Reading – Berks Sports Report

Luke Levan-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:48:09 +0000

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.

Xiani Beatty-Reading

Paul Roberts — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 06:07:20 +0000

Reading surprised a lot of people by beating top-seeded Wyomissing 40-38 in the BCIAA semifinals. The Spartans had won the previous two Berks County titles. The Red Knights weren’t satisfied with just reaching the championship game at Santander Arena. “We didn’t fight all the way just to lose in the game that counted the most. We had to come back and we did,” said Xiani Beatty. The 5’6 freshman guard had a team-high 16 points in a thrilling 63-57 victory over Gov. Mifflin. Beatty scored eight points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with 25 seconds left that gave Reading a 62-57 advantage. Tamyia Collier had only made seven 3-pointers all season entering Friday night. The 5’9 senior hit a triple from the right corner with one and a-half minutes remaining. Collier put the fourth-seeded Red Knights on top 60-57. “She was clutch,” replied Beatty. Brooklyn George and Bella Super misfired on 3-point attempts on the ensuing possession. Beatty’s foul shots then made it a two possession game. The third-seeded Mustangs led 16-12 after eight minutes and 21-16 in the second quarter. Reading responded with a 6-0 run, but Gov. Mifflin went into halftime with a 32-31 edge. The (17-8) Red Knights trailed 49-45 after the third quarter. Saray Renninger converted a three-point play early in the fourth period. The 5’11 freshman, who provided eight points, put the Mustangs in front 52-49. A floater by Yamilex Rodriguez capped a 6-0 run for the Red Knights. Super answered with a trey to even it at 55-55 with three and a-half minutes to go. The 5’7 sophomore erupted for 28 points. Super connected on four of her team’s six 3-pointers. She went 12-for-18 from the foul line. Collier broke the tie with three minutes to play, however, Bridget Martin’s layup knotted the contest at 57-57. That set the stage for Collier’s pivotal shot from beyond the arc. She’s one of five seniors on Reading’s roster and all five contribute. “It feels amazing, especially knowing that they’ve been wanting this moment for four years and they finally got this feeling,” said Beatty. The Red Knights claimed their tenth BCIAA championship and first since 2010. Collier (13) and fellow senior Zaniaya Bradley (10) combined for 23 points. Bradley was a force on the offensive glass as Gov. Mifflin struggled to rebound without Mia Vasquez. The 5’11 senior center also missed the semifinals due to a medical issue. The Mustangs’ starters played almost the entire game. Martin chipped in with nine points before fouling out late. Jayda Armstrong knocked down a couple of triples and finished with eight points. Gov. Mifflin was 21-of-29 from the charity stripe, while Reading went 6-of-12. Rodriguez had eight points and JilliAnn Laws added seven. Head coach Rashida Suber guided the Red Knights to a Berks County title in her fifth season at the helm. “She’s a great coach, great person. She inspires me in many ways,” stated Beatty. Reading and the (16-9) Mustangs are headed to the District 3-6A tournament which begins on Monday. Gov. Mifflin visits fifth-seeded Central Dauphin and Reading travels to fourth-seeded Mechanicsburg.

