Who, where and when Berks’ nine PIAA basketball tourney qualifiers play (updated March 5)
A record number of Berks Conference teams have qualified for the PIAA boys basketball tournament, which tips Friday, March 10 with games in Class 5A, 4A, and 1A. Games in Class 6A, 3A and 2A open Saturday, March 11.
When Wilson defeated York High Thursday for the seventh and final berth in Class 6A, the Berks Conference had its record seventh state spot secured.
The Bulldogs join district champs Reading High (6A), Exeter (5A) and Berks Catholic (4A), along with Class 4A runner-up Fleetwood, Class 2A runner-up Antietam and Muhlenberg, which finished fifth in Class 5A.
The Berks Conference has never sent more than six boys teams to the state tournament in a given season. That last happened in 2019; the only other time it happened was in 1990, when there were just four classifications.
The Berks Conference has generally been well-represented in the state tournament in the lower classifications, where programs such as Central Catholic, Kutztown, Antietam, Mount Penn and Holy Name regularly made the field.
What’s significant about this year’s qualifiers is that most are from the larger classifications: Two each from Class 6A, 5A and 4A.
There are two state qualifiers from the Berks Girls League, both in Class 4A: District champ Wyomissing and third-place finisher Berks Catholic. They each open play March 11.
Here’s a breakdown on the opening-round games. Official brackets likely won’t be released until Sunday or Monday.
Teams listed on the top line of the bracket, mostly district champs and runners-up, are awarded home games in the opening round. All games in subsequent rounds will be played on neutral courts, including the state championships March 23, 24 and 25 at Giant Center.
Boys
Reading High: The three-time District 3 Class 6A champs open at home March 11 against District 1’s 12th-place finisher, Haverford.
Wilson: The District 3 seventh-place finisher in Class 6A opens on the road March 11 against the District 7 champ, Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Exeter: The first-time District 3 Class 5A champs open at home March 10 against Fox Chapel, the seventh-place finisher in the WPIAL.
Muhlenberg: The fifth-place finisher in Class 5A hits the road March 10 to play on the home court of the District 1 runner-up, Unionville.
Berks Catholic: The two-time Class 4A champ opens at home March 10 against the sixth-place finisher from District 7, Uniontown.
Fleetwood: The Class 4A runner-up Tigers get to play home once more, on March 10, against Cardinal O’Hara, the No. 3 seed out of District 12.
Antietam: The three-time Class 2A runner-up plays on the home floor of District 1 champ Christopher Dock Mennonite March 11.
Girls
Wyomissing: The first-time Class 4A champs open at home March 11 against the fifth-place team from District 12, Parkway Center City.
Berks Catholic: The Class 4A third-place finisher opens on the road March 11 against the District 12 runner-up, Audenried.
