Hoop Notes: Midseason look, Classic set, hot streaks, Larry Legend and more
So, just how good are the teams in the Berks Conference this season?
As the regular season reaches it’s midway point Berks Catholic, in Class 4A, and Antietam, in Class 2A are ranked No. 1 in their respective classifications in District 3 and Reading High is a fraction of a point behind unbeaten Cumberland Valley in Class 6A.
The Red Knights’ lone loss came to nationally ranked Gonzaga of Washington, D.C. They are unbeaten in Pennsylvania and own wins over three Philadelphia Catholic League teams.
And yet they struggled to get through a pair of league games last week. They trailed by eight points at Exeter and were in a one-possession game at Wilson with seconds to go. They won each but showed they are vulnerable and that the top teams in the league are not about to bow down to them.
“Reading is still the best (team),” said Wilson coach Matt Coldren, “but everybody else has made a step up.”
Perhaps the Eagles and Bulldogs caught the Red Knights during a down time, after some emotional early season games. Or perhaps they’re both very good teams who will make a significant district run themselves next month.
Reading coach Rick Perez wasn’t shaken, overly concerned or upset at the recent close calls in Berks I. He embraces it as part of the grind that is a four-month basketball season.
“We came out and got challenged,” he said after the 44-39 win at Wilson. “That’s what you expect. Berks basketball is like that right now. It’s been like that for the last couple of years.
“You’ve gotta be able to handle the ebbs and the flows of the season. You’ve gotta be vulnerable, you’ve gotta embrace where you are right now. (A game like that), it’ll force growth. That’s the gift of basketball.” The Red Knights’ starting lineup includes two players who were starters on their PIAA championship team in 2021 — Ruben Rodriguez and Myles Grey — and a third, Aris Rodriguez, who’s been part of their back-to-back district championship teams. That kind of experience and skil, will be tough to overcome at playoff time.
“We’re finding ways to win,” Perez said, “that’s what the season’s all about.”
Berks Catholic and Fleetwood are each unbeaten. Wilson is a couple plays away from being unbeaten. Antietam has won six straight after a slow start. Exeter and Muhlenberg have taken their lumps but will be dangerous in the postseason after going through rugged schedules.
There’s a lot to like in Berks basketball right now.
“Reading, Wilson, Muhlenberg, Exeter, BC — that’s five real good teams that have beaten a lot of good teams in the district,” said Coldren. “We’re all gonna be successful in districts. Playing each other multiple times this season’s only going to help us.”
A key game to watch for: Reading at Berks Catholic Jan. 24. The Red Knights and Saints meet just once in the regular season now that BC has dropped to Berks II.
Classic set
It wasn’t that long ago that Harrisburg was a perennial District 3 power. The Cougars won the District 3 Class 6A championship in 2019, beating Reading High.
Now the Cougars can’t win a game. They fell to 0-8 Friday with a loss to C.D. East.
They could still be winless when they come to Reading Jan. 21 to play the Red Knights in the final game of the Geigle Classic.
Longtime Cougars coach Kirk Smallwood resigned following last season, and a 7-15 record. They’re overmatched right now in a Mid-Penn Commonwealth division with strong teams such as Cumberland Valley, which is unbeaten, and State College, which has just one loss.
Initially, Reading High was supposed to play Archbishop Wood in the Classic.
The Classic has been expanded to seven games, opening with a girls game and followed by six boys games. Here’s the schedule:
- Reading High vs. Cedar Cliff (girls), 11:00 a.m.
- Exeter vs. Executive Education, 12:30
- Hazleton vs. Spring-Ford, 2
- McCaskey vs. C.D. East, 3:30
- Muhlenberg vs. Allen at Geigle Classic, 5
- Dieruff vs. Williamsport, 6:30
- Harris at Reading High, 8
Streaking
Antietam has won six straight to move into a tie with Oley Valley for first place in Berks IV, and into first place in the District 3 Class 2A power rankings. The Mounts opened the season 0-2 and 2-4.
The Mounts extended their winning streak with an overtime win at Shenandoah Saturday, getting 21 points from sophomore Jowen Reyes-Rodriguez. They’re also starting to get regular offensive contributions from Exeter All-State lineman Kyle Lash, who scored 15 points in a win over Mount Calvary last week and 13 against Shenandoah.
The Mounts play at Oley Valley Saturday.
Wyomissing has scrambled back into the District 3 Class 4A playoff picture with three straight wins after a 1-4 start. The Spartans started that run with a 54-37 win over York Catholic, a contender for a district 3A title.
Wyomissing is looking at a tough week, with games at Fleetwood, against Middletown, and at Oley.
Four-way battle
Oley Valley, Brandywine Heights, Kutztown and Tulpehocken aren’t just battling for the Berks IV title but for spots in the District 3 Class 3A field.
Entering play Monday they were ranked fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth in the power ratings: Oley, Brandywine, Kutztown and Tulpy, in that order.
The top six make the field; three advance to the state tournament.
Those district spots likely will come down to the final day of the regular season, Feb. 7, when Kutztown plays at Oley and Antietam plays at Brandywine.
Banner day
Schuylkill Valley will be unveiling banners to display the school’s 1,000-point scorers in basketball and 100-match winners in wrestling.
The new boards will be unveiled between games of a boys/girls doubleheader Jan. 28 against Lancaster County Day. The boys’ game tips at 6; the ceremony will start following that game.
Five boys players have reached 1,000 points, the most recent Malachi Kauffman in 2020. Darin Walls has the program record at 1,695.
Larry Legend
Long-time coach Larry Kostelac Jr. was honored recently for his contributions to Trinity’s basketball program when the court was dedicated in his name.
Kostelac has coached the Shamrocks for 40 years and has won 784 games, sixth-most in Pennsylvania history among boys basketball coaches.
Kostelac’s special night was spoiled a bit when the Shamrocks were beaten by Berks Catholic 67-63.