Reading High rolls past Brandywine, returns to semifinals
Reading High used a balanced scoring attack and one of its best defensive efforts of the season to advance to the Berks Girls League semifinals for the second straight year and third time in four seasons.
The fourth-seeded Red Knights allowed just one second-period field goal in pulling away from fifth-seeded Brandywine Heights in a 45-22 quarterfinal win Saturday at the Geigle.
Reading High (13-10) advances to meet top-seeded Berks Catholic Tuesday at Santander Arena. Time for that game has not been announced.
Senior guard Ashanti Chapman led the Red Knights with 10 points. Heavenli Franklin scored eight, Yamilex Rodriguez eight and Bianco Seabury six.
The Bullets (15-8) led 9-7 after the first period as sophomore Addison Benner scored seven points.
The points were tougher to come by the rest of the way, for Benner and her teammates. Brandywine scored just two points in the second quarter and 13 over the final three quarters. The 22 points was their second-lowest output of the season; they were beaten by Oley Valley 46-21 late last month.
Chapman scored five points and Franklin four in the second quarter as Reading moved ahead 25-11 at the half after outscoring Brandywine 18-2 in the decisive second quarter.
Benner finished with 11 points, half Brandywine’s total. She had four field goals; the rest of the team combined for five.
The Red Knights held an opponent below 30 points for the third time this season; they held Daniel Boone to 20 and Conrad Weiser to 26.
Reading has won two straight since snapping a six-game losing streak.
The Red Knights knocked out Berks III champ Schuylkill Valley in the first round last season before falling to Wilson 37-34 in the semifinals.
Reading lost to Berks I champ Berks Catholic twice this season, 56-44 at Wolf Gymnasium and 56-36 at home.
The Bullets have lost 3-of-4, and their season may be over. They are currently ranked No. 7 in the unofficial District 3 Class 3A power ratings, percentage points behind Susquenita. The top six qualify. Unless the numbers change Brandywine won’t make the field.
League playoff games are not factored into the power ratings.
Reading High’s season will be over at the conclusion of the Berks playoffs. The Red Knights are currently No. 14 in Class 6A, where the top 12 qualify.
