Red Knights stun top-seeded Saints, head to Berks Girls League final (updated)
(This story will be updated tonight with more details, postgame reaction.)
Reading High showed poise and determination in pulling off a huge upset Tuesday with a 39-33 victory over top-seeded Berks Catholic in a Berks Girls League semifinal at Santander Arena.
The fourth-seeded Red Knights (14-10) rallied from an eight-point deficit late in the third period with a near-flawless fourth quarter that saw them outscore the Saints 17-5. Berks Catholic (18-6) went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal before Madison Langdon scored in the final seconds.
The Red Knights, who shot just 55 percent from the foul line during the season, made 8-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter as they steadily pulled away. They took a 10-point lead when Yamilex Rodriguez hit both ends of a double bonus with 46 seconds left.
Senior Ashanti Chapman sparked a defensive effort that held Berks Catholic 17 points below its average. She pressured the ballhandler and helped force 21 turnovers, including 15 in the second half.
Chapman led the Red Knights with nine points. Rodriguez scored seven. Bianca Seabury sparked the comeback with a pair of 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter, the second tying it at 28-28. Those were her only points.
Caroline Herb led BC with 12 points.
The Red Knights are back in the championship game for the first time since 2020. They will play either Wilson or Wyomissing, which are playing in the second game of the semifinal doubleheader.
The championship is Friday at 6 back at Santander, the opening game of a doubleheader that includes the Berks boys championship.
The Red Knights knew their season was over with a loss; they are ranked 14th in the District 3 Class 6A power ratings and won’t make the 12-team field.
It was the third matchup between the Berks I rivals: The Saints won 56-44 on Dec. 22 and 56-36 on Jan. 31.
Berks Catholic had won seven consecutive games and 14 of their past 15 games.
The Saints are headed to the District 3 Class 4A Tournament following the Berks playoffs. They are ranked No. 2 and will host a district playoff game Feb. 24.
Eventual champion Gov. Mifflin defeated Berks Catholic, the top seed, on a buzzer-beater in last year’s semifinals.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Reading High | 10 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 39 |
| Berks Catholic | 13 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 33 |
| Red Knights (14-10) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Chapman | 2-12 | 4-6 | 1-3 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Y. Rodriguez | 1-3 | 4-4 | 1-3 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Hernandez-Albino | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spring | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Franklin | 2-4 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Collier | 2-9 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Seabury | 2-5 | 0-2 | 2-3 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Hopkins | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Pimentel | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Bradley | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Totals | 10-44 | 14-21 | 5-12 | 4 | 30-31 | 39 |
| Saints (18-6) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Roberts | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Corado | 1-4 | 5-6 | 0-1 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| M. McFadden | 2-5 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Herb | 3-7 | 5-6 | 1-3 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| M. Langdon | 2-14 | 2-5 | 0-1 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Brown | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mirenda | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 9-32 | 13-19 | 2-9 | 5 | 30-35 | 33 |
Turnovers: Reading High 13, Berks Catholic 21.
