game – Berks Sports Report https://berkssportsreport.com Paul Roberts Wed, 28 May 2025 16:32:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 Ethan Grim-Gov. Mifflin https://berkssportsreport.com/ethan-grim-gov-mifflin-6/ Wed, 28 May 2025 16:29:45 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4956 Ethan Grim mentioned after the District 3-6A championship that he wasn’t at his best on Monday night at Penn Medicine Park. “I was kind of feeling weak because of the sun hitting me weird. I was trying to drink a lot of water. I wasn’t feeling myself,” he noted. That’s a scary thought because the Virginia Tech commit was still able to throw a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Gov. Mifflin beat Cedar Cliff 6-1 for its first District 3 title. The top-seeded Mustangs improved to (25-1). Grim held the third-seeded Colts to five hits and one walk. Their lone run came in the 7th on a bloop RBI single by Will Kocher. “I didn’t have my best fastball so I was kind of relying on my off-speed [pitches],” explained Grim. The 6’1, 195-pound senior fired a 93 mph fastball in the final inning. He reached 300 career strikeouts and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Grim (8-0) punched out five batters in the first two frames. Meanwhile, Cedar Cliff turned to senior catcher Bennett Secrest due to an injury to ace Peyton Price. The sophomore has 72 strikeouts and only five walks over 52.1 innings. Price (8-1, 0.80) has given up just 34 hits all season. Secrest did his best to keep the (17-6) Colts in the game. Dylan Barrett got Gov. Mifflin on the board with a RBI single to right field in the bottom of the 2nd. Grim ripped a two-out double down the third base line in the next inning. One run scored on the play, but Bryce Detwiler was thrown out at the plate. Secrest was charged with a pair of runs on five hits and a walk in three innings. Kaiden Alday took over on the mound in the 4th, however, he only recorded one out. Designated hitter Charlie Ainge made it 3-0 with a RBI single to right. Detwiler, who’s headed to UConn, knocked in another run with a groundout to shortstop. Alday allowed two runs on two hits and two walks. Matt Koehler delivered a RBI single to left in the 5th for a 5-0 cushion. The Juniata commit was 3-for-3 and scored twice. “He’s under recognized this year. We have dudes throughout the lineup,” stated Grim. Koehler is also an All-County basketball player. Sophomore Max Utsick gave up one run on three hits and a walk in one inning of relief. He was replaced by junior Michael Boblick. In the bottom of the 6th, Brandon Adams crushed a solo homer to right field for a 6-0 advantage. “That definitely went out of the stadium. Off the bat, I knew it was gone,” replied Grim. The Mustangs finished with eleven hits. Eight different batters had at least one hit. There were no errors in the game which lasted less than two hours. Gov. Mifflin has earned BCIAA and District 3 championships this spring. The Mustangs captured the PIAA-5A crown last season. The state tournament begins on Monday. “We were coming into this season wanting all three [titles]. It feels pretty good,” said Grim.

