Berks girls hoops notes: Wilson, other Berks I teams, struggling in early games

By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent

Wilson is 0-2 after dropping games to Emmaus and Cedar Crest without its top player, 6-2 center Isis Dojan.

Head coach Chris Gallo confirmed that Dojan, an All-Berks pick as a junior, is no longer with the team; he did not comment further on the matter.

Dojan, who averaged a team-leading 11.1 points per game last season, played with the team in the summer and at the start of practice last month but has not been with them for more than a week.

That certainly knocks the Bulldogs, who reached the Berks League championship game a year ago, down a peg or two in the Berks pecking order.

It also places more responsibility on freshman point guard Laila Jones, the younger sister of former and current Wilson standouts Jadyn and Cam, respectively. Jones scored 18 points in her first varsity game.

The Bulldogs, like most the other teams in Berks I, are trying to find their footing with the league season approaching next week.

The five Berks I teams were a combined 1-9 heading into play Thursday.; only Berks Catholic has won.

Muhlenberg has dropped to 0-2 with losses to Ephrata and Palmyra earlier this week. The Muhls host Wyomissing Friday. Ephrata and Indiana Wesleyan commit Jasmine Griffin had 27 points against the Muhls — Berks I teams can’t get away from Lancaster-Lebanon’s stars soon enough.

Hempfield’s Sophia Ott has also been a problem for Berks I teams; she put up 28 against Mifflin and 26 against Reading High Tuesday in the Red Knights’ opener.

Defending Berks champ Gov. Mifflin is 0-3 after losses to Cumberland Valley, Hempfield, and Central York. Things don’t get any easier with Lebanon coming to Shillington Tuesday.

Reading faces a pair of L-L opponents, McCaskey and Manheim Township, next week.

Berks Catholic appears to be in the best shape at this point with a competitive six-point loss to last season’s PIAA Class 6A state champion Plymouth-Whitemarsh and the win over West York. Caraline Herb has already hit nine 3’s and is averaging 19.5 points per game.

Brandywine Fireworks

Brandywine Heights travels to Columbia Thursday night.

The Bullets went 11-1 in Berks I and finished with an 18-8 record last year for their first winning season since 2014-15.

Freshman Addison Benner averaged 14.1 points per game and led the Bullets to the top seed in the District 3 Class 3A playoffs. The Bullets fell in the semifinals to York Catholic.

Brandywine won its first two games at the Hamburg Tip-Off Tournament. It hasn’t had to rely solely on Benner; Olivia Moyer (9.0 points per game) leads the team in scoring and Avery Potteiger (7.5), Grace Potteiger (6.0), and Dana Wartzenluft (4.5) have formed a balanced scoring attack.

The Tide went 10-0 in Lancaster-Lebanon League section five and finished with a 23-5 record after losses in the District 3 Class 2A championship and second round of states.

Flamethrower twins Brie (22.8 points per game) and Brooke Droege (16.2 points per game) led the way and are back for their junior seasons.

It’s the season-opener for Columbia, which will face Linden Hall Tuesday to open league play. The Lions have defeated the Tide in the past two district finals.

Final four?

Speaking of Columbia, the Tide won its first 22 games last season. It’s important not to read too much into records this early in the season. One thing can definitely be gleaned in the Berks League: There are only three other teams along with Brandywine without a number in the L column.

Wyomissing (1-0) defeated Conrad Weiser 60-44 on Wednesday behind Alexis Hardy’s 22 points and Lexi Loeb’s 17. Loeb was third in Berks with 42 3s last season; she drilled five on Wednesday. The Spartans next play at Muhlenberg Friday.

Oley Valley (2-0) has two double-digit, non-league victories over Hanover 32-22 Saturday and Pottsgrove 55-34 Tuesday. Morgan Snyder (15 points per game) and Ryanne Wheeler (11.5) have led the way. The Lynx host Upper Perkiomen Thursday.

Fleetwood (1-0) defeated Twin Valley behind Kansas State commit Alex Hess’ 30-point outing Monday. The Tigers host Palmyra Friday.

Starting fast

These players didn’t waste any time getting buckets once the season tipped off.

Hess (30.0) leads the league in scoring with Kutztown’s Ky Brantley (27.0) not far behind. Brantley dropped 28 in a 41-37 loss to Northern Lebanon Monday and 26 in a 42-38 win over Shenandoah Valley Wednesday.

Other tops scorers are Wyomissing’s Alexis Hardy (22.0), Berks Catholic’s Caraline Herb (19.5), Hamburg’s Hailie Edwards (17.0), Wyomissing’s Lexi Loeb (17.0).

Thanks, calculator.