Berks Girls League playoff preview capsules

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Capsules compiled by Sean McBryan

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The quest for the BCIAA girls basketball crown begins Saturday with four games. The semifinals are Tuesday at Santander Arena, starting at 6. The championship is at Santander Friday at 6.

Quarterfinals are on the home court of the higher-seeded team.

Schuylkill Valley at Berks Catholic, 2

Exeter at Wyomissing, 2

Brandywine Heights at Reading High, 4

Gov. Mifflin at Wilson, 7:30

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No. 1 Berks Catholic (17-5) vs. No. 8 Schuylkill Valley (11-10)

How the Saints got here: Consistency, a tough out-of-league schedule, a terrific senior leader, and a talented sophomore class.

The Saints finished with the second-best offense (50.1 points per game) in Berks, seventh-best defense (38.9), and third-best point differential (+11.2). That includes non-league matchups against stalwarts such as Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Delone Catholic, Trinity, Lancaster Catholic, and York Catholic.

The result wasn’t always a win; those games still sharpened BC for county, district, and state playoff runs. Senior Caraline Herb reached 1,000 points and led the burgeoning sophomore trio of Madison Langdon, Sydney Corado, and Molly McFadden. Junior Gianna Roberts has come on lately and senior Sydney Brown continues to get more comfortable on the floor after recovering from an injury.

The closest league game for the Saints this season was a 43-34 victory over Wilson Dec. 16.

How the Panthers got here: Grit.

Schuylkill Valley fell to Oley Valley in a non-league contest Jan. 4 to drop to 3-8; the Panthers went on a five-game winning streak and have gone 8-2 since. In those first 11 games the Panthers allowed 40.1 points per game. In their last 10, just 33.7. Overall, Schuylkill Valley allows the fifth-fewest points in Berks.

The most important parts of the hot streak were a crucial eight-point win over Oley Valley and a valiant comeback victory over Hamburg in the league finale to clinch a county playoff spot. The Panthers trailed 16-0 after the first quarter and by 13 at halftime before storming back in the second half.

Head coach Jason Bagenstose has done a remarkable job leading the Panthers back to the postseason after losing four starters from a 20-4 team.

The backcourt duo of juniors Natane White and Juliana Stichter is the catalyst and will be the focus of the Saints defense. Kalika Kauffman is the defensive and rebounding ace.

• Top five Saints: Herb (14.6), Langdon (11.4), McFadden (8.5), Corado (8.2), Roberts (2.6).
• Top five Panthers: White (13.2), Stichter (11.9), Caitlyn Reali (5.6), Kauffman (3.8), Meghan Wickersham (2.3).
• Last season: Top-seeded Saints lost 41-40 to No. 4 Gov Mifflin in semifinals. No. 2 Panthers lost 43-33 to No. 7 Reading in quarterfinals.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Saints (in last 10 seasons): 10: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Panthers (in last 10 seasons): 3: 2022, 2021, 2019.
• County championships by Saints (in last 10 seasons): 3: 2021, 2018, 2017.
• County championship by Panthers (in last 10 seasons): None.
• Saints’ best win: 36-26 over Walt Whitman (N.Y.) on Dec. 17.
• Panthers best win: 38-36 over Brandywine Heights on Dec. 22.
• Favorite: Saints.
• Winner plays: Reading or Brandywine Heights, Tuesday at Santander Arena.

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No. 2 Wyomissing (20-2) vs. No. 7 Exeter (11-11)

How the Spartans got here: Wyomissing has the best defense (allowing 27.9 points), most productive offense (52.2) and largest point differential — a whopping plus-24.4 — in the league.

The Spartans won their first 14 games before losing to Middletown (40-33) and Bishop McDevitt (48-45) in a four-game span. Wyo could run into either team again in the District 3 Class 4A playoffs.

The Spartans finished with four straight wins and are trending back in the right direction. In fact, no other teams have really come close to beating them. They beat every team by double digits except West York — a five-point win; their closest league game was a 10-point win over Schuylkill Valley.

Wyo, like BC, has a talented sophomore class led by Amaya Stewart, who has evolved her game into more than just a post presence and already has an offer from Temple.

Speedy guard Alexis Hardy and defensive nuisance Audrey Hurleman are also key sophomores; senior 3-point sniper Lexi Loeb and balanced senior guard Maddie Campbell provide leadership; juniors Annie McCaffrey and Abby Zechman get it done on both ends.

