Young Mustangs come of age, rally past Lynx to reach semifinals
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Sam Cavalieri — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Gov. Mifflin made it to the BCIAA basketball tournament on the strength of its talented freshmen and its senior leadership.
When it came to crunch time Saturday the Mustangs leaned on seniors Taylor Koenig and Keira Estrada for a 59-54 comeback over Oley Valley in a quarterfinal at Shillington.
The third-seeded Mustangs (15-8) got a spark from Koenig on the offensive end with three 3-pointers in the second half and from Estrada on the defensive end.
Estrada received a lot of rest in the third quarter from Mifflin coach Mike Clark, then was deployed in the fourth against Oley standout Morgan Snyder.
Clark switched to a box-and-one defense to slow down Snyder, who had scored 17 points over the first three quarters. Snyder showed deft ability to finish around the rim and she propelled the sixth-seeded Lynx (17-6) to a lead with three minutes left in the first half, one they held until the fourth quarter.
The only points scored by Snyder in the fourth quarter came on a long 3-pointer as time expired and after the outcome had been decided. She finished with a game-high 20 points.
“We knew at the end of the day we had to shut her down,” Mifflin’s Brooklyn George said of Snyder. “Keira sitting gave her enough energy to play the whole fourth quarter to shut her down. She shuts her down, they don’t really have anyone else to score the ball and I guess it showed.”
Oley got nine points and 12 rebounds from Dana Messner.
The Lynx had chances in the fourth quarter but were hurt by missing two point-blank layups without a defender in sight.
Their ball movement was fluid throughout the game and their passing created good looks throughout. They went on an 8-0 run on the strength of their transition game and took a 10-6 lead. They finished the second quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 29-22 at halftime.
“In the locker room we talked about how driving wasn’t working and not getting the fouls called,” Koenig said. “We have to kick it and that’s honestly our best game: Drive and kick. When we do that we just play like a whole different team.”
The Mustangs were a whole different team in the second half after shooting an uncharacteristic 2-of-10 in the first half. They made 146 3’s coming into the game and they got a 3-pointer from George and then one from Koenig to start the half.
Koenig made 58 in the regular season and just needed to see one drop. She hit two more in the half, including one that put the Mustangs ahead for good at 54-51 with 2:50 remaining.
“I tell Taylor: If she makes outside shots we going to win the game,” Clark said. “I tell her that’s her game. When she has an open shot and doesn’t take it, I get frustrated. I thought when Taylor started to hit shots, this game is over with.”
Clark got huge efforts from his freshmen — George, Bella Super, and Bridget Martin — who combined for 42 points, 25 rebounds and nine assists.
He talked about the growing pains that come with starting three freshmen but they all were relentless on the glass. George finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Super had a team-high 17 points; her ability to get to the rim and finish with an array of one handed off-balance scoops was impressive.
Earlier in the season this type of comeback in a big game may not have been possible, but the time spent on the court as a unit has really brought the Mustangs closer together.
“We have chemistry now,” Super said. “We are more together than the beginning of the season. So I feel like the big moments we know what to do.”
The next big moment comes Wednesday as the Mustangs have a Valentine’s Day date with undefeated Wyomissing in the semifinals at Santander Arena.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Oley Valley | 10 | 19 | 18 | 7 | 54 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 11 | 11 | 23 | 14 | 59 |
| Lynx (17-6) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Wheeler | 2-7 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Messner | 4-12 | 1-4 | 0-4 | 0 | 12 | 9 |
| Wagner | 3-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Snyder | 8-12 | 2-2 | 2-3 | 5 | 6 | 20 |
| Buehler | 2-8 | 4-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Hare | 2-8 | 0-0 | 2-4 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Walters | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Myers | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 21-52 | 7-10 | 5-14 | 10 | 35/37 | 54 |
| Mustangs (15-8) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| George | 5-11 | 4-7 | 1-4 | 1 | 12 | 15 |
| Martin | 3-6 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| Super | 7-17 | 2-4 | 1-6 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
| Estrada | 0-7 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Koenig | 4-9 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| West | 2-5 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Case | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 21-55 | 10-21 | 7-23 | 9 | 33/36 | 59 |
Turnovers: Oley Valley 10, Gov. Mifflin 7. Team rebounds: Oley Valley 2, Gov. Mifflin 3.