]]> Donovan Gingrich-Tri-County All-Star Game https://berkssportsreport.com/donovan-gingrich-tri-county-all-star-game/ Sun, 25 May 2025 12:41:50 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4948 After getting blown out 35-0 last year, the Berks/Lebanon team was determined to have a better showing in the 23rd Tri-County All-Star Game. They jumped out to a 17-0 lead and were within three points with one minute remaining. The Lancaster squad prevailed 49-39 in a very entertaining contest at Manheim Central on Friday night. “We matched up pretty well. I think if we play ten times, it goes pretty evenly,” said Conrad Weiser quarterback Donovan Gingrich. The Bloomsburg commit finished 10-of-16 for 207 yards and three touchdowns. “Playing with people that I haven’t been able to play with, that are the best on their team, is pretty fun,” replied Gingrich. Wilson offensive lineman Derek Reiniger moved to running back in short yardage situations for Berks/Lebanon. He made the most of the opportunity with a pair of touchdown runs up the middle. Lancaster trailed 17-0 with 6:23 left in the second quarter. Caileb Howse from Lampeter-Strasburg scrambled six yards for a score to get them on the board with two minutes to go in the first half. After an interception by Warwick’s Quinn Care, Howse lofted a beautiful pass down the left sideline to his high school teammate Dom Brown. That 74-yard strike made it 17-14. Brown and Howse are both headed to Millersville University. Manheim Township quarterback Carson Weisser started the second half with a bang. He found McCaskey’s DeAndre Jones for a 80-yard touchdown and a 21-17 lead. Berks/Lebanon answered right back when Gingrich connected with Exeter’s Carter Redding down the right seam for a 64-yard score. “You’ve got weapons all over the field,” emphasized Gingrich. Redding racked up 170 yards on six receptions. The East Stroudsburg commit was named the MVP for Berks/Lebanon. Brown received that award for Lancaster. His 9-yard touchdown run put Lancaster back in front at 28-24 with 6:21 to play in the third quarter. Brown ended up with 98 yards on eight carries. Declan Clancy of Manheim Township rumbled for 87 yards on 13 carries. He’s also going to Bloomsburg. Weisser and Jones hooked up again for a 31-yard touchdown with 9:16 remaining. The pass was tipped at the 4-yard line, but Jones demonstrated outstanding concentration to bring it in. Berks/Lebanon pulled within 35-32 with 7:40 left. Gingrich rolled right and hit Exeter’s Genuine Stutzman for a 16-yard score. The 6’3, 220-pound TE/LB is another Bloomsburg recruit. After a long kickoff return, Howse threw a perfect fade to Hempfield’s Brayden Charles for a 21-yard touchdown. The 6’3, 205-pound target was named the Section 1 Wide Receiver of the Year last fall. Berks/Lebanon was down 42-32 with 7:16 to go. A fumble by Lancaster set them up with a short field at the 33-yard line. Gingrich zipped a 6-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Max Heffner of Daniel Boone with 1:37 left. However, Howse sealed the victory for Lancaster with a 44-yard touchdown run with 36 seconds to play. The L-S star had two scores through the air and two more on the ground. Howse passed for 135 yards and ran for 59. Weisser went 6-for-10 for 147 yards. Jones had a big night with five catches for 148 yards. Lancaster piled up 506 total yards, while Berks/Lebanon accumulated 446. Evan Myers, the son of head coach Brett Myers, was very efficient. The Kutztown commit was 7-of-8 for 156 yards. He’s the all-time passing leader at Twin Valley. Gingrich wrapped up a standout career at Conrad Weiser. The Scouts went (10-1) in 2024 and won the Section 3 championship. “It hurts that this is gonna be the last time playing with my friends, but I’ve got college to look forward to,” said Gingrich.

