Transition game has been a challenging one for Kutztown’s Ky Brantley

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

It has been a trying 11 months for Ky Brantley since she cut off a sliver of the net at Wolf Gymnasium. First she was injured. Then she transferred. She lost time on the court and ground in the standings.

The 5-6 guard who helped Berks Catholic add another number to its county championship banner relocated to Kutztown, where adding each win is a challenge.

It’d be easy to mope. To imagine how things could be different or better. That’s not the path Brantley has chosen.

“She has handled it very well,” said Kutztown coach Jon Escueta, Brantley’s stepfather. “Her maturity level compared to last year has improved a lot. Now she has to carry a team. Given the keys to the car, sometimes it’s a learning experience. She’s taking it game-by-game and hoping to improve.”

Berks Catholic has one of the best girls basketball traditions in Berks. Kutztown has nine players. Four of them are freshmen. There’s no JV and if the team wants to run 5-on-5 in practice one of the coaches steps in to be the 10th person.

Escueta took over during the summer when Brantley was recovering from a torn labrum she suffered playing AAU. Meaghan Dietrich and Raegan Loeb, other key players for Kutztown, play soccer in the fall. The team wasn’t fully together until practice started in November. It has shown in the results. Kutztown is 3-15 with two wins against Antietam and one against Tulpehocken.

Building a winner at Kutztown will take time. Escueta hasn’t had enough time.

Brantley has powered through the adversity. The junior is averaging 19.6 points, which leads the league, and has made 26 3-pointers. She has gone through the internal struggle many players face when they’re clearly the best on their team. She has to score. But how much is too much?

“I try to make the right plays,” Brantley said. “I don’t want to feel like a ball hog. I really try not to be the one that’s scoring the most points. I like to get my teammates involved.”

Brantley attended Emmaus as a freshman before transferring to Berks Catholic. She left BC due to financial considerations and because it was difficult to make the 30-minute commute. She knew it was going to be a setback for her basketball goals.

Fitting in at Berks Catholic was difficult. Brantley wasn’t in school half the time because of COVID and she had to match names with faces blocked by wearing masks. It’s never easy being the new kid. That’s especially true during a pandemic.

Berks Catholic returned four of its top six players from the championship team and kept on winning. The Saints took Berks I and are 18-3. They’ll be the top seed in the BCIAA Tournament and favored to claim another county title.

Brantley won’t be part of this playoff run. She has kept an eye on her former teammates from a distance. 

“I knew they were going to be well-off without me,” Brantley said. “They’re a pretty solid team. They were good before me and they’re still good now. I feel like we all played really well together. Once they get to the county championship, I would love to be there and watch them.”

Brantley is one of the best players in the league and will be an interesting All-Berks case. Often players who pile up points on losing teams in Berks IV don’t get recognized. Brantley is different. She averaged 10.2 points and was all-division in Berks I as a sophomore. The “2021” isn’t on Berks Catholic’s banner without her.

Circumstances have changed. Instead of trying to fit in with a great team Brantley is trying to lift an undermanned team.

“I just keep on telling her you have to try to make the right play each and every time,” Escueta said. “I know that you’re going to make mistakes because the skill level of the other girls isn’t up there. She’s trying to help her teammates as much as possible so they can compete in games.”

Brantley has collected more than 700 points at her three stops. She’ll chase 1,000 next season. She hopes to help Kutztown take a leap forward once the roster has a chance to mesh together.

Escueta is enjoying the rare opportunity to coach his stepdaughter. He said they talk basketball 24/7. Being on the same side is a joy.

“We’re trying to savor each and every moment,” Escueta said. “We know things aren’t going to last forever. There’s this year and next year and that’s pretty much it. She’s off to college.”

Brantley hopes to play in college. Missing out on last year’s AAU schedule hurt her recruitment. She’ll be with the Lehigh Valley Fever and paired with Berks Catholic’s Caraline Herb this spring.

The injury and the losses have been a test. Brantley believes she’ll come out better on the other side.

“There are times when I don’t play with the utmost effort and I have to think about all I’ve been through,” Brantley said. “I have to take advantage of playing in a game. I can be taken out so easily. I have to play both ends of the floor and be that leader. It’s helping me grow more and mature more as a player.”