title in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. They were the runner-up in the District 3-6A playoffs. Gruber was voted to the All-State team in Class 6A as an athlete.

Bulldogs Shut Down the Muhls

Paul Roberts — Sat, 03 May 2025 18:52:11 +0000

On Senior Night, it was a junior who stole the show at Owls Field in the Berks County High School Baseball Showcase. Ben Kulp allowed just three hits over five innings as Wilson defeated Muhlenberg 6-0 on Friday. The 6’2, 215-pound righty racked up nine strikeouts. “Kulp had a lively fastball, was throwing his curveball for a strike, and then coming back with a nice split,” explained head coach Bill Underwood. Kulp (4-2) walked just two while throwing 81 pitches. He entered the day with a 0.93 ERA. It was a different story for Muhls’ senior Aaden Lopez. He gave up five runs on five hits and four walks. Lopez (1-3) only lasted two innings. He has issued 36 walks in 21.1 innings this season. The (13-6) Bulldogs got a pair of runs in the 1st on RBI singles by Alex Ernesto and Nick Herron. Ernesto went 1-for-1 with two walks and a run. Herron provided two of Wilson’s seven hits. The Bulldogs added three runs in the 2nd to go up 5-0. After a bunt base hit by Colby Kostelac, Tyler Herbein followed with a bloop single down the right field line. The throw into second base got away and rolled all the way to the fence on the left field line. The throwing error put Wilson in front 3-0. An RBI single to left by leadoff hitter Jack Gabel made it 4-0. He would later come around to score on a wild pitch by Lopez. Gabel, a junior shortstop who’s committed to West Chester, knocked in another run in the 3rd on a groundout to third base. Sophomore Ryan Rosenberry hit three batters and walked another in that inning. Kaden Ballas pitched the last two frames for the Bulldogs. The senior limited the (11-8) Muhls to one hit. Ballas had two strikeouts and one walk. “With a six run lead, Ballas did what he needed and that was to throw strikes,” said Underwood. Cole Moody and Eli Keller had two hits apiece for Muhlenberg, which was playing its fifth game in six days. The Muhls are likely out of contention for the BCIAA playoffs. Meanwhile, Wilson is headed to the Berks County playoffs after finishing second in Division 1. The Bulldogs are the defending county champions. The BCIAA quarterfinals are on Thursday, May 8th with doubleheaders at Owls Field and Muhlenberg.

Branson Adams-Gov. Mifflin

Paul Roberts — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:23:04 +0000

Gov. Mifflin and Wilson were tied 1-1 after three frames on Monday afternoon. Branson Adams helped to break the game open with a two-run homer to right field in the 4th. It was the first home run of his high school career. “I was just sitting dead red right there and I got that middle-in fastball. I swung as hard as I could,” explained the senior outfielder. The Mustangs put six runs on the board in the top of the 4th and cruised to a 14-3 victory. Gov. Mifflin clinched the Division 1 championship in the Berks League. The (17-1) Mustangs bounced back in a big way from Friday’s 3-2 loss to Hempfield in nine innings. “It kind of gave us a little wake-up call. Everything is not gonna be handed to us. You gotta work your butt off,” said Adams. The (11-6) Bulldogs entered the week trailing Gov. Mifflin by three games in the division with three to play. Wilson opted to send Austin Snyder, its #4 starter, to the mound. The senior righty pitched well for three innings. Each team was limited to an unearned run in the 1st. Snyder opened the 4th with walks to Billy Angstadt and Dylan Barrett. Nate Radwanski, the No. 9 hitter, laid a bunt down the third base line that Snyder threw away. That error made it 2-1 with nobody out. Bryce Detwiler followed with a two-run single to center before Adams launched his home run. After a double by catcher Travis Jenkins, Matt Koehler delivered a RBI single through a drawn-in infield. That was plenty of support for Detwiler. The UConn commit allowed three unearned runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out two and walked one. Detwiler tossed a complete game four-hitter when the Mustangs beat the Bulldogs 1-0 on April 2nd. A RBI infield single by Jenkins in the 5th gave Gov. Mifflin an 8-1 advantage. Wilson got a pair of runs in the 6th to pull within 8-3. Alex Ernesto knocked in one with a groundout to shortstop and Cole Lavin followed with a RBI single to center. The Mustangs responded with six runs off sophomore Ben Shaub in the 7th. Ethan Grim hammered a two-run double to left-center and Koehler drilled a two-run homer to left. Gov. Mifflin piled up 17 hits, while the Bulldogs were held to four singles. Snyder (1-2) allowed eight runs, six earned, on nine hits in 4.1 innings. He walked four and struck out one. Detwiler, Jenkins, and Koehler had three hits apiece. Adams, Grim, Barrett, and Joe Murray each added two hits. RJ Weaver pitched a clean 7th for the Mustangs with a pair of strikeouts. They’re #1 in the District 3-6A power rankings. Gov. Mifflin won the Class 5A state title last season. “I think it’s gonna be a pretty good challenge. [There are] a lot of good teams in 6A, a little different than 5A,” replied Adams. The Mustangs will wrap up the regular season against Daniel Boone and Reading. The BCIAA playoffs begin on Thursday, May 8th. Gov. Mifflin showed once again why it will be a very tough out.