]]> Zander Westwood-Wyomissing https://berkssportsreport.com/zander-westwood-wyomissing/ Tue, 20 May 2025 14:53:02 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4935 When Wyomissing and Kutztown met in the regular season, the Cougars won 4-1. They squared off again in the District 3-3A quarterfinals, but this turned into a shootout. Monday’s game included 25 runs, 24 hits, and 19 runners left on base. When the dust cleared, the fourth-seeded Spartans defeated Kutztown 13-12 in eight innings. The fifth-seeded Cougars made it very interesting after they fell behind 11-0. “That game was a roller coaster. It kept going up and down. Kutztown battled back a lot. We just had to keep our heads up,” said Zander Westwood. The 6’2, 200-pound sophomore led off the bottom of the 8th with a triple. Dan Noey, a senior catcher, delivered a one-out single to left field to end the marathon. “I’m excited for him. He’s a really good kid. He’s done a lot for this team,” replied Westwood. Wyomissing was making its first appearance in the District 3 playoffs since 2021. The Cougars were the runner-up in Class 2A last year. The (15-7) Spartans erupted for five runs in the first frame. Birkley Ziegler’s single to center drove in sophomore Parker LaFerriere who started the inning with a double. Teddy White’s double down the left field line made it 2-0. Westwood hammered a three-run home run to right-center for a quick 5-0 advantage. It was the first homer of his career. “It was a big home run in a big time game. That let off a spark at the beginning of the game,” remarked Westwood. Lefty Ashton Dunn was only able to get one out. Colin Diehl, another southpaw, surrendered six more runs in the 2nd. He gave up four hits and walked five. White and LaFerriere each had two-run singles in the 2nd inning. Noah Rauenzahn helped himself with a RBI double down the right field line. The junior righty left the game after three innings with an apparent hamstring injury. Rauenzahn hadn’t allowed a hit. Wyomissing’s bullpen struggled to throw strikes. The Spartans issued a total of nine walks and hit four batters. Kutztown put up five runs in the 4th. Dunn and catcher Corey Gilbert provided RBI singles. Sophomore Elliot Knutsen was hit with the bases loaded. Chase Schuler, the No. 9 hitter, walked with the bases juiced. The (13-9) Cougars tacked on two runs in the 5th inning thanks to RBI singles by Dunn and Zane Cherrie. Kutztown pulled within 12-11 with four runs on just one hit in the top of the 6th. Dunn got down a perfect bunt to knock in one run. Chris Bergstrom and Knutsen chipped in with RBI groundouts. Schuler grounded out to second base with men on second and third to end the inning. The Cougars were down to their final out when Bergstrom hit a RBI single through the left side to tie it at 12-12 in the top of the 7th. “Some teams just don’t battle back. They kept battling, kept working hard. They executed on small ball,” noted Westwood. The sophomore, who’s a FB/LB on the football team, came through with a triple to left field in the 8th. That set the stage for Noey who was mobbed by his teammates after a walk-off single to left. Chase Bailey earned the win in relief. The junior limited Kutztown to one run on three hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. His was the fifth pitcher used by first-year head coach Nick Wojciechowski. Knutsen did an outstanding job of keeping the Cougars in the game. The young right-hander was charged with two runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. He finished with six strikeouts and a walk. Tim Mertz ends his 25th season at the helm with 375 career wins, the most in school history. Dunn had three hits for Kutztown. He scored three runs and drove in three more. The Cougars didn’t commit an error, however, they left eleven runners on base. Wyomissing piled up 15 hits, three coming from Ziegler. Westwood, White, LaFerriere, and Ryan Graham had two hits apiece. Westwood and White each had 3 RBI. The Spartans travel to top-seeded Bermudian Springs on Thursday at 4:30pm. “They’re going to be a tough challenge. We have to go execute against them,” said Westwood.

]]> Tri-County All-Star Game https://berkssportsreport.com/tri-county-all-star-game/ Thu, 01 May 2025 21:58:14 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4898 The Tri-County All-Star Football Game will be held later this month. The top seniors from the Lancaster-Lebanon League will square off on Friday, May 23rd at 7pm. The game will take place at Manheim Central’s Elden Rettew Stadium. The Lancaster team rolled over the Berks/Lebanon squad 35-0 last year. Zac Hahn of Manheim Central threw for 135 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was named the MVP. Bode Sipel, Hahn’s high school teammate, caught a 9-yard TD pass and returned an interception 86 yards for another score. This year’s game is expected to be more competitive. Here’s a look at the rosters.

Berks/Lebanon Team:

0-Genuine Stutzman (Exeter)

1-Bryce Gumby (Berks Catholic)

2-Justin Kaplan (Palmyra)

3-Dequan Small (Muhlenberg)

5-Carter Redding (Exeter)

6-Devyn Sutton (Berks Catholic)

7-Brendan Ryan (Northern Lebanon)

9-Donovan Gingrich (Conrad Weiser)

10-Evan Myers (Twin Valley)

11-Max Heffner (Daniel Boone)

12-Logan Nawrocki (Schuylkill Valley)

13-Bryce Keller (Annville-Cleona)

14-Evan Johnson (Twin Valley)

15-Brendan Yagle (Twin Valley)

16-Alex Malone (Conrad Weiser)

17-Evan Rittle (Conrad Weiser)

18-Casey Gerhart (Exeter)

19-Riley Messinger (Northern Lebanon)

20-Kai Rivera (Lebanon)

21-Ashton Kiebach (Conrad Weiser)

25-Luke Spotts (Schuylkill Valley)

26-Cooper Hohenadel (Schuylkill Valley)

33-Brady Stoops (ELCO)

35-Matt Knight (Twin Valley)

41-Jonathan Shay (Annville-Cleona)

50-Anthony Geloso (Wilson)

51-Derek Reiniger (Wilson)

52-Aris Drake (Twin Valley)

54-Malacai Victa (Annville-Cleona)

