The future is now for Berks Catholic’s precocious Madison Langdon

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

Some players, no matter their grade or size, look like they belong. It’s hard to say why exactly. A mixture of skill and body language.

For Madison Langdon, it’s the way she tugs on her shorts before she makes every free throw. The way she stands with her hands on her hips when the ball isn’t in play.

It seems like nothing on the court can surprise Berks Catholic’s 5-1 freshman, even though she has appeared in exactly seven varsity games.

“She shows a lot of poise, which is really amazing,” BC coach Bob Birmingham said. “A lot of times kids get nervous out there when they’re that young. She handles it well.”

Langdon’s arrival as a future star, or maybe a present one, came against Gov. Mifflin at Shillington Tuesday night. She scored 15 points, made all 10 foul shots and helped the Saints post a 65-48 victory in Berks I girls basketball.

Forced into a bigger role than she expected when the season began, the freshman hasn’t flinched.

“I do get nervous,” said Langdon, who just turned 15. “But I know my team has my back. Once the ball is in the air and the game starts, I just have to get over the nerves and play my game. Do the best I can and let it all hang out.”

Langdon is clearly the heir apparent at point guard for Berks Catholic. The plan is for her to run this team someday. That day, at least temporarily, is now.

Mackenzie Gordos, a senior, two-year starter, has been out with an injury since the Saints played Delone Catholic on Dec. 11. Gordos is expected to return after the new year.

In the meantime, Langdon has shifted into the starting lineup. She played almost every minute against Mifflin.

“It’s been tricky having Mackenzie out but it’s good having Madison step in,” senior Aaliyah Dabney said. “She does her job. She does it very well. She has adapted very well. She’s a good player.”

One had to squint to find the blemishes in Langdon’s performance Tuesday. A missed layup. An ill-advised cross-court pass. That type of stuff. No point guard plays a perfect game just like no hitter bats 1.000.

Langdon was close to flawless despite the full-court press Mifflin applied. There was one moment when Mustangs coach Mike Clark yelled, “Attack her!” as Langdon dribbled. Clark was trying to get his defense to force a mistake. It didn’t happen.

“She beats the pressure,” Birmingham said. “There’s some little things she needs to work on but she’s always willing to listen to some criticism. They are little things. It’s not a lot. It’s nice to see how hard she plays.”

Berks Catholic (1-0, 5-2) is the right team to break in a rookie starter. The Saints are loaded with experience and versatility. Caroline Reedy and Dabney are four-year varsity players. Caraline Herb is a three-year starter.

It was the usual suspects who fueled the Saints against Mifflin. Herb scored a season-high 20 points and turned four defensive lapses into dagger 3-pointers. Reedy scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. The forward has scored at least eight points in every game.

Langdon is in a great situation and she’s the first person to point that out.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work into it,” she said. “I want to bring this team to their goals. I’ll do whatever it takes. Even if it means getting out of my comfort zone and stepping up to the challenge.”

Langdon said it was exciting to walk into her first high school practice. There was Birmingham, who registered his 600th win last week. There was Reedy and Herb, returning All-Berks selections.

Who wouldn’t want to be on that team? All the newcomer had to do was fit in, which hasn’t been a problem.

“It’s good to have her on the bench or even starting now,” Dabney said. “She has that speed. She has that agility. She has the moves to get around players and find us. It’s fun.”

Anyah Ortiz scored a season-high 19 points for Mifflin (1-1, 3-3). Elisa Fiore had 11 points and seven rebounds. The Mustangs suffered their first league loss since falling to Twin Valley on Jan. 9, 2020. This was their most lopsided Berks loss since the 2017-18 season.

Berks Catholic, the defending county champ, was knocked off by Mifflin twice last year. The Saints shrugged off payback as a motivation.

“It’s our first league game, so we wanted to get that win,” Birmingham said. “Our goal is to go through the league undefeated. One game at a time. This is no bigger than any other.”

Berks Catholic’s season will be measured by wins in February and March, not December. It’ll be measured by championships.

Langdon watched last year’s title game on a live stream as an up-and-coming eighth grader. She’ll have a better view if the Saints lift that trophy again.