Schuylkill Valley lost both of its regular season meetings with the Spartans by eight and eleven points respectively. The difference this time around was simple. “We made shots early. We got the same kind of shots that we got in the other games. We made baskets and then we didn’t have to spend the whole rest of the game trying to chip out from a big hole,” explained Grim. Alex Aletras came off the bench and provided a spark in the opening quarter with all six of his points. The 5’11 junior hit a triple from the right wing to put the fifth-seeded Panthers on top 15-8. They held a 15-12 advantage after eight minutes. Dom Arguelles and sophomore Brady Eisenhower combined for 15 of Wyomissing’s 16 points in the second quarter. The fourth-seeded Spartans trailed 29-28 at halftime.

A bucket by Daniel Moyer put Wyomissing in front 38-36 with three minutes left in the third period. That would be the final lead of the night for the (14-10) Spartans. Schuylkill Valley scored the next seven points, including a 3-pointer by Ervin Ortiz. The (15-9) Panthers had a 44-40 edge entering the fourth quarter.

A fast break layup by Ortiz made it 53-44 with just under five minutes to go. The 5’8 junior then found Josiah Urbaez for a layup and a 55-46 lead midway through the quarter. Urbaez sank a pair of free throws to increase the margin to 57-48 with 2:23 on the clock. Another layup by Ortiz extended Schuylkill Valley’s cushion to 59-50 with two minutes left. Derek Grim, the coach’s son, went 2-for-2 at the foul line with 39 seconds to play. Wyomissing, which was down 61-52, committed a turnover on the ensuing possession. Grim, a senior guard, converted two more free throws to close it out. The Panthers finished 19-of-26 from the stripe, while the Spartans were 8-of-16. Wyomissing connected just twice from beyond the arc.

Four players ended up in double figures for Schuylkill Valley. “I’ve got easily seven guys that could be starters for us…That’s the strength of what we do. We’ve got guys that each night can put the ball in the basket. Somebody is not having a good night, somebody else steps up,” emphasized Taylor Grim. Ortiz and Urbaez provided 13 points apiece. Urbaez, a 6’ senior guard, came alive in the fourth quarter with eight points. “He’s been that for us all year. He gives us that punch coming off the bench. Defensively, he makes plays for us,” replied Grim. Seniors Tanner Staus and Derek Grim added eleven and ten points respectively. Arguelles, a senior point guard, had a game-high 18 points for the Spartans. Eisenhower chipped in with fourteen points and Moyer had eleven. Wyomissing was outscored 34-to-24 in the second half.

The Spartans have dropped four of their last five games. They host #8 seed Eastern York on Monday in an elimination game. The top five teams in the District 3-4A bracket qualify for the state tournament. Meanwhile, the Panthers have reached the District semifinals for just the second time in program history. They travel to top-seeded Berks Catholic on Tuesday. The (23-2) Saints defeated Schuylkill Valley 58-42 in the BCIAA quarterfinals on February 9th.

The first four shots made by Fleetwood were all from beyond the arc. However, Wyomissing was on top 15-14 after the first quarter. Daniel Moyer, a 6’ senior forward, scored seven points in the first eight minutes. The (13-7, 8-3) Spartans went on an 8-0 run to begin the second period. Sophomore Brady Eisenhower, the quarterback of the football team, hit a pair of triples. Senna provided seven points in that quarter and the Tigers pulled within 29-27 at halftime. Wyomissing kicked off the second half with an 11-2 run, including a three-point play by Dom Arguelles. The 6’ senior point guard ended up with a team-high 20 points. Eisenhower chipped in with 13 points and Moyer added eight. The Spartans were in front 42-33 going into the fourth quarter.

Eisenhower and Arguelles converted layups to give the Spartans a 46-39 edge. A three-point play by Senna made it 46-42 with 2:48 left. Senna missed two foul shots with 2:20 to go, but he followed up his second attempt with a bucket. CJ Sallee then hit Eli Herndon with a bounce pass for a layup with 1:29 on the clock. A 7-0 run by Fleetwood in 80 seconds had tied it up at 46-46. Wyomissing opted to hold for the final shot. The Spartans committed a turnover with six seconds remaining which gave the ball back to the Tigers. Bieber ran a play called “53.” Senna inbounded it along his own baseline. He threw a short pass to Bryce Ryan and then ran deep like a wide receiver. Ryan lofted a long pass over the defense to Senna who was fouled as he was going to the basket. “That’s exactly the way we drew it up. It worked like a dream. I saw it coming before it happened and Bryce threw me a great pass,” noted Senna. He hit nothing but net on his first free throw with two seconds to play. Senna missed his second attempt, but the comeback was complete.

