Marrella Financial turns up defense, pulls away for win in West Reading quarterfinals
Madyx Gruber scored eight third-quarter points as Marrella Financial pulled away in the second half for a 38-26 win over Tom Masano Tuesday in the Ron Krick Memorial League quarterfinals at the West Reading playground.
Cam Jones and Cleveland Harding helped turn the tide for Marella with their defense, forcing turnovers and several breakout baskets as they overcame a 17-13 halftime deficit. Marella, the No. 2 seed in Division I, outscored Masano 17-4 in the third quarter to lead by nine entering the final quarter.
Gruber, a rising sophomore at Wilson, finished with a team-high 10 points, eight in the third quarter. Jones, a rising senior at Wilson, had nine points, seven in the second half. Bailey Ziolkowski, a rising junior at Gov. Mifflin, scored seven points to lead Masano, the No. 5 seed in Division 1.
The single-elimination tournament continues Wednesday with semifinals; the championship is Thursday at 5:25.
In other quarterfinals Tuesday:
- Top-seeded Berks Packing, the Division 1 champ, eased by King’s Auto Repair 47-32. Josiah Jordan, a rising senior at Berks Catholic, scored a game-high 24 points. Alex Campbell, a rising junior at Wyomissing, had 14 points for King’s. Berks Packing had an opening-round bye.
- Dulin’s Tire & Service used a big third quarter to defeat Naso Realty 45-31. Aiden Dauble, a rising freshman at Exeter, had 14 points for Dulin’s, the No. 3 seed from Division I; teammate Anthony Caccese had 13. Kevin Neal scored nine for Naso Realty, a team composed of players from Oley Valley which won the Division 2 title.
- Gin Mill, the No. 4 seed from Division I, defeated Apex Advertising 43-39. Leo Tirado, a rising junior at Cedar Crest, scored 15 for Gin Mill. Carter Horst, a rising junior at Warwick, had 19 points for Apex.
In Wednesday’s semifinals Berks Packing plays Gin Mill at 5:25 and Marella Financial meets Dulin’s at 6:20.
Berks Packing defeated Marrella Financial in last year’s championship game.
The All-Star game will be played Thursday following the championship game.
