Madison Langdon turns out to be the shooting star in BC’s win over Exeter

By Mike Drago Last updated Jan 13, 2024

2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

Madison Langdon outscored the league’s top scorer in Berks Catholic’s 54-37 win over Exeter Thursday but she was more comfortable talking about her team’s defense than her own scoring prowess.

“I’m helping the team out by doing that,” the junior guard said, downplaying her game-high 26 points and efficient floor game.

Langdon upstaged Exeter’s Grace Reedy, who faced a stiff defensive effort and frequent double-teams. Reedy scored a team-high 20 points but was relatively held in check, and to about three points under her scoring average.

“We wanted to make her earn the points, and eliminate her easy buckets, putbacks and stuff,” Langdon said. “We really focused on boxing out.”

Madison Langson (Kyra Birnmingham photo)

Reedy always had a fresh defender on her as Molly McFadden and Emma Linderman subbed in for each other throughout the game.

They also got help from teammates doubling down, which forced Reedy to give up the ball or shoot under pressure.

The best thing the Saints did on defense was not foul Reedy.

She didn’t go to the line once, pretty remarkable for someone who came into the game leading the league with 77 free throws in 12 games.

Reedy shoots 76 percent from the line.

“Grace had 20, but I thought Molly and Emma did a nice job on her,” said Saints coach Bob Birmingham. “I thought we helped well on her.

“Grace is just a really nice player. Her step-back is tough; she goes to the basket strong.”

So does Langdon; despite being one of the smaller players on the floor she aggressively goes to the rim and finishes strong.

“She really doesn’t have any fear,” Birmingham said.

Langdon worked hard in the offseason to add another layer to her game by refining her shooting technique. It shows in her form, and her production.

She’s fourth in the Berks Girls League in scoring at 17.2 points per game and third with 22 3-pointers after knocking down a couple of key ones against the Division II-leading Eagles (3-2 Berks II, 9-4).

She hit a big 3-pointer late in the first half as part of a 12-4 finishing run that sent the Saints (4-1 Berks I, 6-6) into intermission up 28-20 after a slow start. Berks Catholic by as many as six points in the first quarter.

Langdon ended the third quarter with another 3, from the top of the key, to stop a brief Exeter run and give Berks Catholic a 15-point working margin going into the final quarter.

“She seems to know when we need a basket, and she comes up with the basket,” Birmingham said. “She put a lot of time in over the summer. Her shot has gotten a lot better.”

Langdon said former teammate Caraline Herb, a 1,000-point scorer who led the league with 70 3-pointers last season, helped her improve her shooting.

Langdon focused on her setup, getting her feet set, squaring up to the basket, and on her release.

“That’s definitely something I’ve been working on, my shooting technique,” she said. “I spent a lot of time on that this offseason, focusing on all the parts of my jump shot to make it good.”

	1	2	3	4	Final
Exeter	12	8	9	8	37
Berks Catholic	8	20	16	10	54

Eagles (9-4)	FG	FT	3’s	A	R	Points
Flood	0-1	0-0	0-1	0	2	0
Ware	1-5	0-0	0-0	0	0	2
Flypowycz	0-4	4-4	0-0	2	7	4
Keperling	1-2	2-2	0-0	1	3	4
Reedy	11-23	0-0	0-9	1	7	20
Kopanski	2-2	0-0	0-0	1	6	4
Macauliffe	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Schmid	1-5	1-2	0-0	0	0	3
Totals	16-43	7-8	0-10	5	25/30	37

Saints (6-6)	FG	FT	3’s	A	R	Points
Roberts	1-5	2-4	0-1	4	3	4
Mad. Langdon	10-17	4-4	2-7	0	2	26
McFadden	2-3	0-0	0-1	1	0	4
Mirenda	2-3	0-0	0-0	1	1	4
Corado	5-11	1-2	2-7	4	1	13
Linderman	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Mac. Langdon	1-4	0-0	1-3	0	0	3
Totals	21-43	7-10	5-19	10	8/18	54

Turnovers: Exeter 22, Berks Catholic 12. Team rebounds: Exeter 5, Berks Catholic 10.