Middletown pulls away in 4th to beat Schuylkill Valley
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
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Defensive-minded Schuylkill Valley saw its season end after allowing 17 fourth-quarter points in falling to Middletown 48-35 Tuesday in a District 3 Class 4A opener Tuesday at Leesport.
The eighth-seeded Panthers (15-7) trailed trailed just 31-28 entering the final quarter before seeing the ninth-seeded Blue Raiders (16-7) hit seven straight free throws to pull away.
Junior Kowen Gerner led Schuylkill Valley with 17 points.
Middletown advances to play a quarterfinal at top-seeded Berks Catholic Friday at 7.
Mason Blazer scored 17 and Aleel Batts 16 for the Blue Raiders, who were good on 13-of-17 free throws.
The Panthers were hurt by fouls; Luke Spotts fouled out and Cooper Hohenadel finished the game with four fouls.
Schuylkill Valley lost a first-round game at home to Middletown last year, 47-45. The Blue Raiders were subsequently beaten by Fleetwood in the next round and was eliminated in the playback round by Bishop McDevitt.
Schuylkill Valley last made the staate tournament in 2017. It has lost three straight first-round games since then.
This is the first time in Taylor Grim’s 12 seasons as head coach that the Panthers have qualified for districts in consecutive years.
Schuykill Valley went to 10 straight state tournaments under former coach Chris Gallo, from 2003-2012. Gallo is now head coach of the Wilson girls.
Middletown played two other Berks opponents this season, winning 58-55 at Twin Valley and losing 51-40 against Wyomissing.