Bulldogs and Red Knights Advance-BCIAA Boys Semifinals

Paul Roberts — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:28:19 +0000

It’s fair to say that Wilson and Gov. Mifflin are pretty evenly matched. The Bulldogs won in Shillington by three points in their first meeting. The Mustangs prevailed 65-59 in overtime at West Lawn. The rubber match went down Thursday night at Santander Arena in the BCIAA semifinals. Wilson, the defending champion, led 8-6 after the first quarter and 15-12 at halftime. Gov. Mifflin trailed 30-27 entering the final period. It was a defensive battle from the opening tip. Ian Fleming scored in transition to put the third-seeded Mustangs on top 35-34 midway through the fourth quarter. The junior guard finished with eleven points. A nifty move in the lane by Jahmair Johnson made it 37-36 with 2:45 left. The 6’3 senior had six of his team-high twelve points in the last quarter. Madyx Gruber’s layup gave the second-seeded Bulldogs a 38-37 edge with 2:10 remaining. The All-County guard scored again for a 40-37 advantage. Gruber ended up with 18 points. Matt Koehler tied it with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:22 to go. That was just the second triple of the night for Gov. Mifflin. Wilson attempted to hold for the last shot, but Fleming came up with a steal. With four seconds on the clock, the Mustangs threw the ball away and Correll Akings got off a shot from beyond the NBA 3-point line at the buzzer. His attempt while on the move hit high off the backboard which meant overtime. Luke Levan’s three-point play put the (19-5) Bulldogs in front 43-40 and they never looked back. The 6’6 senior had a game-high 19 points including five in overtime. “I think he was effective because we gave him a lot of touches. I don’t think we gave him enough touches throughout the year, mostly because our guards had a lot of success on the outside. We needed him to step up and he did,” said head coach Matt Coldren. Cam Zullinger found Levan for an easy bucket with 1:20 left in overtime. The (16-8) Mustangs trailed 49-41 at that point. Gruber shut the door with four consecutive free throws in the last minute. Zullinger was 4-for-6 from the stripe in the extra session. The 6’ senior provided ten points off the bench. Wilson was 11-of-13 from the foul line with eleven of those attempts coming in overtime. Gov. Mifflin struggled with its free throws. The Mustangs were 9-of-17 overall and 3-of-8 in the extra period. Koehler, who averages nearly 15 ppg., was limited to six points. Senior point guard Andrew Galantuomo chipped in with ten. The Bulldogs survived and advanced. They’ve won three Berks County titles in the past five years. “I have the opportunity to coach some really great kids. This group has been really dedicated to my program. It’s just a great example of when you put time in, good things happen to you,” remarked Coldren.

Good things have been happening to Reading’s basketball team since mid-January. The fourth-seeded Red Knights knocked off top-seeded Berks Catholic 48-41 in the BCIAA semifinals at Santander Arena. Reading has won nine of its last ten games. “The boys started to trust each other more. Earlier in the year, we were turning the ball over at a ridiculous clip. We limited turnovers, our defense has been tremendous,” said head coach Francis Camara. He also stressed that maintaining their composure at the end of games has been crucial to the turnaround. Camara’s son, Jeremiah, led everyone with 19 points. “I’m super proud of him. He has the utmost confidence. The kid has so much confidence because he works so hard,” noted Camara. Jeremiah, a 5’9 sophomore, was relentless in attacking the basket. He had six of the Red Knights’ 13 points in the fourth quarter. “It’s a proud moment as a father. It’s beautiful to see. I got a front row seat to watch my son play high school basketball,” emphasized Camara. Reading went on a 9-0 run to start the second quarter and build a 23-11 advantage. The (13-11) Red Knights were up 27-18 at the break. They went scoreless for nearly five and a-half minutes in the third quarter as the Saints climbed within 27-23. A three-point play by Zach Suski made it 31-28 with 1:42 left in the period. Weshly Rosario fed Xavier Beatty for a layup at the buzzer and a 35-28 lead. A steal and layup by Camara extended Reading’s cushion to 41-30 with five and a-half minutes remaining. He scored again with 90 seconds to go after the Red Knights beat Berks Catholic’s pressure. That layup put the (18-5) Saints in a 45-37 hole. Brady Altimar scored and was fouled with 53 seconds to play. The 5’9 junior missed the free throw, but cut the deficit to 46-41. Reading beat the Saints’ trap again which resulted in a layup for Jostin DeCastro with 45 seconds left. The 6’2 sophomore contributed 14 points including six in the final eight minutes. The Red Knights were 6-for-11 from the foul line, while Berks Catholic went 5-for-9. Each team only made two 3-pointers. Kingston McKoy jammed 14 of his 16 points into the first half. The 6’2 junior guard leads Berks County in scoring at 22 ppg. Suski added seven points and freshman guard Carmelo Harper had six off the bench. The Saints had won ten of their previous eleven contests. They Division 1 champions swept Reading in the regular season. The Red Knights didn’t qualify for the District 3 playoffs for the first time since 2001 when they finished (13-13). Friday night’s BCIAA Championship will be their last time taking the court together this season. They square off with Wilson at 8pm. Reading is looking for its 26th Berks County title.

