Banner performance by Caroline Reedy lifts Berks Catholic

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

The flowers, the balloons and the poster were all hidden out of view. That’s the way Caroline Reedy wanted it. Reaching 1,000 points is hard enough without those items applying added pressure.

Whether Berks Catholic’s senior could get there on this day was an open question. Reedy needed 21. No easy feat.

Once the third quarter turned into the fourth, it started to feel like destiny. The baskets were coming quickly, the gym was packed and the student section was practically willing the moment to happen.

With all eyes on her, Reedy delivered one of her greatest performances. A 26-point, 15-rebound masterpiece. The 5-8 forward lifted Berks Catholic over Wyomissing 52-36 in the Berks girls basketball quarterfinals at Wolf Gymnasium Saturday.

BC’s 1,000-point club added a third member alongside Devon Merritt and Dejah Terrell. Reedy joined with five points to spare.

“Many, many times I‘ve looked up there,” she said. “I wanted to add my name to that banner.”

Berks Catholic coach Bob Birmingham first floated the possibility of Reedy reaching 1,000 when she was a sophomore. It was a distant goal at the time. Birmingham knew Reedy had the talent and work ethic to make the climb.

It was achieved through relentless excellence. Reedy continuously put up double-digit scoring and rebounding totals and Berks Catholic piled up victories. She averaged 10.5 points as a sophomore, 11.1 as a junior and 14.4 as a senior. Before this season, she only had two games with 20 points or more.

“That just tells you how consistent she’s been over that four-year period,” Birmingham said. “We’re going to get 16-18 points, 10-12 rebounds every night. Especially in big games when we need her to step up.”

Reedy was sitting on 997 when a pass found her open on the right wing. It was an enticing shot. No one could have possibly blamed her if she took that shot. She chose to pass to Caraline Herb, who was free in the corner.

The fans, who actually pointed to Reedy to show that she was open, groaned in disappointment when she surrendered the ball. She couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“I just wanted to make the right play,” Reedy said. “I knew there were still five minutes left. I knew it would come in its own time. I don’t really force anything. I like when my teammates make shots, too. When Caraline drills the 3, it feels pretty good for me.”

Herb drilled that 3.

After a pair of free throws put Reedy at 999, her patience was rewarded when she was sent back to the line. She needed one foul shot and her place on that banner was secure. She had a few seconds to think about it.

“I was really nervous,” Reedy said. “I wasn’t making my foul shots earlier in the game. I was like, ‘I have two chances. I want to make it on my first.’ Once I miss the first and it comes down to the second, then it’s a lot more pressure. I just wanted to take a breath and focus.”

The first attempt rolled around the rim and swished home. Teammates came off the bench to celebrate. The flowers, the balloons and the poster were freed from their hiding place.

Reedy needed 21 and she posted a career-high 26.

“We knew it was like 20 at the beginning of the game,” fellow senior Aaliyah Dabney said. “I was like, ‘Caroline, come on, you’ve got to get it.’ It was surreal. I’m so proud of her. She works so hard. I can’t wait to finish this out.”

There were chants of “MVP” from the crowd as Reedy posed for photos before the game resumed. It was appropriate. She is the MVP of this Berks season.

No one is more important to her team and Reedy’s team is the No. 1 seed trying to repeat as county champion. She helps break the press, makes the extra pass, grabs every rebound within arm’s reach and defends like each possession decides the outcome.

“I don’t think there’s any player in the league who does more,” Birmingham said. “I don’t care who you’re talking about. All she wants to do is win.”

Reedy entered the season with zero career 3-pointers. Her jump shot range stopped at about 15 feet. This season she has made 24 3-pointers. Only 13 players have more.

Three of those came against Wyomissing. These weren’t wide-open, dare-you-to-shoot attempts. These were tightly-contested and in the flow of the offense. Reedy added the one element that was missing from her offensive skill set. That’s how a player gets to 1,000.

 “She worked hard to be able to do that,” Birmingham said. “It adds so much to her game. She can put it on the floor and go to the basket strong. She can use her right and her left really well. She’s a complete player. There’s no doubt.”

If Reedy didn’t get her 21 in this game, the milestone would have been reached when Berks Catholic faced Gov. Mifflin in the semifinals at Santander Arena Tuesday night. That would have been fine. Doing it in this gym, the gym with that banner she looked at so many times, made it even more special.

Once Reedy left the locker room, those students who spent the afternoon counting down, were waiting to congratulate her again. Sarah Painton, who graduated last year, was waiting to give her former teammate a hug. Painton promised to be here for this occasion.

“It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders,” Reedy said. “At the beginning of the season I knew it was going to be kind of close. So this is just a lot of relief.”

Reedy was already one of Berks Catholic’s greats before this game was played. Adding her name to the banner just makes it official.