Top players to watch in Berks II girls basketball
2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Meredith Fylypowycz
(Tim Macrina photo)
Exeter
The 5-9 junior forward returns after averaging 4.9 points last season and receiving all-division honors in Exeter’s division-winning turnaround season.
The Eagles won Berks II last season after struggling for many years in Berks I. The next step is finding another reliable option next to the league’s top scorer in Grace Reedy, and that should be Fylypowycz.
The forward reached double figures five times last season, including a career-high 14 points in a 44-40 win over Brandywine Heights in mid-January. The Eagles will be looking for more production like that.
Fylypowycz, also a defender on the soccer team, is strong in the rebounding and defensive areas, which will be needed with the graduation of center Brooklyn Noecker.
Hailey Kilgore
Twin Valley
(Clint Franks photo)
Despite the Raiders struggles last season, fans can take solace in the fact Kilgore has three more seasons left.
The 5-6 guard averaged a team-high 10.5 points in a freshman season which saw her play all 22 games. She’ll add to that experience as Twin Valley looks to rebound from a 4-18 finish, its first losing season since 2015.
Kilgore, an all-division pick, was frequently tasked with ballhandling duties and showed solid ability in that area.
She’s active on both ends of the court and constantly moves around offensively to create space for her polished jumper.
Twin Valley returns three additional starters in sophomore forward Olivia Schmittinger (4.4 points per game), senior guard Collette Lennon (3.9), and senior guard Chelsea Hurley (2.7), but its success will depend on its top scoring option.
Grace Reedy
(Tim Macrina photo)
Exeter
The 5-9 All-Berks forward enters her senior season needing 98 points to reach 1,000, something only three Exeter girls have done: Cortney Crockett (1,389 in 2006), Donna Luft (1,146 in 1987), and Jen Eck (1,099 in 2015).
Reedy led Berks in scoring last season with a 22.3 average and found the basket in a variety of ways.
She hit 43 3-pointers, fourth-most in the league, made over 70-percent of her foul shots, and was adept at finishing at the rim.
She scored in double figures every game except one and reached the 30-point mark four times, including a career-high 35 points in a win against Daniel Boone in December. She had 20 or more points 11 times.
It won’t be surprising to see teams throw more double-teams her way, so she’ll have to be comfortable in facilitating and trusting her teammates.
The goal in Reiffton is to improve on last season’s 11-12 record and qualify for the Berks and district playoffs.
Sydney Spang
Conrad Weiser
Spang returns for her junior season as the Scouts’ top option after averaging 7.7 points, second-most on the team. Weiser’s top scorer Lindsey Preston (9.2) graduated.
Spang, a 5-8 guard, and the Scouts hope to get over the proverbial hump as they haven’t made the Berks playoffs since 2016 or won a Berks playoff game since 2015.
Weiser picked up some quality wins last season against Schuylkill Valley and Fleetwood — and also led Berks Catholic at halftime in the regular season finale — but will have to see a step up in offensive production across the board to improve on a 6-16 record.
Spang hit 17 3-pointers, over 70 percent from the foul line, and scored in double figures six times, including a career-high 17 points against Warwick in early December.
The opportunity is there with no clear favorite in Berks II. Spang, an all-division choice, and backcourt running mates Alex Trevena and Gisselle Feliciano give the Scouts a solid core to build with.
(Tim Macrina photo)
Liv Welker
Daniel Boone
Welker was one of four freshmen to make an All-Berks or all-division team last season, along with Wilson’s Laila Jones and Violet Houck and Twin Valley’s Hailey Kilgore. Welker fell a bit under the radar as Daniel Boone began laying the blueprint under first-year head coach Matt Bowe.
Welker, a 5-10 forward, averaged 8.9 points to help the Blazers break a 48-game losing streak. She is a good overall athlete and scored 11 goals on the field hockey team.
Welker has the height and athleticism to again be a leader on both ends of the court for a team with only one rostered senior as they try to improve on their two-win season.
Welker dropped 20 points in the win over Tulpehocken and scored 21 of her team’s 23 points in a loss to Berks Catholic. She hit double figures eight times.
Other players to watch in Berks II:
- Gisselle Feliciano, 5-4 junior, Conrad Weiser
- Maggie Kopanski, 5-7 junior, Exeter
- Collette Lennon, 5-7 senior, Twin Valley
- Jessica Parrot, 5-5 sophomore, Daniel Boone
- Olivia Schmittinger, 5-7 sophomore, Twin Valley
- Alex Trevena, 5-6 junior, Conrad Weiser
- Mckenzie Tritz, 5-5 junior, Daniel Boone
- Aaliyah Ware, 5-6 senior, Exeter