Berks Catholic spots Wilson a dozen, then comes back for key Berks crossover win
(This story will be updated later tonight with additional details and postgame reaction.)
Junior Josh McKoy hit a game-swinging 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as Berks Catholic erased a poor start and beat Wilson 49-44 in a key Berks Conference crossover game Thursday at packed Wolf Gymnasium.
The Berks II-leading Saints (7-1, 14-1) spotted the Bulldogs (5-2 Berks I, 12-4) a 12-0 start before rallying to take the lead in the second quarter.
Wilson scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to take a 41-40 lead before the Saints responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Ryan Koch hit a pair of free throws, McKoy followed with a 3 and freshman Kingston McKoy scored on a clear-out for a 47-41 lead with 3:03 left.
The Bulldogs got no closer than four the rest of the way.
Josiah Jordan scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for Berks Catholic. Koch and Josh McKoy each had 10 points, Jack Miller had seven and Kingston McKoy had six points and six rebounds.
Aidan Melograna led Wilson with 14 points. Madyx Gruber had eight points and seven rebounds.
Melograna had a pair of early baskets and Seamus Breslin hit a 3-pointer to give Wilson a 12-0 with 3:39 left in the first period. The Saints used a 12-0 run in the second quarter to take their first lead at 24-23.
The win was Berks Catholic’s second straight over Wilson after five straight losses in the series. The Bulldogs lead the hotly contested series 7-6.
The win will help Berks Catholic maintain its lead in the District 3 Class 4A power ratings. The Saints won the championship last year.
Wilson, which entered No. 5 in Class 6A, could fall in the power ratings, which are used to seed the upcoming district tournament.
Berks Catholic plays at Berks I-leading Reading High Tuesday, Jan. 24.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Wilson | 19 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 44 |
| Berks Catholic | 10 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 49 |
| Bulldogs (12-4) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Jones | 3-5 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Gruber | 3-7 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| Harding | 2-9 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Melograna | 6-14 | 0-0 | 2-9 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| Odiale | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Breslin | 3-6 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
| Pena | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Hunsicker | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 18-49 | 4-5 | 4-18 | 5 | 27-27 | 44 |
| Saints (14-1) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Geddio | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan | 6-14 | 2-5 | 0-2 | 1 | 9 | 14 |
| Koch | 3-9 | 3-5 | 1-5 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| Miller | 3-6 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| J. McKoy | 4-6 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| K. McKoy | 2-3 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Lawlor | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nein | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Totals | 19-42 | 8-14 | 3-13 | 6 | 27-30 | 49 |
Turnovers: Wilson 7, Berks Catholic 8.