Mustangs and Red Knights Rally-BCIAA Girls Semifinals

Paul Roberts — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 07:50:52 +0000

Gov. Mifflin and Wilson kicked off an exciting evening of basketball at Santander Arena. The first of four BCIAA semifinals didn’t disappoint. The third-seeded Mustangs trailed 38-27 with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter. Gov. Mifflin rallied past the second-seeded Bulldogs 60-56. Bella Super, a 5’8 sophomore guard, poured in 25 points. “Hell of a job Bella Super, hell of a job. She’s got the skill set to do that game in and game out,” said head coach Mike Clark. The Mustangs went on a 14-to-4 run to pull within 42-41 late in the third quarter. Brooklyn George splashed a 3-pointer from the left wing with 6:15 remaining to even the score at 46-46. The 5’7 sophomore finished with a dozen points. Super’s steal and layup put Gov. Mifflin on top 51-48 midway through the final quarter. Saray Renninger, a promising 5’10 freshman, hit a triple from the right corner to give the Mustangs a 54-50 cushion. Renninger chipped in with twelve points. Violet Houck’s layup got Wilson within 56-54 with just over one minute remaining. However, Bridget Martin responded with a pair of free throws with 43 seconds to go. The 5’8 sophomore provided eleven points. Kailani Hardy, who scored a team-high 19 points, missed a short shot on the ensuing possession. Martin then found Renninger underneath the basket for an easy bucket to ice it with eight seconds left. Gov. Mifflin fell behind 13-4 early. The (16-8) Mustangs were down 18-13 after eight minutes and 30-23 at halftime. They went 11-for-19 from the foul line, while the Bulldogs were 0-for-1. Wilson connected six times from beyond the arc in the first half, but only twice after halftime. Hardy, a 5’9 sophomore, made three treys. Laura Crocona and sophomore Ryan Leaman each sank two 3-pointers. Crocona ended up with 18 points and Leaman had ten. The (16-8) Bulldogs split with the Mustangs during league play. Gov. Mifflin was without starting center Mia Vasquez due to a medical issue. She averages 10 ppg. Clark has guided the Mustangs to five Berks League championships. This is his 13th year in Shillington. Clark, who has 315 career victories, gives his team the same message before every season. “Just listen to me for 22 games. You get me to Santander [Arena] and I’ll figure something out to get you to the championship game,” he said.

Gov. Mifflin will face fourth-seeded Reading on Friday at 6pm at Santander Arena. The (16-8) Red Knights upset #1 seed and two-time defending champion Wyomissing 40-38. The (20-4) Spartans saw their eight-game winning streak come to a halt. Wyomissing raced out to a 17-8 advantage with three minutes remaining in the second quarter. Reading trimmed its deficit to 17-14 by halftime. The Spartans went in front 30-21 late in the third period. Yamilex Rodriguez hit a pull-up jumper before the buzzer to close the gap to 32-26. The Red Knights opened the fourth quarter with six straight points to tie it up. A runner down the lane by senior Tamyia Collier made it 32-32. “We stuck together and we knew basketball is a game of runs,” replied head coach Rashida Suber. It took Wyomissing three and a-half minutes to get on the board in the final period. A layup by Amaya Stewart was answered by one from freshman Xiani Beatty. Stewart scored again inside for a 36-34 edge with 2:36 to go. The 6’1 Albany commit led everyone with 20 points. Alexis Hardy went 2-for-4 from the foul line to give the Spartans a 38-34 cushion with 1:46 to play. Rodriguez then took charge with consecutive buckets to knot things at 38-38. Audrey Hurleman, who returned on January 28 from a torn ACL, missed a jumper from the right elbow. There was a mad scramble for the loose ball which was won by Beatty. She flipped the ball to Elyssa Spring who fired a long pass down the court that hit Stewart in the back. The ball deflected to Kailani Ocasio who fed Rodriguez for a reverse layup with 15 seconds remaining. “Somehow she got it and she was already determined to get to the basket,” said Suber of Rodriguez. Wyomissing was behind 40-38, but still had time to get a good look. Hurleman threw a pass from mid-court that hit Hardy in stride at the foul line. Hardy drove down the right side of the lane, but missed a layup with four seconds left. The Delaware track and field commit finished with eleven points. The Spartans committed 23 turnovers against Reading’s pressure. “We wanted to keep throwing different schemes at them. I knew if we could pressure their guards, we would be in a good position,” explained Suber. The 2003 graduate piled up 2,111 career points for the Red Knights. She’s in her fifth season as their head coach. Neither team made a shot from beyond the arc on Thursday. Wyomissing was 10-for-19 from the free throw line, while Reading went 4-for-8. Rodriguez, a 5’4 senior guard, had a team-high 16 points. Beatty added eleven points. “She’s a special kid. She’s been around basketball a lot. She has a unique talent,” stated Suber. The Red Knights are searching for their tenth BCIAA championship and first since 2010. They split their regular season matchups with Gov. Mifflin.

