Berks Catholic girls set for district opener at Bishop McDevitt
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Fifth-seeded Berks Catholic travels to No. 4 Bishop McDevitt for a District 3 girls basketball Class 4A quarterfinal game Thursday at 7 with a state tournament berth on the line.
The winner takes on either top-seeded Delone Catholic or No. 8 Eastern York, which defeated No. 9 Bermudian Springs 66-37 Monday, in the semifinals Feb. 26 at the higher seed. The winner also qualifies for the PIAA Tournament; the loser goes into the playback round to fight for the No. 5 and 6 seeds out of District 3 for the state tournament.
The Saints have reached the state tournament in each of the last four seasons.
Berks Catholic defeated Bishop McDevitt 52-28 in the quarterfinals last year before falling to eventual champion Wyomissing in the semifinals.
The Saints (12-11) are led by junior 5-4 point guard Madison Langdon’s 16.6 points per game and 41 3’s. Langdon is the primary ballhandler and defends the opposing team’s top guard. She shoots 75 percent from the foul line.
Junior 6-foot forward Sydney Corado (9.7 points per game) has hit 28 3’s and provides the scoring punch in the paint. Junior 5-9 forward Giana Mirenda (5.2), junior 5-9 forward Molly McFadden (4.1), and senior 5-3 guard Gianna Roberts (3.7) round out the Saints’ starting lineup.
Berks Catholic has qualified for the District 3 Tournament every season since its inception in 2011 when it was formed from the combination of Central Catholic and Holy Name.
Bob Birmingham is the only coach the Saints have known in 13 seasons; he was previously at Holy Name since 1989. He has a Berks Girls League record 649 victories in 35 seasons.
Berks Catholic averages 43.2 points per game and allows 40.9.
The Saints last took the court in a 41-24 league semifinal loss to Wilson on Valentine’s Day.
Bishop McDevitt (16-6) starts senior guards Olivia Grella, Sophia Formica, and 5-6 Kayla Culver; senior 5-11 wing Olivia DeAntonio; and junior 5-10 wing Elle Osevala.
The 5-4 Grella is a defensive stopper. The 5-4 Formica is the top scorer; she scored 18 in McDevitt’s 51-32 loss to undefeated Wyomissing Feb. 3, the last time the Crusaders have played.
McDevitt was one of three teams that beat Wyomissing last season.
McDevitt averages 53.9 points per game and allows 41.5.
Overall, the Saints are 21-15 with three District 3 championship appearances and no titles. They last played for a title in 2022, losing 33-27 to Delone Catholic.
McDevitt has gone 59-35 overall with five district titles — 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1977 — and three additional appearances — 2019, 2017, 2004.