Fleetwood scored the final eight points and outscored Wyomissing 14-to-4 in the fourth quarter. “We definitely wanted to shut down their drives. That’s where they generate a lot of their points from,” replied Senna. The Spartans went 10-of-14 from the foul line and made four 3-pointers, all in the first half. Their seven-game winning streak came to a halt. Wyomissing and Schuylkill Valley are atop the Division 3 standings with (8-3) league records. The Spartans earn the division title by virtue of winning both meetings with the Panthers in the regular season. Wyomissing and Schuylkill Valley are headed to the BCIAA playoffs which begin on Monday with the quarterfinals. The Berks County girls basketball tournament starts this Saturday.

The Tigers finished 11-for-16 from the stripe. They connected six times from beyond the arc. Herndon had seven points, including five in the pivotal fourth quarter. Sallee and sophomore Josh Szilli helped the cause with six points apiece. Fleetwood swept Wyomissing this season. The Tigers took the first matchup 40-38 one month ago. Senna also led the way in that nailbiter with 19 points. “He’s such a great role model. He’s not a kid that’s arrogant. He wants everybody to do well. He wants to help everybody to be the best they can be including myself,” remarked Bieber. Fleetwood has improved dramatically from a (5-17) mark last year. The Tigers now wait to see if they get in the District 3-5A tournament. The top 16 teams qualify and Fleetwood is #18. Palmyra, Red Land, and Lampeter-Strasburg are currently ahead of the Tigers, but those schools still have games to play. If Tuesday was the final time that Senna puts on the Fleetwood uniform, he hopes that he made a positive impression. “I try to instill in them my work ethic. You can be as good as you want to be, you just have to work for it. I hope that I can really pass down that work ethic to them,” he said.

As of January 1st, nine schools from the Berks Boys Basketball Conference are headed to the District III playoffs. Of course, a lot can change over the next two months. Daniel Boone is one of the squads that’s currently on the bubble in Class 5A. The Blazers are (5-4) after finishing (8-13) a season ago. Gov. Mifflin, Fleetwood, Schuylkill Valley, Brandywine Heights, and Kutztown have some work to do in order to make the District III tournament. There aren’t any teams from the Berks Conference in Class A or Class 2A.

Class 6A (16 teams qualify)

2. Wilson

4. Muhlenberg

6. Reading

19. Gov. Mifflin

Class 5A (16 teams qualify)

8. Exeter

15. Daniel Boone

18. Fleetwood

28. Conrad Weiser

30. Twin Valley

Class 4A (8 teams qualify)

2. Berks Catholic

4. Wyomissing

5. Oley Valley

9. Schuylkill Valley

13. Tulpehocken

14. Hamburg

Class 3A (6 teams)

4. Antietam

7. Brandywine Heights

8. Kutztown

Berks Catholic is still holding down the top spot. The Saints have double digit wins over Muhlenberg and Wilson. Kingston McKoy has improved his strength and perimeter shooting from a season ago. The Colgate commit is averaging 21.6 ppg. He dropped a career-high 40 points on the Muhls in a 69-55 victory last Friday. Berks Catholic visits Reading on Monday.

Muhlenberg earned a quality road victory by defeating the Red Knights 71-68 two weeks ago. The Muhls rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit. Head coach Matt Flowers has a balanced attack. Eli Hemmings, “Coco” Malave, and LJ Armstrong are each averaging between 12-15 points.

Wilson is riding a five-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are gaining valuable experience and will continue to improve as the season progresses. Head coach Matt Coldren is playing ten guys every night, including four sophomores. Wilson will rely on its defense. The Bulldogs have allowed 44 points or less in six consecutive contests.

Reading snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive 72-51 rout of Exeter on Monday. Jostin DeCastro, a 6’3 junior, is putting up 21.7 ppg. While the Red Knights may lack depth and 3-point shooting, they’re dangerous as always in transition. Keep in mind, four starters will be returning next year.