55-Brayden Malloy (ELCO)

56-Kenly Rivera (Reading)

57-Eli Thompson (Northern Lebanon)

60-Kaleb Holl (Conrad Weiser)

70-Ayden Jimenez (Wyomissing)

76-Samson Evans (Muhlenberg)

Lancaster Team:

0-Declan Clancy (Manheim Township)

1-DeAndre Jones (McCaskey)

2-Isaiah Sensenig (Conestoga Valley)

3-Chase Gerz (Donegal)

4-Quinn Care (Warwick)

5-Danny Weichler (Lampeter-Strasburg)

6-Jackson Shelby (Warwick)

7-Dominic Brown (Lampeter-Strasburg)

8-Emory Fluhr (Lampeter-Strasburg)

9-Brodie Daugherty (Manheim Central)

10-Lex Huberbosch (Manheim Township)

11-Carson Weisser (Manheim Township)

12-Brayden Charles (Hempfield)

13-Caileb Howse (Lampeter-Strasburg)

14-Dominic Pugh (Ephrata)

15-Jack Warfel (Penn Manor)

16-Loudon Rupp (Columbia)

17-John Morales (Manheim Township)

18-Asher Cook (Manheim Central)

19-Josh Myer (Cocalico)

20-Chandler Stoltfus (Octorara)

21-Jayden Johnson (Conestoga Valley)

22-Brayden Eppinette (Cocalico)

28-Trenton Hoober (Garden Spot)

33-Austin Kurtz (Octorara)

34-Seth Morgan (Conestoga Valley)

42-Zion Rolon (Manheim Central)

50-Jason Dougherty (Manheim Central)

51-Thomas Capizzi (Manheim Township)

53-Owen Marks (Manheim Township)

54-Joseph Murry (Solanco)

55-Justin Corson (Conestoga Valley)

60-Tom Dattoli (Cocalico)

61-Tal Stoltzfus (Conestoga Valley)

62-Matthew Neumann (Penn Manor)

63-Jeremiah Garber (Pequea Valley)

65-Cullen Witner (Garden Spot)

66-Riley Yencha (Elizabethtown)

71-Tommy O’Neill (Garden Spot)

72-Hunter Garber (Manheim Central)

76-Spencer McClintock (Manheim Township)

]]> Snip Esterly-Berks Catholic https://berkssportsreport.com/snip-esterly-berks-catholic-11/ Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:41:48 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4840 For 24 minutes, Berks Catholic stayed right with one of the top teams in the mighty Philadelphia Catholic League. The Saints trailed Devon Prep 38-36 entering the fourth quarter of the PIAA-4A championship on Thursday night at the Giant Center. Then Berks Catholic got cold, ice cold. The District 3 champions were 1-of-12 from the field and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc over the final eight minutes. The Tide outscored the Saints 17-3 in the fourth quarter for a 55-39 victory. “It wasn’t our night offensively. We had some good looks, but we turned the ball over way too many times. You can’t do that against a team like that,” said longtime head coach Snip Esterly. Berks Catholic shot 33% overall and finished 6-of-24 from long range. The (25-6) Saints committed 14 turnovers in their first appearance in the state finals. They went scoreless for nearly six minutes in the final period. While a lot of the pregame talk surrounded Devon Prep’s frontcourt of 6’7 Reece Craft and 6’5 Zane Conlon, the Tide’s backcourt was the difference. Mason Thear, a 6’ senior who averaged 11 ppg., scored a game-high 17 points. Thear sank three of his five 3-point attempts and added seven rebounds. Calvin Smith, a 6’3 sharpshooter, provided 13 points and hit three triples. Devon Prep shot 43% from the field and went 6-for-15 from downtown. The Tide rattled off the first twelve points of the fourth quarter. Thear drilled a trey from the top of the key and Smith followed with a 3-pointer from the left wing. They gave Devon Prep a 46-36 advantage with 4:49 remaining. Conlon, who’s older brother Joey played at Berks Catholic, provided nine points. Craft and Shane Doyle chipped in with eight points apiece. Doyle also contributed defensively with four steals. The 6’3 senior guard has strong ties to Berks County. His mother graduated from Central Catholic and his father attended Holy Name. Doyle’s grandparents also went to Central Catholic and his cousin, Matt Ashcroft, helped the Cardinals win a PIAA title in 2007. The (23-4) Tide earned their third state crown in four years. They claimed Class 3A championships in 2022 and 2024. Kingston McKoy led the Saints with 16 points and a dozen rebounds. The All-State guard buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key and scored in transition in the last 35 seconds of the second quarter. The 6’2 junior pulled Berks Catholic within 28-25 at halftime. “We just can’t rely on Kingston. We gotta make sure we get more scoring,” noted Esterly. He mentioned that Devon Prep’s balanced offensive attack was the difference. The Tide were in front 18-10 after the opening quarter. They ended up 9-of-11 from the free throw line, while the Saints went 1-for-2. Carmelo Harper, a promising freshman guard, had nine points off Berks Catholic’s bench. Zach Suski, the lone senior in their starting lineup, scored five points. “Zach made himself a nice little player. I can’t say enough about Zach. He played his heart out all year,” emphasized Esterly. After losing four starters from a season ago, the Saints won their sixth District 3 title and reached uncharted territory in the PIAA tournament. “They gave us a nice ride. It was a privilege to be able to coach these young guys. They’re pretty special,” remarked Esterly.

