Berks boys quarterfinal preview: No. 2 Reading High vs. No. 7 Schuylkill Valley
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
No. 2 Reading (14-7) vs. No. 7 Schuylkill Valley (15-5)
When, where: Monday, 7, at Geigle Complex.
Head to head: Did not meet this season.
*Berks playoff records: Reading High 83-16, Schuylkill Valley 3-14.
The Red Knights
(PhilMarPhoto)
Hottest team in the league after ending season with five straight wins and eight in their last nine. . . Clinched fourth straight division title and 32nd overall by crushing Muhlenberg 83-46 in Berks I showdown Tuesday at the Geigle. . . Averaging 66.7 points per game, second-highest in the league; lead the league with 71.6 free-throwing shooting percentage . . . Senior Yadiel Cruz has emerged as the top scorer in the league, averaging 22.6 points per game. Only three players in program history have averaged better than 22 points per game for a full season: Donyell Marshall, Bill Jankans and Stu Jackson (twice). . . Cruz dropped 40 points on Harrisburg at midseason and scored 37 against Cheltenham last week. . . He is shooting a team-best 55.1 percent from the field, has a team-leading 42 3-pointers and is shooting 71.2 percent at the foul line. . . He is also the team’s top rebounder, at 7.1 per game, and is second in assists (3.7). . . Senior guard Nick Chapman is averaging 11.7 points per game and is top defensive player; he averages 2.1 steals. . . Freshman Jeremiah Camara is averaging 9.3 points, shooting 72.7 percent from the line and averaging 2.1 assists. . . Soph PG Weshly Rosario leads team in assists (4.3 per game) and steals (2.3). . .Earned non-league wins against expected district playoff qualifiers Liberty and Spring-Ford. . . Won record 25th Berks title last season, beating Exeter 70-63 in title game. . . Have more Berks playoff wins than any team in history. . . Overall, 3-1 vs. Schuylkill Valley in league playoffs. . . 3-3 against Berks playoff field this season.
The Panthers
Ended season with three straight wins and 10 in 12 games to finish second in Berks III. . . Lost twice to Berks III champ Fleetwood in league play. . . Swept five Berks IV opponents in crossovers. . . Have won 32 games in back-to-back seasons, most since going 37-14 from 2010-2012 under former coach Chris Gallo. . . Senior Dominic Giuffre leads team in scoring (11.0), is shooting team-best 49.2 percent from the field, leads team in deflections and is second on the team in rebounds and assists. . . Senior Jacob Zimmerman averages 10.1 points and shoots 73.8 from foul line. . . Junior Luke Spotts averages 9.4 points and leads team in rebounds (6.7). . . Junior Kowen Gerner leads team in steals and assists. . . Soph Logan Cammauf shooting team-best 77.8 percent from foul line. . . Beat Reading High 79-72 in 2012 semifinal as Manny Yarde scored 40 points. . . Have not won a league playoff game since, losing three straight. . . Overall, 1-6 against Reading in league playoffs. . . 1-2 against Berks playoff field.
Winner advances . . . to play either No. 3 Fleetwood or No. 6 Muhlenberg, Wednesday at Santander Arena, time TBD.
Championship: Friday, Santander Arena, 8.
*Since expanded Berks playoffs in 1982-83