The good news for Exeter is that Aidan Dauble is back from injury. The bad news in Reiffton is that Dylan Donate remains out with a calf strain. Donate scored 57 points and hit 10 triples in the Eagles’ first three games. Exeter has won six of its eight matchups despite only having Dauble in the lineup twice.

Gov. Mifflin’s record is deceiving. The Mustangs have played a very challenging early season schedule. They’ve squared off with Berks Catholic, Muhlenberg, Wilson, and unbeaten West York. This is an inexperienced group in Shillington that’s still trying to find its way on the offensive end.

Wyomissing has a nice one-two punch with Dom Arguelles and Danny Fleischood. Arguelles is running the point and contributing nearly 20 points a night. Fleischood uses his strength and athleticism to get buckets on multiple levels. The 6’1, 190-pound senior is averaging 14.3 ppg. The Spartans came away with a hard-fought 56-48 victory at Schuylkill Valley earlier this month.

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

“The Great 8”

1.Berks Catholic (6-1)

2.Muhlenberg (7-2)

3.Wilson (6-2)

4.Reading (4-3)

5.Exeter (6-2)

6.Gov. Mifflin (3-5)

7.Wyomissing (5-2)

8.Schuylkill Valley (5-5)

Player of the Year-Drew Engle

Offensive Back of the Year-Drew Engle

Receiver of the Year-Ben Grundy

Offensive Lineman of the Year-Greyson Miller

Defensive Lineman of the Year-Greyson Miller

Linebacker of the Year-Lucas Myers

Defensive Back of the Year-Justice Hardy

Coach of the Year-Brett Myers

Offense:

QB-Alex Aletras, Maverik Foster

RB-Drew Engle, Justice Hardy, Mason Sherry

Athlete-Owen Schalk

WR-Ben Grundy, Alex Gehret, Ethan Horvath

TE-Diamante Strong

OL-Noah DiGiacomo, Greyson Miller, Eric Bennethum, Anthony Zatorski, Astian Reppert

Kick Returner-Ben Grundy

Kicker-Alex Reali

Long Snapper-Nathan Malone

Defense:

DL-Faith Zudie, Astian Reppert, Greyson Miller, Andrew Bresnahan

LB-Lucas Myers, Chase Eisenhower, Tyler Niedrowski, Keenan Munn

DB-Justice Hardy, Drew Engle, Mason Mace, Grant Moser

Punter-Keegan Maher, Alex Reali

It didn’t take long to see why Hardy was so highly touted entering high school. He averaged 8.6 yards per carry and scored twelve touchdowns as a freshman. His presence was felt on defense as well with four interceptions. As a sophomore, Hardy was selected to the All-State team in Class 4A.

The 5’10, 190-pound junior ran for a team-high 979 yards and 15 TD this fall. He averaged a staggering 10.8 yards per carry. Hardy also led the Spartans with 12 catches for 127 yards and four scores. He was recently named the Defensive Back of the Year in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. Hardy made 40 tackles and three interceptions while forcing four fumbles this season.

Wyomissing reached the District 3-4A semifinals before dropping a nailbiter at top-seeded Susquehanna Township 37-35. Hardy ran for 156 yards and 2 TD on 17 carries in that game. He added a touchdown reception as the Spartans finished (10-2).

Hardy holds Division I offers from Temple, Liberty, Rice, and Kent State. He’s going from one outstanding program to another. Wyomissing has gone (81-11) over the past seven years. The Spartans captured a state championship in 2012 to go along with twelve District 3 titles. Meanwhile, Wilson currently owns the state record with 50 consecutive winning seasons. The Bulldogs have compiled 620 all-time victories.

Wyomissing scored the first six points and had a 19-7 advantage after the first quarter. Danny Fleischood jammed nine points into the first eight minutes. The 6’1 senior, who also plays football, finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. “He’s really important. He’s our key piece. Without him, we struggle sometimes. He holds us together,” remarked Arguelles. Fleischood is a two-time all-division selection who can score at all three levels. The Spartans began the second quarter with a 8-0 run to go up 27-7. Schuylkill Valley was held to two field goals in the first half and trailed 30-14 at the break.