]]> Saints are going against the Tide https://berkssportsreport.com/saints-are-going-against-the-tide/ Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:25:57 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4837 The Berks Catholic boys basketball team will try to make history on Thursday night at the Giant Center in Hershey. In the 14th season since Holy Name and Central Catholic merged, the Saints have advanced to the state championship game for the first time. They will take on Devon Prep, the top seed from District 12, at 8pm in the PIAA-4A Final.

Over his 36 years as a head coach, Snip Esterly has always made defense a priority and this year’s squad is no different. Berks Catholic is allowing just 45.4 points per game during the District 3 and PIAA playoffs. The (25-5) Saints have won seven straight games since falling to Reading 48-41 in the BCIAA semifinals at Santander Arena. Berks Catholic rallied from a five point deficit in the fourth quarter to top North Catholic 67-59 last Friday in the semifinals. The Saints held the Trojans to eight points over the final six and a-half minutes. Berks Catholic got past Scranton Prep 51-47 in the second round before defeating Sharon 67-58 in the quarterfinals. This is the Saints’ 11th appearance in the PIAA tournament. They’re (9-10) overall in the state playoffs. Esterly guided Central Catholic to a state title in 2007. He has 840 career wins and 15 District 3 championships on his resume. The Saints hammered Eastern York 67-44 in the District 3-4A Final one month ago.

Berks Catholic is led by 6’2 junior guard Kingston McKoy. He was a third team All-State selection a season ago. McKoy is providing 21.6 ppg., along with a team-high 61 triples. After pouring in 24 points against North Catholic, McKoy is up to 1,039 for his career. He’s also an elite defender. Zach Suski, the Saints’ quarterback in the fall, is averaging 13 ppg. with 31 treys. Carmelo Harper and Bryce Gumby have come up big off the bench this postseason. Harper, a soft-spoken 5’10 freshman, scored 17 points in the state quarterfinals versus Sharon. He followed up that performance with 13 points in the semifinals. Gumby set a career-high with 19 points in the thrilling victory over North Catholic. Eleven of his points came in the fourth quarter. Berks Catholic remains without 6’2 junior forward Gavin Welker. He’s ineligible after transferring from Daniel Boone.

The Saints’ frontcourt will be tested by Devon Prep. Reece Craft is putting up 16 points and 7 rebounds a night. The 6’7 Swarthmore College commit was a third team All-State pick in Class 3A last year. Zane Conlon was chosen for the first team. The 6’5 senior is contributing 16 points and 9 rebounds per game this season. He’s headed to Southeastern University, a NAIA school in Florida. Conlon is very familiar with Berks Catholic’s program. His older brother, Joey, played for the Saints. Craft and Conlon combined for 51 points in their 64-44 semifinal win over Valley View. The Tide’s closest game in the state tournament came in the opening round when they eliminated Bishop McDevitt 77-63. They blew out District 1 champ Bishop Shanahan 64-40 in the quarterfinals. Mason Thear (11 ppg.) and Calvin Smith (10 ppg.) are part of an offensive attack that averages 65 points per contest. Smith is their top threat from beyond the arc.