Loeb, Campbell, Kaitlyn Brunner, and Zechman all played on the county-finalists in 2021 and have been motivated to get back.

How the Eagles got here: Riding the first Berks League player to average 20 points per game since Peyton McDaniel.

Junior Grace Reedy is the top scorer in the league at 22.5 points per game, the highest mark since McDaniel (now at James Madison) averaged 23.0 points per game in the 2019-20 season.

The Eagles have the sixth-best offense in the league averaging 45.5 points per game. The issue occasionally falls on the defense end, where Exeter allows a league-high 47.6 points per game.

Still, the Eagles have made the most of their move from Berks I to Berks II this season and will make their first BCIAA playoff appearance since 2015.

Senior guard Rosie Laverty is a two-year starter and junior guard Aaliyah Ware, sophomore forward Meredith Fylypowycz, and sophomore Maggie Kopanski have improved in their increased roles.

It all comes back to Reedy, who has shown she can’t be contained regardless of the opponent. She’s scored in double figures every game except for the opener this season and is unquestionably the defense’s main priority.

Exeter’s victory over Susquehanna Township — which is currently in the District 3 Class 5A field — on Feb. 4 shows the Eagles aren’t the same 2-19 team from last season. 

• Top five Spartans scorers: Stewart (14.9), Hardy (8.4), McCaffrey (7.4), Loeb (6.5), Zechman (5.2).
• Top five Eagles scorers: Reedy (22.5), Ware (6.0), Fylypowycz (5.0), Laverty (4.7), Kopanski (4.2).
• Last season: No. 8 Wyomissing lost 52-36 to Berks Catholic in the BCIAA quarterfinals. Exeter did not qualify for BCIAA tournament.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Spartans (in last 10 seasons): 8: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Eagles (in last 10 seasons): 1: 2015.
• County championships by Spartans (in last 10 seasons): None.
• County championship by Eagles (in last 10 seasons): None.
• Spartans’ best win: 55-45 over York Catholic on Jan. 3.
• Eagles’ best win: 56-53 over Susquehanna Township on Feb. 4.
• Favorite: Spartans.
• Winner plays: Wilson or Gov. Mifflin, Tuesday at Santander Arena.

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No. 3 Wilson (14-8) vs. No. 6 Gov. Mifflin (10-12)

How the Bulldogs got here: Freshmen development.

Wilson — along with Schuylkill Valley and Exeter — exceeded expectations this season. Coach Chris Gallo graduated four starters, and then saw All-Berks senior center Isis Dojan leave the team before the season.

You’d expect a team giving five freshmen significant minutes to have growing pains — which it did during a 2-4 start — but the Bulldogs have put it all together since.

Wilson is on a five-game winning streak and playing its best ball at the right time. Freshman 5-11 center Violet Houck has returned from an injury suffered in the fourth game of the season and adds to a talented freshmen class with leading scorer and point guard Laila Jones, guard Laura Crocona, forward Janai Tisdale-Aviles, and forward Emma Williams.

Junior guard Jasilyn Moncada and senior Elyse Robinson provide leadership for the freshmen.

One thing that didn’t take any time to develop: Defense. After allowing a Berks-low 34.8 points per game last season the Bulldogs allowed the fourth-fewest points at 35.0 this season.

The Bulldogs lost to the Mustangs 51-39 on Jan. 9 and beat them 67-42 Feb. 6.

How the Mustangs got here: Volatility.

The defending champions started the season 3-8 and then went on a four-game winning streak in which they beat Wilson by 12, got junior top scorer Taylor Koenig back and beat Cedar Crest — a top 10 team in District 3 Class 6A — by eight, then blew out Exeter by 41.

The Mustangs lost by 36 to Central Bucks West in their next game, then closed out the season with a 32-point win over Muhlenberg, 12-point win over Reading High, a 33-point loss to Lower Dauphin, a 27-point win over Twin Valley, a 14-point loss to Berks Catholic, and a 25-point loss to Wilson.

At this point teams usually have the chemistry aspect figured out. With Koenig missing the first 13 games the Mustangs weren’t afforded that luxury.

Gov. Mifflin is still the defending champion and has the potential for a spirited defense of its title. When the Mustangs are on, watch out. Seniors Shakyla Mayo and Anyah Ortiz are double-figure scorers, can handle the ball, and have been here before.

The Mustangs have the third-best offense and fifth-worst defense in Berks. Time will tell if they can put it all together for another playoff run.

