Tag Archives: playoffs

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 …

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 …

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 …

When Schuylkill Valley’s boys basketball team last reached the District 3 semifinals, the players on this year’s team weren’t even born. “Yeah!” by Usher was the #1 song on the charts and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” won the Oscar for Best Picture. On Friday, …

Mechanicsburg knocked off Central Dauphin 39-37 in the Mid-Penn Conference Championship. The fifth-seeded Wildcats visited Wilson on Thursday in the District 3-6A quarterfinals. Bulldogs’ head coach Matt Raquet didn’t want this matchup in the 30s. “Dictating the pace of the game was one of our keys and we did a …

Reading and York High have combined for 36 District 3 championships in boys basketball. The Red Knights own a record 24 titles. They returned to the tournament after not qualifying last season for the first time since 2001. Fifth-seeded Reading battled the Bearcats on Tuesday at the Geigle Complex. “I …

Exeter’s girls basketball team has experienced a major turnaround. Last season, the Eagles finished (7-15) overall and went (3-8) in league play. Fast-forward twelve months and they’re headed to the BCIAA Championship Game for the first time since 1977. “Super proud, they play together. It’s a fun group to be …

Despite all of its success, Wilson’s girls basketball program has had its struggles in the BCIAA playoffs over the past decade. The Bulldogs haven’t captured a county championship since 2014. “We look at the banner pretty much every day when we stretch at practice. We’ve had some heartbreaking losses here,” …

Snip Esterly entered Wednesday’s BCIAA semifinal against Exeter with 860 career wins. Whether at Central Catholic or Berks Catholic, his teams have always been known for hard-nosed man-to-man defense. The top-seeded Saints put on a defensive clinic at Santander Arena. They held the fifth-seeded Eagles to five points in the …

Round 3 between Reading and Muhlenberg took place at Santander Arena on Wednesday night. The third-seeded Red Knights and second-seeded Muhls split their regular season meetings. This time a trip to the BCIAA Championship Game was on the line. The players and coaches came together arm in arm at half-court …