Career night for Ryan Koch carries BC over Octorara
Ryan Koch scored a career-high 31 points and Berks Catholic withstood a big comeback bid from visiting Octorara for a 71-59 non-league win Monday night.
The Saints (4-0) led by 12 after the first quarter before the Braves (4-2) stormed back, pulling within two late in the third quarter.
The Saints went 8-for-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to pull away again.
Octorara figures to be one of Berks Catholic’s top challengers for the District 3 Class 4A championship. The Braves, who play in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, entered the day No. 5 in the District 3 power ratings. The Saints, the defending champs, are No. 1, just ahead of unbeaten Fleetwood.
Koch, a senior wing, knocked down five 3-pointers, one short of his career high, including three in the third quarter, when he scored 11 points.
He had 27 points after three quarters; his previous career-high had been 27 points last year against Wilson, when he made six 3’s.
Koch had scored 24 points in the Saints’ first three games, well below his average of 14.3 last season, when he was second on the team in scoring.
Josiah Jordan, playing much of the fourth quarter with four fouls, scored a season-high 15 points for the Saints, hitting four straight free throws in the final quarter. He had not had more than 10 points in any of BC’s first three games.
Jack Miller and Josh McKoy each scored eight for the Saints.
Christopher Kirk scored a team-high 23 points for Roberts, 16 in the first half. Elijah Hamilton scored 21 points for the Wildcats, all through the first three quarters. He went scoreless in the fourth period, missing a pair of free throws.
Koch had 10 points and Jordan eight in the first quarter as the Saints raced to a 25-13 lead.
Berks Catholic opened last season with six straight wins; it didn’t lose its first game until Jan. 3, at the Geigle against Reading High, 67-51. The Saints lost to the Red Knights three times last year, including in the Berks Conference championship game.