Berks Catholic girls fall to Delone Catholic in district final

HERSHEY — Berks Catholic’s trademark defense was fully present Saturday but the Saints had trouble finding enough baskets to keep up with top-seeded Delone Catholic in a 33-27 loss in the District 3 Class 4A girls basketball championship at Giant Center.

The Saints, who trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter, made a late rally, triming Delone’s lead to 32-27 on Mackenzie Gordos’ 3-pointer with 55 seconds left.

The third-seeded Saints (21-6) made just one basket in the first quarter and were held to a season low in points.

The top-seeded Squirettes (26-1) got a game-high 16 points from senior Gianna Hoddinott in defeating the Saints for the third time this season.

Sydney Brown led Berks Catholic with eight points. Caroline Reedy and Caraline Herb, the Saints’ leading scorers, were held to a combined nine points; they average a combined 25 points per game.

Berks Catholic advances to the PIAA Tournament and will have a home opener Wednesday against Lake Lehman, the third-place finisher out of District 2.

The Saints were looking for their first district title. They had reached the championship game twice before but lost each time, both games to Lancaster Catholic: 58-47 in the 2018 Class 4A final and 38-27 in the 2016 3A final.

Delone Catholic won the Class 4A title last year, beating Lancaster Catholic, and the 3A title in 2020, beating Trinity. It had won six previous titles overall, including three straight from 2002-04.

Berks Catholic lost at Delone 49-36 on Dec. 11 and 55-40 at Wolf Gymnasium on Jan. 22.