Near-record night by Josiah Jordan helps Saints extend streak in Berks II

Berks Catholic is back in Division II of the Berks Conference — and back on top.

The Saints got a career-high 32 points from Josiah Jordan to top chief Berks II rival Exeter 73-63 Thursday night at Reiffton.

After two seasons in Berks I, playing against Class 6A and 5A schools, the Saints (3-0, 6-0) find themselves in control again in Berks II, where they have now won 60 straight games.

Jordan, an All-Berks pick as a junior, was the difference Thursday. He scored 10 points in the first quarter and had 15 by halftime, enough to boost the Saints to a 36-25 lead. They maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half.

Jordan finished one point shy of the program record; Nana Foulland scored 33 against York Catholic in 2014. Connor Jack had 32 points vs. Hamburg in 2015. Foulland also scored 32 vs. Daniel Boone in 2014.

Jordan’s career best had been 30 last year in a 69-52 win at York Catholic.

The Saints got 12 points from Josh McKoy, 10 from Ryan Koch and eight from Kingston McKoy.

The Eagles (1-1, 3-1) got a career-high 21 points from junior Kevin Saenz but their issues came on the defensive end.

They couldn’t stop Jordon from scoring on his dashes to the basketball, even when they fouled him: He was good on 9-of-14 free throws.

Exeter prides itself on defense; that’s how it fought its way to the PIAA Tournament last year, winning taught, low-scoring games.

The Eagles allowed 70 points just twice in 28 games last season, in losses to Muhlenberg and Reading High. They had allowed an average of just 40.7 points through their first three games.

The Saints went 9-3 in Berks I last season, losing twice to Reading High and once to Wilson on the way to a 23-5 record and the District 3 Class 4A championship.

They’re back on top in Class 4A this season, ranked No. 1 in the district’s unofficial power ratings, just ahead of unbeaten Fleetwood.

Berks Catholic won nine straight Berks II titles before electing to move up to Berks I for the 2020-21 season. They had a 90-1 record in nine seasons in Berks II, their lone loss coming in the 2014-15 league opener to Conrad Weiser.

The Saints return to league play Jan. 5 against Berks II rival Daniel Boone. They play twice next week at the Trinity Holiday Shootout.

Exeter returns to league play Jan. 3 with a crossover game against Berks I favorite Reading High. It plays twice at the Cedar Crest Holiday Tournament next week.