Zach Reeser, the Panthers’ leading scorer, came alive in the second half. The 5’11 junior provided eleven points in the third quarter. Reeser, who’s averaging 15.4 ppg., ended up with 18 points. “He stays under control and sees the floor pretty well. He can get his own shot, he can find open people. He’s developing into a pretty strong scorer for us,” explained Grim. Schuylkill Valley outscored Wyomissing 34-to-26 in the second half. The Spartans were in front 45-33 entering the fourth quarter, but the (2-3) Panthers didn’t go away quietly. Reeser made a layup with 2:15 remaining which was followed by two free throws from Derek Grim. Schuylkill Valley was within 52-46 before missing an open 3-pointer and then committing back-to-back turnovers. Arguelles and Fleischood each split a pair of foul shots to make it 54-46 with 29 seconds to go. Daniel Moyer sealed the victory with two free throws in the final seconds. Moyer, 6’ senior, provided a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. “He just brings that dog. He cleans up that glass. Nobody can stop him,” said Arguelles.

Grim chipped in with eight points for the Panthers and Josiah Urbaez added six off the bench. There were 58 combined free throw attempts. Schuylkill Valley went 21-for-32, while Wyomissing was 15-for-26. The Panthers lost their top three players to graduation in Cooper Hohenadel (14.6), Luke Spotts (11.3), and Kowen Gerner (11.2). Both of these teams went (15-10, 9-2) during the 2024-25 campaign. The Spartans fell to Reading 77-56 in the BCIAA quarterfinals. They then lost at home to Susquehanna Township 65-60 in the District 3-4A quarterfinals. “It didn’t go as well as we wanted last year. We just want to bounce back and go as far as we can. We know we can do it, we have all the pieces. We just have to play together,” replied Arguelles.

The fourth-seeded Spartans travel to top-seeded Susquehanna Township this Friday. The (11-0) Indians are led by senior quarterback Torin Evans. The Marist commit has thrown for 2,429 yards and 32 touchdowns with only three interceptions. He’s completing 69% of his passes. Evans is also dangerous with his legs. He has a team-high 773 rushing yards and 12 TD. Jarrett Kern, a 6’2 senior wide receiver, has 39 receptions for 652 yards and eight scores. “They’re really fast so it’s gonna depend on me and Diamante [Strong] containing the outside. Outside linebackers and secondary are definitely gonna have to step up this game. Our coaches have a good game plan,” said Niedrowski. Susquehanna Township rolled over ELCO 50-13 last week in the quarterfinals.

Wyomissing is limiting opponents to 12.5 points and 213 total yards per game. Niedrowski has provided 63 tackles, 5 TFL, and one sack. The Spartans have an outstanding linebacker corps with Niedrowski and Strong on the outside and Chase Eisenhower and Zander Westwood on the inside. Strong (6’1, 200) and Westwood (6’2, 210) are promising juniors, while Eisenhower is a four-year starter. The 6’, 220-pound fullback is also second on the team with 706 rushing yards and ten touchdowns. “I’ve been playing with him for a decade now. It’s been fantastic. He’s a great person on and off the field. He’s definitely one of the guys that I look up to on this team,” noted Niedrowski. Wyomissing has several talented halfbacks including Justice Hardy and Danny Fleischood. Hardy, an All-State pick, has a team-high 823 rushing yards and 13 TD. The Spartans are averaging 384 yards per contest. Their Wing-T ground attack accounts for 327 of those yards. Sophomore quarterback Brady Eisenhower has only attempted 49 passes this season. He’s been effective when putting the ball in the air with 12 TD and 2 INT. Eisenhower is completing 65% of his attempts.

Wyomissing fans are very familiar with the Niedrowski name. Tyler’s older brothers, Hunter, Evan and Collin, all played football for the Spartans. “It’s meant everything. It’s the one thing that connects us all…It’s been a huge part of my life,” emphasized Tyler. The 6’, 190-pound senior is a three-year starter who has battled through shoulder injuries the past two seasons. Niedrowski has been a standout wrestler as well. He finished second in the BCIAA Championships at 189 pounds and went (23-5) during his junior campaign. Niedrowski had surgery for a torn labrum in February which ended his wrestling season and prevented him from throwing the discus in the spring. As a sophomore, Niedrowski came in fourth in the discus at the BCIAA Championships. In addition to his busy schedule with athletics, Niedrowski has a lofty 4.46 GPA. The Spartans are looking for an A+ effort to get past Susquehanna Township and advance to the District 3-4A Championship.

