Taylor Koenig leading the way for promising young Mifflin teammates
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Gov. Mifflin senior Taylor Koenig can relate to her three freshmen teammates who join her in the Mustangs’ starting lineup: Bridget Martin, Brooklyn George, and Isabella Super.
Although she didn’t start as a freshman, Koenig played 11 games on a team that went to the District 3 semifinals. She understands the challenges of being thrust into a high-pressure role during your first season of varsity basketball.
“It’s hard to know what it’s like to play at the varsity level,” Koenig said. “You have to come together as a whole team with the young girls and older girls. It’s a lot of learning right now of how to mesh together.”
Koenig showed patience acting as the coach on the floor Thursday night in Mifflin’s 53-15 Berks Girls League crossover victory over Daniel Boone in Birdsboro.
“We like to get out in transition and use our talent to our advantage, so that helps,” Koenig said of the Mustangs, who picked up fullcourt and forced 25 turnovers. “But when we run sets, sometimes you can tell who has been playing varsity for two, three, four years compared to two months.”
There’s a learning curve at the varsity level when it comes to the X’s and O’s, but talent is undeniable, and the Mifflin freshmen certainly have it.
Koenig’s 11 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals were supplemented by Martin’s 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and five steals; George’s 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, a block and steal; and Super’s nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
All three of the froshies have natural athleticism and are dedicated to becoming better players. George and Super play AAU in the offseason and Martin runs track and plays soccer. Martin’s sister Jen is a former Gov. Mifflin 1,000-point scorer and Berks Girls League Player of the Year.
“They play a lot of basketball,” Koenig said. “It’s really easy to play with them because they’re all so talented.”
Koenig’s game exploded during her sophomore season as she led Mifflin with a 12.9 scoring average while hitting the second-most 3’s in the league with 48. The Mustangs went on to win the BCIAA title that season.
“That experience helps because I know what it takes to get there,” she said. “I just try to get the other girls motivated and focused during practice. We have to play as a team and do the little things for big things to happen.”
Her accolades also include recent MVP honors at a KSA Tournament in Orlando that pitted the Mustangs against teams from across the country and a Hoop Group Showcase League — one of the premier grassroots leagues around — 17U championship with her Lady Runnin Rebels AAU team.
Koenig is now fully healthy after a knee injury limited her to 10 games last season. She recognizes the potential of the team with her at full strength, the addition of the talented freshman trio, and returning experienced pieces in senior guard Keira Estrada and junior post Mia Vazquez.
Vazquez scored 12 points Thursday; Estrada was out of the lineup due to illness.
“Once everyone gets the same mindset, learns all of the plays, and does the little things,” Koenig said, “it should be pretty easy.”
She has narrowed her college choices and will decide between three Division III schools. She has hit a league-high in 3’s and is averaging 16.3 points; she currently sits at 650 career points. Koenig is clearly a respected figure in the locker room.
“She’s not just a leader on the floor,” Gov. Mifflin head coach Mike Clark said. “She’s a leader off the floor. They call her and talk to her. She keeps it level for them. I’m seeing her leadership more every game when we’re running sets. They look up to her. And she’s a hell of a leader.”
Koenig hit a 3-pointer to start the game and Super swiped a pass and took it coast-to-coast for a score to get things started for the Mustangs (1-1 Berks I, 5-4 overall).
Martin jumped a passing lane and converted an ‘and-one’ and Super drilled a 3 as Mifflin took an 11-2 lead.
The Blazers (1-2 Berks II, 5-4 overall) responded with four straight points and had a manageable 12-6 disadvantage to overcome after one quarter.
Mifflin’s fullcourt press and 1-3-1 zone frazzled the Blazers in the second quarter. The Mustangs built a 28-8 lead and coasted the rest of the way, holding Boone scoreless in the fourth.
The Blazers are enjoying a bounce-back season. Their five wins are their most since 2019. They won five total games in the four seasons after that.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Daniel Boone | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 15 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 12 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 53 |
| Blazers (5-3) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Welker | 2-12 | 0-2 | 0-6 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Tritz | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Parrott | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Hofer | 2-6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Fetrow | 0-6 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Hall | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Germany | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Okuniewski | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Glass | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Bauder | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Totals | 7-42 | 0-3 | 1-13 | 5 | 26/35 | 15 |
| Mustangs (5-4) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Koenig | 5-19 | 0-0 | 1-11 | 1 | 9 | 11 |
| Super | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| George | 2-7 | 5-6 | 1-3 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Martin | 4-9 | 2-3 | 1-4 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Vazquez | 6-11 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Gonzalez | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Hister | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Case | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grosch | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 21-53 | 7-11 | 4-22 | 9 | 30/32 | 53 |
Turnovers: Daniel Boone 25, Gov. Mifflin 6. Team Rebounds: Daniel Boone 9, Gov. Mifflin 2.