BCIAA Boys Basketball Quarterfinals

Paul Roberts — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:37:56 +0000

The Berks County boys basketball playoffs kicked off Monday night. The four teams from Division 1 dominated in the quarterfinal round. They won by an average of 20.5 points. You can read the full story on Gov. Mifflin’s 68-52 victory over Exeter on my website, including an interview with junior guard Ian Fleming. The BCIAA boys and girls basketball semifinals will be held on Wednesday at Santander Arena.

#8 Antietam at #1 Berks Catholic

The Mounts and Saints were tied 14-14 after eight minutes at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. Berks Catholic pulled away in the middle quarters for a 68-47 victory. The Saints outscored Antietam 21-to-9 in the second period and 25-to-11 in the third. Kingston McKoy poured in a game-high 28 points. The 6’2 junior guard was a third team All-State selection a season ago, but he missed the BCIAA playoffs due to a fractured tibia. Zach Suski added 15 points, including 13 in the first half. Gavin Welker chipped in with nine points for the (18-4) Saints. A.J. Scheifley led the (13-9) Mounts with 17 points. Jonas Coste and Julious Williams scored ten points apiece. Antietam will be in the District 3-3A tournament which begins on Monday, February 17.

#5 Wyomissing at #4 Reading

The Red Knights remained hot with a 77-56 win over the Spartans at the Geigle Complex. Reading has won eight of its last nine contests. Jeremiah Camara sank four of their seven 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Red Knights were on top 28-11 after eight minutes. Camara ended up with a game-high 22 points. The 5’9 sophomore hit five triples. Weshly Rosario connected three times from long range and finished with 17 points. Xavier Beatty provided twelve points. The 6’3 senior forward committed to Lock Haven for football on Monday. Danny Fleischood, a 6’1 junior, led Wyomissing with 19 points. Dom Arguelles (14) and Dylan Latourelle (11) combined for 25 points. The (15-8) Spartans have qualified for the District 3-4A playoffs which start on Thursday, February 20. The (12-11) Red Knights battle top-seeded Berks Catholic on Wednesday at 8:30pm at Santander Arena.

#7 Schuylkill Valley at #2 Wilson

The Bulldogs rolled to a 72-48 win over the Panthers. The defending Berks County champions allowed just 17 points in the second half. Wilson improved to (18-5). Madyx Gruber piled up 23 points. The All-County guard knocked down five 3-pointers. Correll Akings contributed 14 points and 6’6 senior Luke Levan had nine. Cooper Hohenadel, one of several outstanding football players in this matchup, led Schuylkill Valley with a dozen points. The (15-8) Panthers now await the District 3-4A tournament on Thursday, February 20. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs square off with rival Gov. Mifflin on Wednesday at 5:30pm at Santander Arena. That will follow the Wilson versus Gov. Mifflin girls semifinal which begins at 4pm.