Drew Engle kicked off the afternoon with a 54-yard run. The 5’11, 185-pound senior ended up with 196 yards and 2 TD on 26 carries. Engle, who also starts at safety, is committed to Army for lacrosse. Lucas Myers polished off Twin Valley’s opening 70-yard drive by taking a direct snap out of the shotgun for a 3-yard touchdown. Myers, a 215-pound junior, provided 83 yards and 2 TD on 15 carries. The linebacker duo of Myers and senior Ryan Rementer combined for 16 tackles. “They’re always playing with an edge, running fast to the ball. It’s really blessed to have those type of guys on our team,” said Miller. Rementer racked up a team-high ten tackles.

The (7-1, 4-1) Spartans put together a nine and a-half minute possession that stretched into the second quarter. It included a 23-yard pass from sophomore Brady Eisenhower to junior tight end Diamante Strong. However, Wyomissing settled for a 32-yard field goal from Keegan Maher with five minutes left in the first half. Ben Grundy fumbled the ensuing kickoff which was recovered by Strong at the Raiders’ 43-yard line. Maher made a 22-yard field goal to pull the Spartans within 7-6 before halftime.

Twin Valley marched 70 yards on the first series of the second half to go up 14-6. Myers’ 19-yard run up the middle set up his 3-yard touchdown. The Raiders pinned Wyomissing deep in its own territory late in the third quarter. A nifty punt return by Grundy put Twin Valley at the Spartans’ 21-yard line. Engle scored on a 3-yard run to extend the lead to 21-6 with 10:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Raiders went on a 70-yard drive on their following possession. Engle’s 10-yard run off the right edge put Twin Valley in front 28-6 with 4:11 on the clock. “It’s the way football should be in the state of Pennsylvania. Two state-ranked teams playing on a grass field in rain and mud. It’s good stuff,” replied Myers. The Raiders are ranked #5 in Class 4A by PennLive. They got an efficient performance from sophomore quarterback Maverik Foster. He was 7-of-9 for 51 yards.

Wyomissing junior Justice Hardy had a quiet afternoon. The All-State selection managed just 17 yards on six carries. Chase Eisenhower, a 220-pound senior fullback, had a team-high 55 yards on ten touches. The Spartans ran the ball 36 times for 156 yards. Twin Valley’s defensive line was up to the challenge. That group includes Miller, Mark Minardi, Joey Buckley, Aaryn Sumner, Noah DiGiacomo, and Andrew Cabigas.

The Raiders return home on Friday when Lampeter-Strasburg visits Elverson. That will be a battle for first place in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Pioneers are the defending section champions. They’re (7-1, 5-0) this season.

Hardy’s 14-yard touchdown run capped a 55-yard drive on Wyomissing’s first possession. Just ninety seconds later, the All-State pick came up with a spectacular interception at the Raiders’ 40-yard line. ELCO was penalized for roughing senior kicker Keegan Maher on a 25-yard field goal which gave the Spartans a first down. Eisenhower barreled into the end zone from four yards out for a 14-0 edge with 1:36 left in the first quarter. A 19-yard touchdown run off the left side by Marcus Armistead made it 21-0 midway through the second period. Dom Arguelles went off the left side as well for a 7-yard score with five minutes to go before halftime. Brady Eisenhower, Chase’s younger brother, rolled out and hit Hardy in stride down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Wyomissing’s lead had quickly been extended to 35-0 with 2:35 to play before the break. Brady Eisenhower was 2-of-2 for 50 yards. The 6’, 155-pound sophomore is 17-of-22 for 246 yards this year with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. “I don’t think I have enough words to talk about how he’s doing. He’s doing phenomenal. He’s leading our offense and I couldn’t be more happy for him,” emphasized Chase Eisenhower. Teddy White, who started at quarterback last season, found Ethan Betances for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter. That 78-yard drive lasted nine and a-half minutes and made it 42-0. The Spartans ended up with 406 yards including 331 on the ground. Hardy, who recently received an offer from Temple, had 52 yards on four carries. The 190-pound junior added a pair of receptions for 50 yards.

Wyomissing, Twin Valley, and Lampeter-Strasburg are all (2-0) in the Section 4 standings of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The Spartans are ranked #4 in the state in Class 4A by PennLive. The Pioneers were the PIAA-4A runner-up in 2024. The Raiders have outscored their opponents 283-46 this year. “I’d be lying if I said we didn’t look at it. We definitely do, but we don’t put too much thought into it. We know we gotta come ready for each game. We’re not looking ahead,” said Eisenhower.