Shane Doyle, a 6’3 senior, has a wealth of connections to the Reading area. His mom and grandparents attended Central Catholic. His father, Jim, is a Holy Name graduate. Doyle’s cousins, Matt and Justin Ashcroft, both played for Coach Esterly at Central Catholic. Matt was a key piece of the Cardinals’ 2007 state championship team. He later served as an assistant under Esterly before becoming the head coach at Exeter. Doyle dishes out six assists per game to go along with nine points.

The top five scorers for Devon Prep are all seniors. This is a very experienced group. The Tide claimed PIAA-3A crowns in 2022 and 2024. They knocked off Franklin Area 60-56 in last year’s state final. Jason Fisher was named the Coach of the Year in Class 3A a season ago. He was an outstanding player at the University of Scranton, scoring more than 1,500 career points. Devon Prep is (27-15) all-time in the PIAA playoffs. The Tide have a (22-4) mark this year. Two of those losses were at the hands of Roman Catholic, a state finalist in Class 6A.

]]> Exeter falls to Hershey in District 3 Final https://berkssportsreport.com/exeter-falls-to-hershey-in-district-3-final/ Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:42:49 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4798 Exeter limited Hershey to seven points in the first quarter of the District 3-5A championship on Friday night. However, the eighth-seeded Eagles couldn’t slow down the second-seeded Trojans over the final 24 minutes at the Giant Center. Hershey defeated Exeter 69-49 for its third District 3 title overall and first since 1974. The (15-12) Eagles were in front 11-7 after the opening quarter. They were outscored 20-to-4 in the second period. The (22-3) Trojans trailed 15-12 before rattling off 15 straight points. “We turned the ball over more in the second quarter and allowed them to get out in transition. They also did a good job on the offensive glass getting second chance opportunities,” explained Exeter coach Jeff VanGorder. The Eagles committed eight turnovers in the second period. Aidan Dauble and Brady Murray were scoreless in the first half. They average 16 and 13 points per game respectively. Cameron Sweeney, a 6’3 junior guard, jammed nine points into the second quarter. “He’s elite in transition and a very good offensive rebounder. He cuts so well off the ball even in transition. I thought in the half-court we did a very good job on him, but he got us in transition and on the offensive glass,” said VanGorder. Sweeney finished with 28 points including eleven in the fourth quarter. Jayden Ware hit a triple from the left corner to pull Exeter within 44-32 with ten seconds remaining in the third period. The 6’1 junior had a team-high 17 points. Grant Later came off the Trojans’ bench and drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing. On their next possession, Sweeney converted a three-point play to give Hershey a 55-37 cushion with 5:15 to play. James Campbell came alive in the third quarter and ended up with a dozen points. The 6’6 senior guard is committed to Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. Jack Zakovitch provided a spark off the pine with ten points. The Trojans went 6-of-10 from the foul line, while the Eagles were 12-of-23. Each team made three 3-pointers. Paul Blackburn earned his 434th career victory, perhaps none bigger than this one. Blackburn is in his 27th year as a head coach. He’s spent fifteen years at Hershey. Dauble chipped in with eight points for Exeter. Murray and Carter Redding, both seniors, had six points apiece. The Eagles beat Middletown and York Suburban in overtime to reach the District 3-5A Final. “Very proud of the guys for not only this playoff run, but the entire season so far. We played a tough schedule that was more of a 6A type schedule. I believed we were a top team in 5A all season long and they went out and proved it,” noted VanGorder. Exeter will now prepare for the state tournament which begins on Friday, March 7th. “They have represented the school and community in the very best ways possible. I’m excited for them to host a state playoff game,” replied VanGorder.