Kahlil Samuel-Reading

Paul Roberts — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:26:20 +0000

Win or go home. Those are four powerful words in the world of sports. Reading needed to win its league finale against Gov. Mifflin and hope that Muhlenberg lost at Wilson on Tuesday night. Otherwise, the Red Knights’ season would end and they would miss the BCIAA playoffs for the first time since 1997. The Muhls fell to the Bulldogs 60-57 in overtime which opened the door for Reading. There was just one problem. The Red Knights trailed the Mustangs by 14 points in the final minute of the third quarter. Reading pulled off a dramatic comeback on Senior Night and defeated Gov. Mifflin 68-64 in overtime. The Geigle Complex was rocking as the (11-11, 7-5) Red Knights outscored the Mustangs 20-11 in the fourth quarter. “At some point, they’re gonna start breaking. We just kept running and running because they can’t run with us,” said Kahlil Samuel. The 6’1 forward is the only senior in the starting lineup. “Some of our juniors and sophomores kept emphasizing play for the seniors, play for the seniors. I appreciate them for that,” noted Samuel. Reading won seven of its last eight contests to qualify for the Berks County playoffs. Although Muhlenberg has a higher District 3 power ranking than the Red Knights, the (15-7, 6-6) Muhls are not eligible for the BCIAA tournament because they finished in fifth place in Division 1. According to BCIAA rules, only the top four teams in each division are considered. Gov. Mifflin, which had already locked up its postseason bid, looked like the team with more urgency in the first quarter. The (14-7, 7-5) Mustangs knocked down four 3-pointers in the first eight minutes and led 22-11. Their advantage increased to 27-13 early in the second quarter. Jeremiah Camara picked up his third foul with 1:34 left in the second period. The 5’9 sophomore averages a team-high 13.9 points per game. The son of second-year head coach Francis Camara came up big in the final quarter and overtime. Gov. Mifflin was on top 35-31 at halftime and 49-35 late in the third quarter. A three-point play by Weshly Rosario got Reading within 49-38 with 30 seconds remaining in the period. After a Mustangs’ turnover, Samuel converted a layup and suddenly the Red Knights were only down 49-40 with eight minutes to play. Rosario, a flashy 6’ junior guard, made a layup with five minutes to go that gave Reading its first lead at 51-50. They capped an 11-to-1 run to begin the fourth quarter. Jahmair Johnson, who usually operates in the low post, hit a triple with 3:40 left to put Gov. Mifflin back in front 54-53. After a putback by Reading senior Xavier Beatty, Matt Koehler answered with an inside bucket. The 6’3 senior drained a 3-pointer from the right corner to make it 59-55 with 1:45 remaining. Ian Fleming then split a pair of free throws and the Red Knights trailed 60-55 with 1:20 to play. Reading rose to the occasion with five consecutive points including a layup in transition by Camara. Beatty followed with two clutch foul shots to tie it up with 41 seconds on the clock. The Mustangs held the ball for the final shot. Koehler missed a tough jumper from the right elbow before the buzzer. Camara started the overtime session with a steal and a layup on the fast break. Andrew Galantuomo and Fleming each went 1-for-2 from the foul line to even the score. Rosario provided the biggest basket of the night with 37 seconds to go. He drove down the middle of the lane and was fouled. That three-point play gave the Red Knights a 65-62 edge. After Galantuomo misfired on a pull-up jumper, Camara sank two free throws with 13 seconds left. A layup by Johnson made it 67-64 with six seconds remaining. Samuel was immediately fouled and missed his first free throw. He connected on his second attempt, however, to seal the thrilling victory for Reading. “I knew I had to make it. It’s Senior Night and I know if we lose, we go home so I had to make that shot,” replied Samuel. He spent last year at South Shore High School in Brooklyn. Samuel is happy to be back with the Red Knights. “When I came back, they all welcomed me with open arms,” he stated. Reading avoided its first losing season since 1988. “We’ve been in playoff mode for about four games. We just gotta keep playing hard and stay together,” said Samuel. He provided eleven points. Rosario (18) and Camara (17) combined for 35 points. Camara erupted for 13 points after the third quarter. Beatty, a 6’3 forward, was a key contributor off the bench with nine points including seven in the fourth quarter. The Red Knights went 17-of-31 from the foul line, while Gov. Mifflin was 10-of-18. The Mustangs made eight shots from beyond the arc. Reading connected just three times from long range. Gov. Mifflin was without starting guard Stephen Mayo due to a shoulder injury that he suffered against Conrad Weiser on Friday. Koehler and Johnson scored 16 points apiece. Galantuomo added a dozen and Fleming chipped in with ten points. Evan Byrne, a 6’7 senior, was in the starting lineup for the Mustangs. He had seven points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. The Berks County playoff brackets will be released on Thursday. Gov. Mifflin and Reading will both be in the field of eight. “I feel like we can go far as long as we keep working hard and take it one game at a time,” said Samuel.