Ben Kulp-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:29:56 +0000

Wilson squared off with Exeter in a Division 1 matchup at Reiffton on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs hadn’t played since last Thursday when they were blanked 1-0 in twelve innings at Muhlenberg. Wilson’s bats came alive early against Kamren Martin. The 6’3 junior entered the day with a (3-0) record and a 0.98 ERA. After Ryan Marmolejos was hit by a pitch, Christo Hunsicker launched a triple to center field in the top of the 1st. Ben Kulp followed with a RBI groundout and the Bulldogs were quickly on top 2-0. The (10-3) Eagles got one run back in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore catcher Brandon Weller ripped a 2-out RBI triple to center. That would end up being one of only two hits allowed by Kulp in a 6-1 victory. The 6’2, 215-pound junior threw 97 pitches over 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. Kulp turned to his curveball after struggling with the slider. “It was an all right day out on the mound, not everything was working,” he said. Kulp (3-1, 0.81) has been much better than just all right this spring. He’s only given up 13 hits while piling up 34 strikeouts in 26 innings. The right-hander, who also plays water polo, got himself in better shape during the offseason. “I did a lot of explosive work and a lot of sprinting to train your body to move faster,” he explained. “I try to stay away from carbs, definitely high protein intake,” added Kulp. He helped himself by going 2-for-4 with a RBI. “I love swinging the bat,” he replied. Wilson went in front 3-1 in the 3rd when courtesy runner Colby Kostelac scored following two wild pitches by Martin. Kulp, who bats from the left side, led off that inning with a double down the right field line. Exeter stranded runners on third base in the first, fourth, and fifth innings. Kulp stopped each of those threats with a strikeout. The (7-3) Bulldogs broke it open with three runs in the 6th. Marmolejos provided a 2-run triple to left-center. The talented sophomore second baseman was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. He’s hitting .333 this year. Hunsicker knocked in Marmolejos with another triple to center field. “Breathing room is nice because then you’re not stressing every pitch,” said Kulp. Hunsicker leads the team with six extra-base hits. The Millersville commit has three doubles and three triples through ten games. He had two of Wilson’s nine hits off of Martin. The tall righty allowed six runs over 5.1 innings. He struck out four, walked two, and hit three batters. Senior Kaden Ballas got the final four outs for the Bulldogs without giving up a hit. Wilson ended its scoring drought and snapped the Eagles’ six-game winning streak. The Bulldogs claimed their 13th Berks League championship in 2024. On Wednesday, they showed that they’re a contender again this spring.

