Exeter, Berks Catholic paired in PIAA second-round doubleheader
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Exeter and Berks Catholic, each a winner in their PIAA Tournament opener Friday, go from the proverbial frying pan to fire for Tuesday’s second round.
The Berks II rivals will be paired in a doubleheader at Coatesville High.
The Eagles (19-9) play District 12 champ Imhotep Charter (25-3), the defending PIAA champ, in a Class 5A game at 6.
The Saints (23-4) play District 12 champ Neumann-Goretti (23-3) in a Class 4A game at 7:30.
Exeter advanced with a 67-60 win Friday at Upper Dublin as senior center Reece Garvin scored a career-high 26 points.
Goretti advanced with an 86-63 win over Littlestown, the No. 6 finisher in District 3.
The Saints of Neumann-Goretti tied with Roman Catholic for the Philadelphia Catholic League regular season title, then lost to Archbishop Ryan 48-43 in the league semifinals. They beat Carver Engineering & Science in the District 12 championship game.
Goretti won the 2022 PIAA championship, then lost to Lincoln Park 62-58 in last year’s finale.
Berks Catholic advanced with a 43-32 win at Blue Mountain as Parker Nein and Josh McKoy combined for 25 points.
Imhotep beat Pottstown 64-46 in the opening round.
The Panthers beat Exeter 78-40 in last year’s PIAA Class 5A championship game for their ninth state championship. They also won Class 5A titles in 2022, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and have won 27 consecutive state tournament game; their last loss in state play came in 2016 – to eventual champ Neumann-Goretti.
