Wilson tops York, becomes 7th Berks team to qualify for state tourney
YORK – Sophomore Madyx Gruber scored a game-high 23 points and Wilson made nine free throws in the final quarter to hold off York High 67-58 Thursday, clinching a spot in the PIAA Class 6A Tournament.
The seventh-seeded Bulldogs (19-9) had lost two straight in the District 3 Class 6A Tournament and faced a win-or-go-home situation for the second straight year.
This time they came up with their biggest offensive game in weeks to secure the seventh and final spot out of District 3; last year they were beaten by Cumberland Valley in this game. The fourth-seeded Bearcats (18-7) saw their season end after losing three straight in district play.
The Bulldogs are the seventh Berks Conference team to qualify for the state tournament, along with Reading High, Exeter, Muhlenberg, Berks Catholic, Fleetwood and Antietam.
Cam Jones scored eight points in the fourth quarter and Seamus Breslin had six as Wilson hung on after seeing its 11-point lead dwindle to four with 1:57 left. Breslin finished with 13 points and Jones 11.
Wilson will open the PIAA Tournament Saturday March 11 against the District 7 champion, either New Castle or Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Those teams meet Saturday at 7.
Wilson led 15-14 after one quarter as Aidan Melograna hit three 3-pointers. It stretched the lead to 39-31 by halftime as Gruber scored 11 second-quarter points. Wilson led 48-37 after three periods.
Jacere Vega led the Bearcats with 18 points, but he did not score in the fourth quarter. Daveyon Lydner scored 17 and David Warde 13.
The Bearcats hit nine 3-pointers but went just 7-for-15 from the foul line. The Bulldogs were good on 17-of-21 free throws.
Wilson returns to the PIAA Tournament for the first time since 2020, when it won the District 3 championship and its state tournament opener before play was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Bulldogs reached the district title game in 2021 but lost to Reading High and were denied a trip to the state tournament because only district champs advanced that season, a measure enacted because of COVID-19.