Eli Keller-Muhlenberg

Paul Roberts — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:42:52 +0000

Due to the weather forecast, Thursday’s baseball game between Wilson and Muhlenberg was changed from 7pm to 4:15pm. That turned out to be a great decision. The Bulldogs and Muhls kept going and going and going. “I don’t know if this thing is gonna end. We might be going to 10 o’clock…I think this is the longest game I ever played in. It was something else,” said Muhlenberg senior shortstop Eli Keller. The marathon Division 1 battle lasted 12 innings and just over four hours. Keller’s sacrifice fly to left field scored Gavin Moody in a 1-0 win at Laureldale. “Before I went up, Coach K looked at me and he said, ‘You’re built for this moment.’ I was looking for a fastball and he gave me a high inside fastball,” explained Keller. Brian Kopetsky picked up his 359th career victory over 26 seasons as the Muhls’ head coach. Moody, a junior center fielder, led off the bottom of the 12th by ripping a double to left-center. No. 9 hitter Kaleb Mendoza followed with a bunt that first baseman Ben Kulp opted to throw to third base. Moody retreated to second base which put two men on with nobody out. After the runners advanced on a wild pitch by Austin Snyder, Marvin Frias was intentionally walked to load the bases for Keller. “Stepping up in these big moments means everything to me,” he remarked. The throw from left field was high as Moody slid head-first into home plate with the lone run. The (5-4) Muhls snapped a three-game slide and ended Wilson’s three-game winning streak. Ryan Kemp, who had only pitched one-third of an inning all season, earned the win. The senior righty allowed four hits and a walk over three frames. “In such a big game and such a big moment, he definitely stepped up to the plate,” emphasized Keller. Kemp struck out three. He replaced Ethan Weiler, an All-Division selection last year. Weiler gave up six hits and a walk in six innings. Ryan Rosenberry got the start for Muhlenberg. The sophomore worked around two hits, three walks, and two hit batters. He had a pair of strikeouts over three frames. Jack Gabel tossed six shutout innings for the (6-3) Bulldogs. The junior used a sharp curveball and 83-85 mph fastball to strike out eight. He limited the Muhls to four hits with three walks. Snyder took the loss, but was terrific in relief on a cold and windy night. The senior allowed just two hits over 5.1 innings. He finished with five strikeouts. Both teams have struggled at times offensively. Muhlenberg entered the contest with a .229 team batting average, while Wilson was hitting .269. The Bulldogs had twice as many hits as the Muhls, twelve to six, but Wilson left a staggering twenty men on base. In the 4th, the Bulldogs had a man on third with one out and didn’t score. Muhlenberg left the bases juiced in the bottom half of that frame. In the top of the 9th, Tim Lengle lined out sharply to right field with two runners on to end the threat. Wilson had a golden opportunity in the top of the 11th with men on second and third and no outs. Once again, however, they couldn’t cash in. In the 12th, the Bulldogs put runners on second and third with one out. Kemp wiggled out of that jam too with a strikeout and a pop-up to third base. Junior catcher Gabe Spohn had three hits. Ryan Marmolejos, Alex Ernesto, Stanley Maoury, and Gabel added two hits apiece. Junior catcher Cooper Burr and Moody each had a pair of hits for the Muhls. “This was definitely a big stepping stone for us…This win will give us a lot of momentum and a lot of energy,” said Keller.