]]> Luke Levan-Wilson https://berkssportsreport.com/luke-levan-wilson-2/ Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:48:09 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4757 We’ve often heard that defense wins championships. Matt Coldren has preached about the importance of defense over his 24 years as Wilson’s head coach. He learned that approach from the legendary Reggie Weiss who won 362 games with the Bulldogs. Wilson allowed ten points or less in three quarters of a 55-39 victory over Reading in the BCIAA Championship on Friday night. Luke Levan stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in front of 1,800 fans at Santander Arena. “When we have good defense, it sets up our offense. We gotta keep that going in District’s,” said Levan. The 6’6 senior provided nine points in the fourth quarter, and made it difficult for the fourth-seeded Red Knights to finish in the lane. Reading had won nine of its previous ten contests. All-County guard Madyx Gruber poured in a game-high 23 points. “He’s incredible, he’s a really good player. I’m excited to see where he goes after this,” remarked Levan. Gruber made two of his team’s four 3-pointers. The 5’11 senior was 9-of-12 from the foul line with five rebounds and four steals. The second-seeded Bulldogs attempted just two free throws before the fourth quarter. They ended up 17-of-24 from the stripe. Wilson only committed ten turnovers. “In a game like this, the refs aren’t gonna call as many fouls which makes it even harder. They’re a really good pressuring team. I thought we did a really good job beating the pressure and playing strong,” noted Levan. The (20-5) Bulldogs earned their second straight Berks County title and fourth in six years. Levan was asked where this one ranks among the best performances of his career. “I think it’s gotta be up there. I gotta say thanks to all my teammates for getting me the ball and trusting me,” he replied. The (13-12) Red Knights saw their season come to an end. They trailed 9-8 after the opening quarter and 20-15 at halftime. Wilson began the second half with a 10-to-2 run. Tommy McFadden hit a triple from the left corner and scored on a fast break. Six of his eight points came in that period. Much like the second half of the season, Reading wouldn’t go away. The Red Knights battled back with nine consecutive points. Weshly Rosario fired a sweet pass to Xavier Beatty for a layup with 1:24 left in the third quarter. After a timeout, Gruber answered with a deep trey from the left wing for a 33-26 lead. Jeremiah Camara banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 35 seconds to go. Reading was within 33-29 entering the final period. Camara and Jostin DeCastro, both sophomore guards, had ten points apiece. The Bulldogs were in front 41-35 with just over three minutes to play. They went on a pivotal 9-to-2 run to put the game on ice. Levan had a pair of layups during that stretch. Camara was called for a personal foul and then a technical foul after pushing a Wilson player with 56 seconds left. Gruber made three of his four free throw attempts for a 50-37 cushion. Rosario, who averaged nearly 13 ppg., was limited to five points. The Red Knights were 5-of-13 from the foul line and connected just twice from beyond the arc. They were searching for their 26th BCIAA championship. Meanwhile, Coldren improved his overall record to (428-202). The former All-County guard for the Bulldogs has guided them to six Berks County titles. Wilson has eight seniors on its roster including four in the starting lineup. The Bulldogs will host #12 seed Cedar Crest in the first round of the District 3-6A playoffs on Tuesday. “I’m excited for Cedar Crest because they kicked us out last year,” stated Levan.

