Saints squash previously unbeaten Braves
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Berks Catholic carved up another top opponent Tuesday night, knocking off previously unbeaten Octorara 80-47 on the Braves’ home court.
Parker Nein scored a career-high 21 points to lead a balanced Saints lineup, which saw four players reach double figures.
The Braves opened the season with five straight wins but found themselves trailing 45-28 at the half and by 24 points entering the final quarter.
The Saints (3-0) limited Octorara scoring leader Zach Kirk to two points, on a first-quarter basket.
The senior point guard averaged 20.6 points through the first five games and surpassed 1,000 career points in a season-opening tournament earlier this month.
Nein, a senior wing, had a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers as the Saints moved out to a 22-13 lead. He had 12 points by halftime.
Junior Zach Suski came off the bench and knocked down three 3-pointers and scored all of his career-high 14 points in the second quarter.
The Saints combined for nine 3’s. They reached 80 points just once last season, in an 84-37 win over Daniel Boone.
Kingston McKoy scored 13 points and Josh McKoy 11 for the Saints.
Berks Catholic opened the season with a 22-point win over Cedar Crest and a 61-51 win over Allentown Central Catholic, both at Exeter last weekend.
Octorara finished 18-9 last season and lost in the opening round of District 3 Class 5A Tournament.
Josh McKoy is the lone returning starter for Berks Catholic, which finished 23-5 last season and won its second straight District 3 Class 4A championship.