Bryce Detwiler-Gov. Mifflin

Paul Roberts — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:13:05 +0000

Bryce Detwiler and Ben Kulp squared off in a classic pitcher’s duel on Wednesday afternoon in Shillington. “We got to know each other a little bit in the offseason. Going out and pitching against your friend, it’s a good experience. He’s definitely got a lot better. I think he has like five pitches so it’s tough when you’re a hitter,” said Detwiler. Gov. Mifflin beat Wilson 1-0 in the first meeting this season between the rivals. The Bulldogs won all three matchups with the Mustangs last year. “It feels like a playoff game every single time that we play. Both teams bring their best,” emphasized Detwiler. The UConn commit fired a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and one walk. He went the distance on 84 pitches. The 6’2, 215-pound senior was a first team All-State selection a season ago. Detwiler limited Wilson to four hits. The (3-2) Bulldogs left two runners on base in the first and second innings. Sophomore outfielder Tim Lengle and senior Nick Herron had back-to-back singles to open the second frame. However, Detwiler got a pop-up, a strikeout, and a groundout to end the threat. He allowed just one hit, a single to Kulp, the rest of the way. Detwiler’s fastball is in the high-80s. He’s working on a changeup to go along with his curveball and slider. Detwiler is more well known for the damage that he does at the plate. The 2024 Berks County Player of the Year hit a double to right field in the bottom of the first, but was stranded on third base. The (8-0) Mustangs managed just two more hits against Kulp. The 6’2, 215-pound junior is throwing in the low-90s. He was an All-Division pick as a sophomore when he struck out 50 over 44 innings with a 3.02 ERA. Branson Adams lofted a bloop single down the left field line in the bottom of the 6th. He advanced to second with one out on an errant pickoff throw. Kulp struck out Ethan Grim, Gov. Mifflin’s cleanup hitter, with Adams on third to end the inning. Grim, a Virginia Tech commit, is one of the top pitchers in the state. The rain picked up significantly in the 7th. Matt Koehler ripped a double to right-center to begin the bottom half of the frame. “He had an amazing at-bat. He was fouling off pitches. I knew Kulp was gonna keep coming with the fastball. Matt put a good swing on a fastball and that started everything,” explained Detwiler. Bill Underwood, the BCIAA Coach of the Year last spring, brought in senior righty Christo Hunsicker. Kulp finished with six strikeouts and two walks. He also hit one batter over 98 pitches. Despite tossing six scoreless innings, Kulp got a no decision. Dylan Barrett was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Reese Hohl’s bunt was fielded by Hunsicker who got a force out at third base. Nate Radwanski then struck out. Aden Reiter, the No. 9 hitter, drew a walk which brought Detwiler to the plate. “With bases loaded and the winning run on third, I knew they had to come to me so I was sitting dead red,” noted Detwiler. He worked a full count before Hunsicker missed outside with a fastball. The walk brought in Barrett with the lone run of the game. There were only seven combined hits, four by the Bulldogs. They left six runners on base. The Mustangs are back in Class 6A this year after winning the PIAA-5A championship last season. They remain unbeaten through eight contests. “I’m definitely happy with how we’re playing. I’m just hoping that we can keep it going,” said Detwiler.

Wilson and Mifflin shut down in PIAA Playoffs

Paul Roberts — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:58:10 +0000

The second round of the PIAA-6A boys basketball tournament was the end of the road for Wilson and Gov. Mifflin. The Bulldogs fell to District 10 champion McDowell 50-46 on Wednesday night at Pitt-Johnstown University. Wilson managed just four points in the first quarter and eleven in the first half. The Bulldogs trailed 23-11 at the break. Stephon Porter drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put the Trojans on top 33-21 after the third quarter. Porter, a running back during the fall, scored eight points. Wilson came alive in the fourth quarter with 25 points. Correll Akings and Cam Zullinger each connected twice from beyond the arc. Tommy McFadden, who’s committed to Albany for soccer, went 9-for-9 from the foul line in the final period. McDowell’s cushion was cut to 35-29 with 3:54 remaining. The (24-7) Bulldogs were down 43-38 with 36 seconds to go when Kam Kramer made a pair of free throws. The senior guard finished with a team-high eleven points. Blayze Myers, the Trojans’ star quarterback, chipped in with eight points. The 6’3 senior set school records with 5,091 career passing yards, 413 completions, and 55 touchdown passes. McDowell was 17-of-22 from the foul line including 9-of-11 in the fourth quarter. The (23-4) Trojans hit three triples. McFadden set a career-high with 15 points. The 6’1 senior was a perfect 11-for-11 from the stripe. Akings and Zullinger provided ten and nine points respectively. Madyx Gruber, who was in foul trouble, was limited to six points. The two-time All-County guard averaged 17 ppg. this season. McDowell will take on WPIAL champ Upper St. Clair on Saturday in the state quarterfinals. Wilson says goodbye to eight seniors who won back-to-back Berks County titles. The Bulldogs have claimed four BCIAA championships in the past six years.