Matt Raquet-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 05:58:25 +0000

A matchup for first place between two very good teams was tarnished by a fight that resulted in six players being ejected. “It was really unfortunate and kind of ruined a really good league game. Just an unfortunate situation, it should never happen,” said Wilson first-year coach Matt Raquet. The Bulldogs beat Reading 46-45 to claim sole possession of the top spot in Division 1 of the Berks League. Raquet wasn’t sure what led up to the fight with 1:22 left in the third quarter. “I don’t know anything about social media, if anything happened there. I don’t think so. It was just heat of the moment, competitive type stuff that shouldn’t happen,” replied Raquet. As the ball was heading upcourt, Reading senior Elyssa Spring and Wilson junior Janai Tisdale squared off at the foul line. They exchanged punches before wrestling each other to the floor. Spring, Tamyia Collier, Kailani Ocasio, and Nalani Sosa were ejected for the Red Knights. Tisdale and Kailani Hardy were thrown out for the Bulldogs. “They’re kids at the end of the day. They made mistakes and they’re gonna learn from it. That’s the important thing now, the response and making sure it doesn’t happen again,” stated Raquet. Hardy had 18 points and Wilson was up 36-33 at the time of the melee. “She’s just scratching the surface of her potential…The great thing about her is she puts winning first,” said Raquet about Hardy. The 5’9 sophomore is averaging 15 ppg. this season. The Bulldogs trailed 9-8 after the opening quarter and 27-26 at halftime. Reading built a 33-28 cushion midway through the third period. Wilson ended the quarter on a 10-0 run. Laura Crocona, a 5’7 junior, scored eight of her ten points in that period. “She was awesome. She’s great at running the floor, gets a lot of good transition looks…She does it on both ends and a lot of that doesn’t get seen in the stat sheet,” explained Raquet. Sophomore Nyla Nunez, who appeared in just her eighth varsity contest, gave the Red Knights a 41-40 edge on a layup with 3:43 remaining. Jade Lee quickly responded with a bucket to put the (14-6, 9-2) Bulldogs back on top. Ryan Leaman, a 5’7 sophomore point guard, made a tough floater on the left baseline for a 44-41 lead with 2:12 to go. After a Reading turnover, Lee drove down the center of the lane and banked in a shot with 1:34 on the clock. The 5’9 freshman provided six of her eight points in the fourth quarter. “She did a great job in a really crazy environment at keeping her cool, and continuing to rebound and be active,” mentioned Raquet. Yamilex Rodriguez sank a pull-up jumper to get the (14-7, 8-3) Red Knights within 46-43 with 35 seconds to play. Crocona missed a pair of free throws with eleven seconds left. Instead of attempting a tying 3-pointer, Rodriguez drove to the basket and found JilliAnn Laws for a layup. That cut Reading’s deficit to 46-45, but only one second remained. Raquet said he doesn’t believe in fouling with a three point lead late in the game. “My philosophy is guard the 3-point line, contest and don’t foul. Luckily, they drove and took a 2 there,” he replied. Violet Houck then threw a long pass just past midcourt that was deflected as time expired. Houck only had four points, but the 5’11 junior was a shot-blocking machine. Wilson went 5-for-10 from the foul line, while the Red Knights were 6-for-10. Each team only connected once from beyond the arc. Rodriguez and freshman Xiani Beatty finished with ten points apiece for Reading. Spring and Laws each contributed six points. The Bulldogs defeated the Red Knights 65-47 at the Geigle Complex on December 19th. Wilson has won nine of its last ten games. Their spurt at the end of the third quarter was crucial on a wild night in West Lawn. “I don’t think we had any panic at that time and just stayed together as a group,” said Raquet.

