Berks Catholic holds off Antietam, advances to semifinals

(This story will be updated later tonight with details and postgame reaction.)

Second-seeded Berks Catholic turned back a big second-half run from Antietam, then pulled away in the final quarter for a 66-52 victory Monday in a Berks Conference quarterfinal at Wolf Gymnasium.

The Saints (19-3) advance to meet No. 6 Exeter Wednesday at 6 in a semifinal at Santander Arena. Reading High plays Muhlenberg in the second game.

Senior Aidan Sands scored 19 of his team-high 21 points in the second half for the Saints.

Hector Tiburcio had a game-high 26 points for the Mounts (19-4).

Antietam used a 13-2 run midway through the third quarter to pull within 34-31. Berks Catholic ended the quarter with a 10-2 run to lead 44-33.

The Mounts played hard defensively in the first quarter and were within 12-10 at the first break. Tiburcio was aggressive on offense, and scored six first-quarter points, on the way to 14 at the half.

The Saints hit just enough 3-pointers to pull steadily ahead. They were up 28-18 at intermission after Ryan Koch hit a pair of 3’s and Sands and Aaron Reinhart each had one.

Koch was involved in a nasty spill and came down hard on his left shoulder, but stayed in the game and hit his second 3-pointer shortly thereafter. He finished with 13 points.