Gov. Mifflin also saw an outstanding campaign come to a halt on Wednesday night. The Mustangs lost to Upper St. Clair 50-38 at Altoona. The (25-2) Panthers reached the PIAA-6A quarterfinals for the third time in five seasons. The (20-10) Mustangs made their first appearance in the state playoffs this year. They fell behind 18-11 after the opening quarter. Each team only scored six points in the second period. Gov. Mifflin pulled within 29-26 with four and a-half minutes left in the third quarter, but Upper St. Clair closed out the period with a 8-to-2 run. It was 37-31 with five and a-half minutes to play when the Panthers sealed the deal with a decisive 12-to-3 run. Although 6’10 senior Tyler Robbins gets a lot of attention, it was Jake Foster who stole the show on Wednesday. The junior guard poured in a career-high 22 points. Foster was averaging 8 ppg. He splashed three of his four 3-pointers in the first quarter. Upper St. Clair was 16-of-20 from the foul line with six treys. Robbins stuffed the stat sheet with twelve points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. His younger brother, Ryan, added eight points. He’s a 6’7 sophomore. The Mustangs struggled from long range, going 2-for-12 from beyond the arc. They were 6-of-10 from the free throw line. Jahmair Johnson ended up with a team-high eight points. Matt Koehler and Stephen Mayo had seven points apiece. There were ten seniors on the roster for first-year head coach Garrett Etzel. The 2003 Gov. Mifflin grad and former All-County guard turned things around quickly in Shillington. The Mustangs finished (8-14, 3-8) a season ago. They advanced to the District 3 semifinals for the first time this year.

Archbishop Carroll ends Wilson’s season

Paul Roberts — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:07:44 +0000

Going into Tuesday night, Wilson head coach Matt Raquet thought Archbishop Carroll would be the best team that the Bulldogs had faced all season. That’s saying a lot considering Wilson’s grueling non-league schedule. The Bulldogs battled the Patriots before falling 60-41 in the second round of the PIAA-6A tournament at Spring-Ford. The final score doesn’t tell the whole story. Wilson put forth a gutsy effort and led the top seed from District 12 early in the third quarter. Kailani Hardy jammed eight of her team-high 20 points into the third period. “It starts on the defensive end of the floor and I thought she played great on the defensive end. The better the competition, she steps up to that plate every single time,” noted Raquet. Hardy got off to a quick start. The 5’9 sophomore knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and had eight points in the opening quarter. Archbishop Carroll, the runner-up in the mighty Philadelphia Catholic League, trailed 13-10 after eight minutes. The Bulldogs grabbed a 15-11 advantage before the Eberz sisters began to heat up. Alexis Eberz, a 5’8 junior, averages 18 points per game. She reached 1,000 career points late last month. Kayla Eberz, a versatile 5’10 freshman, provides 13 ppg. Her twin sister, Kelsey, has been out since December with a knee injury. The (19-9) Patriots were in front 27-26 at halftime. Senior guard Olivia Nardi hit a triple from the left corner early in the third quarter. It was her only field goal of the night, and it gave Archbishop Carroll a 32-30 edge. Nardi’s shot from beyond the arc ignited a 17-to-7 run by the Patriots. Hardy drilled a jumper from the right wing at the buzzer to pull Wilson within 46-39 entering the final period. The (20-10) Bulldogs were outscored 14-to-2 over the next eight minutes. They were scoreless until Hardy made two free throws with 4:21 remaining. The Patriots were in control 52-41 at that point. Archbishop Carroll sealed the deal at the foul line. The Patriots finished 14-for-17, including 8-for-10 in the fourth quarter. Wilson ended up 4-of-5 from the stripe. Laura Crocona chipped in with eight points. The 5’8 junior sank two of the Bulldogs’ five treys. Alexis Eberz, who poured in 23 points, gave credit to the Bulldogs. “They’re a great team. We knew that coming into this game. They play really great defense,” she said. Kayla Eberz contributed 18 points, including 13 in the second half. Sophomore Abbie McFillin added nine points. Archbishop Carroll was able to create turnovers which led to easy transition opportunities after halftime. The Patriots won the PIAA-6A championship two years ago. They’re moving on to the quarterfinals on Friday against Central Dauphin. Wilson saw its season come to an end. The Bulldogs, who finished fifth in the District 3 tournament, didn’t have any seniors in the starting lineup. They also played this entire season without two-time All-County point guard Laila Jones. The 5’8 junior was out with a torn ACL. Jones averaged 16 ppg. last year. “I thought it was a great season overall, really proud of this group. They’ve dealt with adversity all year. They kept trusting each other. They kept putting winning first,” remarked Raquet. He said he’s excited for his second season in West Lawn.