Red Knights stand in way of top-seeded Saints’ return to BCIAA girls title game
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Top-seeded Berks Catholic and fourth-seeded Reading High open the BCIAA girls semifinals doubleheader Tuesday at Santander Arena at 6.
Second-seeded Wyomissing and third-seeded Wilson meet in the second game.
The championship is Friday at 6 back at Santander, the opening game of a doubleheader that includes the Berks boys championship.
The Saints (18-5) are the championship favorites and rolling with seven consecutive wins and 14 wins in their past 15 games.
Eventual champion Gov. Mifflin defeated Berks Catholic on a buzzer-beater in last year’s semifinals, so the Berks I champion Saints will have extra motivation to get back to the county final and win their fourth championship since 2017, and second in three seasons.
Berks Catholic’s five losses have come against top competition: Plymouth-Whitemarsh (20-2), Delone Catholic (22-1), Methacton (17-8), St. Joseph by the Sea (N.Y.) (18-1), and Lancaster Catholic (21-2).
Senior Caraline Herb scored 17 points and sophomores Sydney Corado, Molly McFadden, and Madison Langdon each had 10 points as Berks Catholic knocked out No. 8 seed Schuylkill Valley 49-32 Saturday in the quarterfinals.
Those four have been the Saints pillars all season. Herb is averaging 14.7 points, Langdon 11.3, McFadden 8.5, and Corado 8.3.
Herb, a Chestnut Hill College commit, is a sharpshooter and usually tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player. Langdon shares ball handling duties with Herb, has an endless motor, and has few weaknesses. The 5-9 McFadden and 5-10 Corado provide post offense and defense but can shoot from outside and make crisp passes within the offense when needed.
Junior guard Gianna Roberts has grown more comfortable in her role as the season progressed. Senior forward Sydney Brown has returned from an injury and provides smart offensive facilitation and occasional scoring.
It’s the third matchup between these Berks I opponents: The Saints won 56-44 on Dec. 22 and 56-36 on Jan. 31.
The top five scorers for Berks Catholic in those two games were Langdon (15.5), Herb (15.0), McFadden (10.0), Corado (8.5), and Roberts (3.5).
The top five scorers for Reading High (13-10) in those games: Heaven’Li Franklin (9.5), Yamilex Rodriguez (8.0), Tamyia Collier (6.5), Ashanti Chapman (6.5), and Janitza Hernandez-Albino (4.5).
Franklin is a skilled offensive post and secures rebounds at will; she will be the strongest player on the court and will need to use that advantage to give the Red Knights a chance.
Chapman and Rodriguez share ball-handling duties; Chapman is more of the facilitator while Rodriguez looks to score. Chapman is also Reading’s top defender.
Collier and Hernandez-Albino are versatile defenders; Collier has also shown the ability to change a game on the offensive end with six double-digit scoring games.
Reading High has won two in a row since a six-game skid diluted an 11-4 start. The Red Knights topped No. 5 Brandywine 45-22 in the quarterfinals behind Chapman’s 10 points.
Another strong effort on the defensive end and a balanced, efficient scoring attack will be key if the Red Knights are to pull off the upset.
Reading High has appeared in the county final in 2020, 2019 and 2012 and last won in 2010.
The Red Knights’ season is over with their next loss; they are ranked 14th in the District 3 Class 6A power ratings and won’t make the 12-team field.
The Saints are headed to the District 3 Class 4A Tournament following the Berks playoffs. They are ranked No. 2 — where they’ll likely remain — and will host a district playoff game Feb. 24.