Inconsistent effort ends Muhlenberg’s season in state opener
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Logan Moyer — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
SELINSGROVE — Friday’s PIAA Tournament opener was a microcosm of Muhlenberg’s season: inconsistent.
The Muhls had their moments but struggled to find sustained momentum in a 57-49 loss to Selinsgrove in a Class 5A first-round matchup on the Seals’ home court.
“We were like a wave,” said Muhlenberg head coach Matt Flowers. “Up and down. We never got on track to consistent basketball.”
The Muhls (16-12), the seventh-place finisher out of District 3, weren’t in the best place heading into the state playoffs: They had lost two of their last three and 5-of-10.
“We come off a big win, and we’ll lose three,” said Flowers, referring to his team’s struggles to put together a winning streak this season. “We just didn’t put together consistent basketball all season.”
After a favorable start for the Muhls the District 4/6 subregional champion Seals (18-7) took complete control. They stuffed the passing lanes and forced turnovers, which turned into easy baskets.
“We allowed their matchup zone to dictate what we do,” Flowers said. “We practiced (against it) all week. We talked about getting the ball to the corner. We just didn’t.”
When the Muhls did retain possession for long enough to get up a shot the shots weren’t falling. Strong defense by the Seals combined with some poor shot selections put Muhlenberg in a nine-point hole going into halftime.
Cue the proverbial wave. Coming out the locker room it was apparent that the tide had turned. The Muhls went on an 11-3 run to open the half, cutting the Seals’ advantage to a single point.
They did it by doing the exact opposite of what put them behind in the first place. Suddenly, it was Muhlenberg which was forcing turnovers and getting easy transition baskets.
“(At halftime) we talked about what we’ve told our kids all season,” Flowers said. “Playing aggressive, playing tough, playing harder.”
All-Berks pick Shermar Killen, Muhlenberg’s leading scorer, sparked the comeback. He forced multiple turnovers in the third quarter and turned a couple of offensive rebounds into putbacks or trips to the stripe. Killen finished with a team-high 15 points.
The Muhls briefly tied the game early in the fourth quarter, at which point the wheels completely fell off for the visitors. The turnovers returned, along with the lid on the basket.
“If we had kept that up for two, three or four quarters, I think we would have been in a better place,” said Flowers, referencing his team’s defensive effort in the third quarter. “We didn’t play 30 minutes. We played eight, and this is the result.”
The win gives the Seals a trip to the second round Tuesday, when they’ll play WPIAL silver medalists Franklin Regional. It is the Seals’ first state playoff victory since 2001.
The Muhls limited Ries Naugle, the Seals’ top scoring threat, for most of the night. In the fourth quarter the 6-foot-4 senior guard went off for two slam dunks and finished with 14 points. Selinsgrove freshman Xavier Jackson scored a game-high 21 points, making 8-of-11 from the line.
“I thought we held (Naugle) pretty good for the game,” Flowers said. “His teammates hit some big time shots.”
Despite the loss it’s still a successful season for the Muhls, who made their fourth trip to the state playoffs in the last six years. They graduate four, including starters Alex Collado and Kyle Archie, but will return Killen, as well as promising freshmen Justin Armstrong and Eli Hemming.
“They’re such great young men,” Flowers said of his senior class. “For us, it’s about continuing to grow.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Muhlenberg | 9 | 9 | 17 | 14 | 49 |
| Selinsgrove | 13 | 14 | 10 | 20 | 57 |
| Seals | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Jackson | 7 | 8-11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 21 |
| Naugle | 7 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| Piecuch | 4 | 1-2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Bastian | 3 | 2-6 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Diehl | 1 | 1-2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Walter | 1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals | 23 | 12-21 | 1 | 10 | 21 | 57 |
| Muhls | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Killen | 6 | 4-7 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 15 |
| Alex Collado | 6 | 4-8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 14 |
| Kanter | 6 | 1-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Jeffrie Collado | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Archie | 0 | 2-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Hemmings | 0 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Armstong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| LeClair | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Martinez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 20 | 12-21 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 49 |
