It’s District 3 championship week, and a busy one for Berks boys teams

Myles Grey knows he’s nearing the end of his high school basketball career and his last chance to play at the storied Geigle. He has known nothing but success during his three years as a starter at Reading High: A 77-7 record, a state championship, two district titles and two league titles.

The All-Berks guard hears the clock ticking.

“I’m trying not to think about it,” Grey said. “My time here is slowly coming to an end. The harder we play, the longer our season will be extended.”

The top-seeded Red Knights (25-1) face fifth-seeded Waynesboro (21-3) in a District 3 Class 6A semifinal Monday at the Geigle at 7 with the chance to reach the district championship game for the sixth straight season, and to win their third straight title.

Win or loss Monday, Reading will play one more home game this season, either in the opening round of the PIAA Tournament next week or – should they lose to Waynesboro – Thursday in the third-place seeding game.

The District 3 champ and runner-up will each open the state tournament at home, which the Red Knights would certainly like: They’re 14-0 at the Geigle this season and 36-1 over the past three seasons.

The lone home loss came in the 2021 Holiday Tournament to eventual PIAA Class 3A champ Devon Prep; the Red Knights played shorthanded that night, with a couple of starters benched for disciplinary reasons.

“It’s crazy to think about that,” Reading’s Ruben Rodriguez said seeing his chances to perform at the Geigle wind down. “The season’s going fast.”

If the Red Knights win the district championship they’ll play for the final time at the Geigle March 11 against the 12^th-place finisher from District 1.

Reading is among eight Berks Conference teams still playing and with a chance to make the PIAA Tournament.

Six reached the district semifinals, which ties for the most ever by Berks teams.

As many as five could be playing for championships this week, which would be a record. Never before have more than three Berks Conference teams played for a district championship in the same season.

Only once, in 1961, did more than two bring home gold: Reading High (Class A), Kutztown (B) and West Reading (C) swept the championships, when there were only three classifications.

Here’s at look what the other seven teams face this week:

Class 6A

Wilson: The seventh-seeded Bulldogs (18-8) can clinch a spot in the PIAA Tournament with a win at Central York Tuesday at 7. With a loss, they’ll head to the seventh-place game for the second straight season, needing a win to keep their season alive. The top seven Class 6A teams qualify for states.

The Bulldogs have lost two of their last three and struggled to put the ball in the basket in each. They were held to 19 points through the first three quarters in a 59-38 quarterfinal round loss at No. 2 Cumberland Valley. They scored a season-low 30 points in a Berks semifinal loss to Reading High.

Class 5A

Exeter: The third-seeded Eagles (21-5) are riding a wave of momentum as they face seventh-seeded Hershey (18-6) in a district semifinal Monday at Reiffton. Despite playing without No. 2 scorer Reece Garvin, out with a sprained ankle, they won their first two district games by a combined 47 points.

They have reached the district semifinals for the first time since 1984 and are one win away from their first championship-game appearance since 1983. They have never won a title.

They have already clinched a PIAA Tournament berth. With a win over Hershey they’ll lock up a first-round home game March 10 in the state tournament; the top three finishers in Class 5A each open at home.

Exeter has won 11 of its last 12 games.

Muhlenberg: The ninth-seeded Muhls (15-10) are headed back to the PIAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons. They play at No. 5 Warwick Monday at 7 in a seeding game. If they win they’ll play for fifth place on Wednesday; if they lose they’ll play for seventh place. Two straight losses means they’ll open the state tournament March 10 on the home floor of the District 1 champ, never a good thing.

Class 4A

Berks Catholic: The Saints (21-4) are the No. 1 seed and defending champ. They play No. 4 Octorara (17-6) Monday at Wolf Gymnasium; the winner heads to Giant Center for the championship Thursday at 12:45.

A win Monday means the Saints open the PIAA Tournament at home March 10 against the No. 6 team from District 7; a loss means they’ll be at home Wednesday in the third-place game.

Berks Catholic beat Octorara 71-59 in December. Ryan Koch had a career-high 31 points and five 3-pointers in that game.

Octorara needed overtime to squeeze past No. 5 Eastern York in the quarterfinals.

Fleetwood: The second-seeded Tigers (21-3) beat Middletown 50-34 last week for their first district playoff win since 1990; they also clinched their first PIAA Tournament appearance since that same season.

A win Monday at home over No. 3 Littlestown sends them to their first championship game in 33 years.

If the Tigers reach the district final, they’ll be assured to play one more home game, in the opening round of the PIAA Tournament March 10. Their 21 wins are tied for third-most in program history, and the most since 1983.

Class 3A

Oley Valley: The third-seeded Lynx (19-6) play at No. 1 Columbia (19-5) in a win-or-go-home game Monday night. The winner clinches the third and final state tournament berth in Class 3A.

If the Lynx win they’ll be in the PIAA Tournament for the first time and open March 11 on the home court of the District 12 champ. A victory gives them just the second 20-win season in program history, and first since 2005.

Class 2A

Antietam: The third-seeded Mounts (13-10) are back in the championship game for the third straight season and facing the same team that beat them the last two years, top-seeded Lancaster Mennonite (15-8).

The Mounts own five district championships but all came as Mount Penn; since they’ve been Antietam they’re 0-for-4 in title games.

Win or lose, Antietam is headed back to the PIAA Tournament. It’ll get a home game March 11 as the champ or will play on the home court of the District 1 champ that day if they’re the District 3 runner-up.