]]> Gov. Mifflin holds off Wilson https://berkssportsreport.com/gov-mifflin-holds-off-wilson/ Tue, 17 Dec 2024 15:12:53 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4639 How did the Gov. Mifflin girls basketball team get out of West Lawn with a win? “That’s a good question,” replied Mustangs’ head coach Mike Clark with a laugh. Gov. Mifflin beat rival Wilson 47-45 in a nailbiter on Monday night. “The kids gutted it out…I don’t know how we actually pulled it out,” said Clark. He’s in his 13th season with the Mustangs and recently surpassed 300 career victories. Clark went (93-18) over four years at Oley Valley which included a District 3 championship in 2011. His Mustangs got all they could handle from a short-handed Bulldogs squad. All-County point guard Laila Jones is out with a torn ACL and All-Division forward Violet Houck didn’t play due to a hamstring injury. The 5’11 junior is expected back soon. Wilson trailed 14-7 in the first quarter before scoring the last five points of the period. Ryan Leaman hit a jumper from the left wing at the buzzer that was ruled a 3-pointer, although video showed that her feet were inside the line. Bella Super had a dozen points in the first half as Gov. Mifflin took a 27-24 lead into the break. Laura Crocona, a 5’7 junior, scored eight of her eleven points in the third quarter. The Bulldogs were down 39-38 entering the final period. Leaman drilled a trey from the right wing to put Wilson on top 45-42 with five and a-half minutes remaining. The 5’7 sophomore started in place of Houck and provided nine points. Kailani Hardy, an electric 5’9 sophomore, finished with a team-high 13 points. Both teams went scoreless for nearly three minutes until Super connected from beyond the arc to even it up at 45-45. Her 3-pointer from the right wing rattled around, popped up in the air, and fell through the net with 2:40 left. The 5’8 sophomore had a game-high 20 points. “Sometimes she played out of control, but she also made some good shots,” noted Clark. Bridget Martin fired a nice bounce pass to Mia Vasquez on the left block with 59 seconds to play. Vasquez was fouled and sank both free throws for a 47-45 advantage. “That was great,” said Clark about his 5’10 senior center. Vasquez was in foul trouble in the first half when the Mustangs struggled to rebound. They start three sophomores and a freshman. Hardy missed a driving attempt to tie the game, but Gov. Mifflin committed a turnover on the ensuing possession. Janai Tisdale was tied up while trying to drive down the right side of the lane with six seconds remaining. The arrow was in the Bulldogs’ favor, however, Brooklyn George stole the inbounds pass under the basket. George, a 5’6 sophomore, contributed ten points including two of the Mustangs’ five 3-pointers. Martin and Vasquez added seven points apiece. The (5-1) Mustangs went 8-of-14 from the free throw line, while the (2-4) Bulldogs were 8-of-12. The two schools are separated by just a few miles. “You can throw the records out when they play,” stated Clark.

]]> Doug Dahms-Wilson https://berkssportsreport.com/doug-dahms-wilson-11/ Tue, 26 Nov 2024 01:29:31 +0000 https://berkssportsreport.com/?p=4589 Football coaches often say that speed kills. Harrisburg’s speed was on full display on Saturday afternoon at Don Thomas Stadium. The fourth-seeded Cougars beat second-seeded Wilson 42-14 in the District 3-6A Championship. “Their skill kids are off the charts and they’ve got speed everywhere. Their linebackers are fast, their linemen are fast. They’re an athletic group,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Doug Dahms. Harrisburg claimed its fourth straight District 3 title and seventh overall. The (11-2) Cougars outgained Wilson 306-to-155, including 150-to-26 on the ground. Penn State commit Messiah Mickens had two short touchdown runs to put Harrisburg in front 14-0 early in the second quarter. The 6’, 200-pound junior sacked Madyx Gruber three times from his defensive end position. Nehemiah Ewell broke off a 52-yard TD run down the left sideline with 4:22 left before halftime. The (11-2) Bulldogs responded with a 58-yard drive. Gruber’s 1-yard sneak made it 21-6 with 15 seconds remaining in the first half. The extra point was no good. Jayion Lewis hit Elias Coke over the middle for a 37-yard score on the Cougars’ opening possession of the third quarter. Coke had three catches for 110 yards before leaving with an injury. The 6’3, 200-pound junior was on crutches after the game. Coke has more than twenty Division I offers, including Penn State and Michigan. Lewis was 6-of-8 for 156 yards. D’Antae Sheffey, a Syracuse commit, increased the margin to 35-6 with a 10-yard TD run midway through the third period. Quincy Brannon then took a pop pass from Lewis and raced 30 yards down the right sideline with four minutes left in the third quarter. Brannon, a senior defensive back, added a team-high six tackles. Wilson got within 42-14 on Gruber’s 22-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Mike Glover. That score came one minute into the final quarter. Gruber ended up 12-of-20 for 133 yards and two interceptions. He was under pressure most of the afternoon. Gruber threw for 2,018 yards and 25 TD this year after making the switch from wide receiver. “He’s the reason we were what we were. He was our offense, no doubt about it. Who knew he was gonna be that good,” said Dahms with a smile. Despite returning just two starters on defense and four on offense, the Bulldogs won their 29th Section 1 championship in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. They also completed their 49th consecutive winning season, a state record. “I think we grew a lot from the beginning of the year. Our underclassmen grew a lot and the senior leadership was there,” noted Dahms. He’s (196-44) over 19 seasons in West Lawn. Dahms, who started as an assistant at Wilson in 1976, owns the highest winning percentage in Berks County history.

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