Panthers’ rally falls short in season-ending loss
2024 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Schuylkill Valley’s spirited second-half rally ultimately fell short as the Panthers lost to Middletown 38-36 Monday in a District 3 Class 4A first-round game.
Middletown sophomore Jayla Koser hit two free throws with 4.6 seconds left for the No. 7 Blue Raiders (15-8), who move on to face No. 2 Wyomissing in the quarterfinals Thursday on the Spartans’ home floor.
The season is over for the 10th-seeded Panthers (15-9).
Koser scored a game-high 23 points, including 11 points in the first quarter as the Blue Raiders built a 13-6 lead. Middletown added to that lead in the second quarter and took a 13-point lead into halftime.
Schuylkill Valley senior Juliana Stichter had nine of her team-high 15 points to keep the Panthers afloat in the first half.
Schuylkill Valley sophomore Elyssa Sellers started attacking in the third, scoring six points and going 4-for-5 from the foul line as the Panthers cut the lead to 34-26.
Stichter (four points) and Sellers (six points) scored all of Schuylkill Valley’s points in the fourth as the Panthers tied the game 36-36 before Koser’s free throws.
Wyomissing and Middletown are becoming familiar foes. The Spartans and Blue Raiders are meeting in the regular season and district playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Blue Raiders beat the Spartans in the regular season last year but have lost the last two.