• Top five Bulldogs scorers: Jones (13.3), Houck (9.1), Moncada (6.7), Crocona (6.5), Tisdale-Aviles (4.5).
• Top five Mustangs scorers: Koenig (12.2), Mayo (11.5), Ortiz (11.0), Keira Estrada (5.4), Jayla Richardson (3.8).
• Last season: No. 3 Wilson lost 47-34 to No. 4  Gov. Mifflin in the championship.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Bulldogs (in last 10 seasons): 9: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Mustangs (in last 10 seasons): 10: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013.
• County championships by Bulldogs (in last 10 seasons): 2:2014, 2013. Appeared in 2022.
• County championship by Mustangs (in last 10 seasons): 5: 2022, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015. Appeared in 2018. 
• Bulldogs’ best win: 44-43 over York High on Jan. 28.
• Mustangs’ best win: 64-56 over Cedar Crest on Jan. 17.
• Favorite: Bulldogs.
• Winner plays: Wyomissing or Exeter, Tuesday at Santander Arena.

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No. 4 Reading High (12-10) vs. No. 5 Brandywine Heights (15-7)

How the Red Knights got here: Balance, depth, and a strong start.

Reading High won 11 of its first 15 and appeared to be a challenger for the Berks I title. The Red Knights lost their first two games to Hempfield and McCaskey before defeating quality opponents Manheim Township, Exeter, Gov. Mifflin, Susquehanna Township, McCaskey, Cedar Crest, and Executive Education. 

A six-game losing streak ensued, but each of the losses came to quality opponents: Cedar Cliff, Mifflin, Harrisburg, Berks Catholic, Wilson, and Lebanon.

The Red Knights got back on track in the season finale against Muhlenberg. If Reading can take the lessons learned during the hot start and late losing streak, it should be a factor in the county playoffs.

The Red Knights have multiple players capable of leading the scoring on any given night. It all starts with senior guard Ashanti Chapman, who is the engine defensively and primary offensive orchestrator.

The emergence of center Heaven’Li Franklin is a positive sign; Franklin has scored in double figures in five straight games. Sophomores Yamilex Rodriguez and Tamyia Collier have each had games as the top scorer. Laysha Pimental and Bianca Seabury can get hot from 3 at any time. Janitza Hernandez-Albino and Elyssa Spring provide defense and rebounding and can also score when needed.

How the Bullets got here: Building off historic season, defense.

Brandywine went 18-8 last season and made the PIAA Tournament for the first time since 1980. Then they went out and hired a coach who won the only state title in Berks girls basketball history in Jason Beiber, who won the 2017 title with Boyertown.

Beiber beefed up the schedule with the goals of winning Berks IV, contending for a county championship, and qualifying for states.

The first goal can be checked off. The Bullets will have to accomplish the next two without junior starting point guard Olivia Moyer, who was averaging 13.3 points before a season-ending ACL tear.

That puts more responsibility on the shoulders of sophomore dynamo Addison Benner, junior sharpshooter Dana Wartzenluft, junior big Avery Potteiger, and junior guard Grace Potteiger. Freshman Lauren Stoudt shifts into the starting lineup.

The Bullets have managed the injury well so far, going 5-2 down the stretch.

Brandywine will need to continue clamping down on the defensive end to stop the Red Knights’ high-powered offense; the Bullets have the third-best defense in Berks — and second-best behind Wyomissing in the playoffs — and had the fourth-best point differential (+11) in Berks throughout the regular season.

• Top five Red Knights scorers: Rodriguez (9.9), Franklin (8.4), Chapman (7.1), Collier (6.5), Seabury (4.2).
• Top five Bullets scorers: Benner (13.4), Wartzenluft (5.9), A. Potteiger (5.9), G. Potteiger (2.8), Stoudt (1.6).
• Last season: No. 7 Reading 37-34 to Wilson in semifinals. No. 5 Brandywine lost 70-58 to Gov. Mifflin in quarterfinals.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Red Knights (in last 10 seasons): 6: 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2013.
• BCIAA playoff appearances by Bullets (in last 10 seasons): 6: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2015, 2013.
• County championships by Red Knights (in last 10 seasons): None.
• County championship by Bullets (in last 10 seasons): None.
• Red Knights’ best win: 49-37 over Manheim Township on Dec. 13.
• Bullets’ best win: 35-30 over Tri-Valley on Dec. 2.
• Favorite: Red Knights.
• Winner plays: Berks Catholic or Schuylkill Valley, Tuesday at Santander Arena.