Up next for Wyomissing: Neumann-Goretti
Wyomissing (27-2) vs. Neumann-Goretti (11-14)
What: PIAA Class 4A Tournament, second round
When: Wednesday, 6:00
Where: Coatesville High School
About the Saints
Don’t let the record fool you: District 3 champion Wyomissing will have its hands full with Neumann-Goretti, which defeated District 11 runner-up North Schuylkill 66-63 in the first round.
The Saints finished third in District 12 and play in the Philadelphia Catholic League against powerhouse programs such as Lansdale Catholic (4A), Archbishop Wood (5A), Cardinal O’Hara (6A), Archbishop Carroll (6A), and West Catholic (3A), each of which won opening-round games. Archbishop Ryan also made the 5A bracket but lost in the first round.
“The PCL is one of the best leagues in the country,” Neumann-Goretti head coach Andrea Peterson said. “With that and our non-league schedule it prepares us for this moment. Our non-league schedule speaks for itself. We get out there and compete with the best teams from the country that are either ranked or have nationally-ranked players.”
That schedule includes games against schools in New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, D.C., Delaware, and Connecticut in addition to the PCL slate.
Peterson is aware of Wyomissing 6-1 sophomore center Amaya Stewart, who has an offer from Temple and has led the Spartans to their first county and district titles and first state playoff win since 2004 this season.
“They are a well-coached team that plays hard on both ends,” Peterson said. “Amaya Stewart is a tough post player with a lot of skill and potential who will impact the game on offense and defense.”
The Saints are the defending PIAA Class 3A champions and — disregarding the COVID-affected state tournaments in 2021 and 2020 — have gone 27-3 in states since 2013. That includes four straight titles from 2015 through 2018, two in 2A and two in 3A.
Peterson is 5-0 in state title games, 31-2 in state playoff games, and has compiled a 171-59 record in nine seasons.
The Saints’ top players are sophomore guards Amya Scott and Carryn Easley. Scott averages 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals; Easley averages 13.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals.
“They make it tough for teams to defend us because they can get a quick bucket but can also score from the outside,” Peterson said. “They have been playing together for years and their connection with one another on the court is hard to match.”
Senior Amirah Hackney provides leadership while scoring 9.3 points per game and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game.
Senior Sanej Tyler (4.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, freshman Kamora Berry (5.6 points, 3.0 rebounds), and freshman Zion Costen (3.2 points, 3.5 rebounds) also contribute.
Peterson won the Naismith Girls High School Basketball Coach of the Year and USA Today Coach of the Year awards after the Saints won the (mythical) 2015 national championship. Peterson said that set the winning tradition in the program and she’s built upon that with family, tradition, and culture.
The national championship team went 30-0 and was brimming with Division I talent: Ciani Cryor (Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Texas Southern), Sianni Martin (Towson, Central Florida), AJ Timbers (Towson, Saint Francis, Canisius), Felicia Aiyeotan (Virginia), and Olamide Aborowa (Texas).
“We approach every year the same, no matter which bracket we are in,” Peterson said. “Our goal after our PCL season is over is to win the state ‘chip.’ ”
The winner will play either (10-2) Harbor Creek or (7-1) North Catholic in the quarterfinals Saturday. — Compiled by Sean McBryan