Berks Catholic, three other Berks team, set for district play Thursday

Berks Catholic opens play and Fleetwood hopes to extend its season as the District 3 boys basketball tournament continues Thursday, with four Berks teams playing in three classifications.

The Saints (20-4) are a top seed for the first time since 2017 and just the second time in their 11-year history. Three of their losses came to Reading High, the No. 1 seed in Class 6A.

They open at home against No. 8 Elco (14-10) at 7 in a Class 4A quarterfinal and can clinch a spot in the PIAA Tournament with a win. A loss will knock them into the playback round where they’ll need to win two in a row to stay alive. The top five teams in Class 4A advance to the state tournament.

In Class 5A, No. 10 Exeter (12-12) plays at No. 2 West York (23-2) at 7. The Eagles clinched a berth in the PIAA Tournament with their 62-49 win at Milton Hershey in the opening round. They haven’t played in the state tournament since 1984; they hadn’t won a district playoff game since 2014. They had lost six straight in district play.

West York advanced with a 38-34 win over No. 15 Big Spring.

Also in Class 5A, No. 13 Fleetwood (16-7) plays at No. 5 Palmyra (17-6) at 7. The loser is eliminated. The winner advances to play either No. 8 Manheim Central (17-9) or No. 16 Mechanicsburg (11-12). It’ll take three straight wins in the playback round to grab District 3’s No. 9 state seed.

In Class 3A, No. 3 Tulpehocken (18-5) plays at No. 2 York Catholic (16-7) in a semifinal. The Trojans beat No. 6 Brandywine Heights 48-44 in the quarterfinals, their first district tournament victory since 2007. The Fighting Irish had a first-round bye.

Seven Berks boys teams remain alive in districts. Reading High (22-8) plays Wilson (15-8) Friday in a Class 6A quarterfinal and top-seeded Antietam (19-4) opens play Friday against No. 5 Greenwood (14-9) in Class 2A.

The Mounts haven’t had a 20-win season since 1994.