Girls basketball: Berks I team-by-team preview capsules
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Berks Catholic Saints
(Tim Macrina photo)
Coach: Bob Birmingham, 13th season, 238-98 (637-304 overall, including 22 seasons at Holy Name).
Last season: 12-0 Berks I champ, 20-8 overall, Berks semifinalist, District 3 third place.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 4A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2023/2023.
Key losses: All-Berks G Caraline Herb (Chestnut Hill College), G Sydney Brown.
Top players: All-division Jr. G Madison Langdon, all-division Jr. F Molly McFadden, Jr. F Sydney Corado.
Key players: Sr. G Gianna Roberts, Jr. G/F Giana Mirenda, Sr. G Mackenzie Langdon, Jr. G/F Emma Linderman, Soph. G Lily Wolf, Sr. G Samantha Unger.
Outlook: Perennial player in Berks and District 3 championship races. Must replace 1,000-point scorer and best defender in Herb but strong returning junior class led by next-in-line Madison Langdon should have the Saints playing deep into the postseason. Will be a motivated bunch after an upset loss to Reading High in league semifinals and buzzer-beater loss to Wyomissing in District 3 semis.
Wilson Bulldogs
(PhilMarPhoto)
Coach: Chris Gallo, fourth season, 41-25.
Last season: 9-3 Berks I, 15-9 overall, Berks semifinalist.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 6A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2022/2019.
Key loss: F Elyse Robinson.
Top players: All-Berks Soph. G Laila Jones, all-division Soph. F Violet Houck, Sr. G Jasilyn Moncada, Soph. G Laura Crocona.
Key players: Soph. C Emma Williams, Soph. G Janai Tisdale, Sr. F Kylee Evans, Jr. F McKenna Peacock, Fr. G Kailani Hardy, Fr. G Ryan Leaman.
Outlook: The Bulldogs reload after strong finish to season after Violet Houck returned for the final 12 games. Laila Jones, Laura Crocona, Emma Williams, and Janai Tisdale each played key roles as freshmen and gained valuable experience. Jasilyn Moncada is a defensive ace and veteran. McKenna Peacock and Kylee Evans, a transfer from Berks Catholic, add versatility. Freshmen Kailani Hardy and Ryan Leaman are expected to contribute. If it all meshes Bulldogs will be in Berks title conversation and should return to districts after narrowly missing out last year.
Reading High Red Knights
(Tim Macrina photo)
Coach: Rashida Suber, fourth season, 33-32.
Last season: 7-5 Berks I, 14-11 overall, Berks runner-up.
PIAA classification: 6A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2019/2013.
Key losses: All-Berks G Ashanti Chapman (Harcum College), all-division F Heavenli Franklin, F Julitza Hernandez-Albino.
Top players: Jr. G Yamilex Rodriguez, Jr. F Tamyia Collier.
Key players: Jr. F Elyssa Spring, Jr. F Zaniaya Bradley, Sr. G Bianca Seabury.
Outlook: Aiming to build off league championship appearance but will need Yamilex Rodriguez and Tamyia Collier to effectively replace Ashanti Chapman and Heavenli Franklin to do so. Red Knights haven’t won a county title since 2010 and have lost in the championship game four times since: 2012, 2019, 2020, and 2023. Should be competitive with a group that has played together for years. Red Knights feel a third-place division finish is the floor of their potential.
Gov. Mifflin Mustangs
(Tim Macrina photo)
Coach: Mike Clark, 12th season, 191-96 (284-114 overall, including four seasons at Oley Valley).
Last season: 8-4 Berks I, 10-13 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 6A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2022/2021
Key losses: All-Division G Anya Ortiz, G Shakyla Mayo, F Jayla Richardson, C Payton Witman, F Kim Eustache.
Top players: All-Division Sr. F Taylor Koenig, Sr. G Keira Estrada, Jr. C Mia Vazquez.
Key players: Fr. G Brooklyn George, Fr. G Isabella Super, Fr. G Bridget Martin.
Outlook: Finished up-and-down season with three straight losses, the last against Wilson in league playoffs. Taylor Koenig was limited to 10 games last year after a knee injury to start the season but will be a huge boost if fully healthy and one of the top players in the league. Mifflin will go as Koenig goes but will need inexperienced players to step up after seeing four starters graduate.
Muhlenberg Muhls
(Photo couresy of Muhlenberg basketball)
Coach: Wes Giddens, second season, 8-14.
Last season: 3-9 Berks I, 8-14 overall.
Schedule: Click here.
PIAA classification: 5A.
Last D3 playoff appearance/victory: 2017/2011.
Key losses: F Ryanna Hightower-Prentice, G Liberty Stitzman (Penn State Berks), G Jaleen Quiles (Northampton Community College), G Kiarly Colon-Mojica.
Top players: Sr. G Peyton Brill, Jr. G Sophia Fernandez.
Key players: Soph. G Lianna Martir, Sr. G Iris Quiles, Jr. F Alexis Garl, Sr. G Ziara Almonte, Sr. G Ashley Duran.
Outlook: Muhls hope to build off eight-win season by controlling tempo and continuing to build competitiveness in tough division. Low numbers in program may lead to not having a junior varsity team. Loss of Ryanna Hightower-Prentice, who Giddens said is not with team, hurts but Peyton Brill is poised for a big senior year.