Gavin Welker-Berks Catholic

Paul Roberts — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:52:52 +0000

Every basketball player wants their coach to give them the green light to shoot. In Gavin Welker’s case, he didn’t have a choice. “Snip was yelling at me. He wanted me to shoot the ball earlier in the game and he took me out for it. When I went back in, I knew I had to shoot and they were falling,” said Welker. With Berks Catholic trailing Reading 22-9 in the second quarter, Welker made four 3-pointers in a row. The 6’2 junior banked in his last triple high off the glass. “I’ll take it. It went in,” he replied with a smile. The Saints held off the Red Knights 62-59 on Monday night at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. Welker connected five times from beyond the arc and finished with a season-high 19 points. This is his first year playing for longtime coach Snip Esterly after transferring from Daniel Boone. “He’s hard on me, but I like it. He pushes me every day. He’s giving me more confidence on the court, making me better,” explained Welker. Esterly has piled up 829 victories, 8 BCIAA championships, and 14 District 3 titles over 36 seasons. He also led Central Catholic to a state championship in 2007. Berks Catholic fell behind Reading 16-6 in the first quarter. The Red Knights didn’t allow a point for four minutes and fifteen seconds. Welker scored all twelve of the Saints’ points in the second period. They were down 26-21 at halftime and All-State guard Kingston McKoy was scoreless. McKoy came alive in the third quarter with a dozen of his sixteen points. The 6’2 junior had two of Berks Catholic’s ten treys. Zach Suski banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key before the buzzer. “Clutch, it was awesome,” said Welker. Suski, who had 14 points, was fouled on the shot. He missed the free throw, but still gave the Saints a 44-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. A three-point play by Jackson Kozik made it 51-41 with 4:48 left. Kozik, a 6’ junior forward, made a pair of foul shots with 1:34 remaining to give Berks Catholic a 57-50 cushion. “He’s getting better and better. He’s contributing more every game. It’s huge for him to step up like that,” noted Welker. Kozik, who averages 3 ppg., provided ten points including a layup with 34 seconds to go. That bucket came after sophomore Jostin DeCastro’s layup pulled Reading within 57-54. Welker split a pair of free throws with 24 seconds to play for a 60-54 lead. On the ensuing possession, Weshly Rosario missed a triple from the top of the key. Kahlil Samuel splashed a 3-pointer as time expired, but the Red Knights’ four-game winning streak came to an end. Samuel had a team-high 17 points. DeCastro added twelve points and Rosario chipped in with eleven. Reading was 8-of-9 from the foul line, but made just two 3-pointers before the buzzer-beater by Samuel. The (14-3, 8-2) Saints extended their winning streak to six. They went 10-of-14 from the charity stripe. The Red Knights fell to (8-11, 4-5) and are in danger of missing the Berks County playoffs for the first time since 1997. They have three games remaining. Reading travels to Division 2 champion Exeter on Wednesday before hosting Wilson and Gov. Mifflin. Berks Catholic has a-half game edge over the Bulldogs atop a rugged Division 1. “Every game is competitive. We don’t really have a break. We gotta come out every game with intensity,” emphasized Welker.

Weshly Rosario-Reading

Paul Roberts — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 14:44:39 +0000

Weshly Rosario is known for his great court vision and flashy passes. On Thursday evening, the 6’ junior guard decided to flip the script. “I changed today because they know I pass the basketball so I was looking more to score,” he explained. Rosario finished with a career-high 28 points in Reading’s 88-80 victory over Muhlenberg at the Geigle Complex. He had eleven points in the fourth quarter including two pivotal plays. With three and a-half minutes remaining, Rosario drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner to put the Red Knights on top 73-67. On their next possession, he converted a three-point play for a 76-67 advantage. Xavier Beatty provided the exclamation point with a one-handed dunk that sent the crowd into a frenzy. “Oh my God, that was crazy. That was amazing. I got excited,” said Rosario. Beatty, a 6’3 senior forward, contributed a dozen points off the bench. Reading raced out to a 7-0 lead. Blake Adams, a 6’9 junior transfer from Nativity, picked up two fouls in 90 seconds. However, the Red Knights were still in front 21-18 after the opening quarter. Adams was playing in just his fourth game after winning an appeal on his eligibility. The Muhls reeled off the last eight points of the first half and trimmed their deficit to 40-39 at the break. The offensive explosion continued in the second half. Reading had a 63-57 edge after the third quarter. A total of 48 points were scored in the final eight minutes. Michael Miller hit a triple with 5:45 left to bring Muhlenberg within 68-66. The 6’ junior forward made four of the Muhls’ eleven treys. Miller, who averages seven points, ended up with 14. All-County guard Shermar Killen dropped a team-high 23 points and LJ Armstrong added 18. Jayden Kantner was a spark off the bench with 15 points. Both teams were very good from the free throw line. Reading went 30-for-36, while Muhlenberg was 17-for-23. Rosario attacked the basket repeatedly and was rewarded. He shot 14-of-15 from the charity stripe. Rosario also sank both of the Red Knights’ 3-pointers. He was setting up his teammates as well. Rosario dished out nine assists. Reading prefers to create off the dribble than dial long distance. Sophomore guard Jostin DeCastro provided 20 points and senior Kahlil Samuel finished with 15. The (13-5, 5-4) Muhls saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. The (8-10, 4-4) Red Knights have won four in a row, including an impressive 44-41 victory over Central Dauphin on Saturday. After a tough start to the season, Reading is in desperation mode to qualify for the Berks County playoffs. The Red Knights have the lowest power ranking of the five teams in Division 1. They’re behind Wilson, Berks Catholic, Muhlenberg, and Gov. Mifflin with four games to go. Reading hasn’t missed the BCIAA tournament since 1997. “We talk about it every day. If we go to County’s, they better be ready because we’re coming for everybody,” stated Rosario.

Reading falls to Central York

Paul Roberts — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:37:53 +0000

The defending state champions in Class 6A paid a visit to the Geigle Complex on Wednesday night. Central York returned four starters from a (29-3) squad that captured the school’s first PIAA title in boys basketball. Reading had three sophomores in its starting lineup and just one senior. The Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead. They were on top 25-12 after the opening quarter. “Reading’s always a scrappy team. We know that we can’t play lackadaisical at all, especially with this environment,” said Ben Natal. The 6’3 senior guard scored ten of his twenty points in the first eight minutes. Natal has more than 1,400 points in his career. The Red Knights had to go to their bench early after Jostin DeCastro and Kahlil Samuel each picked up two fouls in the first period. DeCastro, who was averaging 12 ppg., finished with just six points. Reading outscored Central York 17-to-13 in the second quarter and trailed by nine points at halftime. The Red Knights were mistakenly awarded two extra points in the third quarter. They were within 50-42 entering the final period. Reading got the first bucket of the fourth quarter. However, the (8-1) Panthers erupted for 23 points and pulled away from the (3-9) Red Knights. Ben Rill, a 6’8 senior, provided 20 points. Albright commit Byron Pinkney added 19 points. The 6’4 senior hit two of Central York’s four 3-pointers. There were 48 combined turnovers including 25 by the Panthers. Both teams did a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half. Jeremiah Camara had a team-high 15 points. The 5’9 sophomore scored nine points in the fourth quarter. Samuel chipped in with nine points. Weshly Rosario, “Coco” Malave, and Xavier Beatty provided eight points apiece. Malave, a 5’10 sophomore, got the start as Beatty came off the bench. Reading went 7-of-10 from the free throw line, while the Panthers were 9-of-14. These schools squared off in the state semifinals a season ago. Central York took that matchup 79-65. The Red Knights are back in action tonight at Twin Valley.