Needing a basket to keep her team’s district championship game hopes alive, Berks Catholic senior Caroline Reedy delivered.
Reedy made the game-tying free throw with 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter before scoring what proved to be the game-winning field goal with just under a minute remaining in overtime to lift the third-seeded Saints to a 49-46 win over No. 7 seed Bermudian Springs in a District 3 Class 4A girls basketball semifinal at Wolf Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
“I was just relieved,” Reedy said. “I wasn’t really thinking that much. I just knew that we needed a bucket and I saw the opportunity.”
With the victory, Berks Catholic advances to the district final for the first time since 2018. The Saints will play top-seeded Delone Catholic, which defeated Lancaster Catholic 53-41 in the other semifinal, in the championship game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Giant Center in Hershey.
“You got to be so proud of them,” Berks Catholic coach Bob Birmingham said about his team. “They really wanted this.”
The Saints trailed 40-38 in the final minute of regulation before Reedy went 2-for-2 from the line with 34 seconds remaining to tie it. The Eagles had a chance for a game-winning field goal at the buzzer, but the off-balance shot from senior Bailey Oehmig was no good.
“I’ve learned how to keep my composure during big games,” Reedy said. “Moments like that, I understand what needs to be done.”
The two teams traded baskets early in overtime until senior Lillian Peters gave Bermudian Springs a 46-45 lead with just over a minute remaining. Peters led the Eagles with 15 points.
The lead was short-lived, as Reedy converted what proved to be the game-winning field goal just seconds later to give Berks Catholic the lead. She finished with eight points.
“That’s what you want out of your seniors, you want them to step up,” Birmingham said. “That’s why she’s a 1,000-point scorer.”
After holding Bermudian Springs’ scoreless on its next offensive possession, the Saints extended their lead to 49-46 with a pair of free throws from freshman Madison Langdon. The free throws were the final points of the game, as Eagles senior Hannah Chenault’s game-tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.
“They didn’t get flustered,” Birmingham said about his team’s play in overtime. “They knew what we had to do.”
Despite playing an overtime period, Berks Catholic held Bermudian Springs to a season-low 46 points. The Eagles entered the semifinals averaging 64.52 points per game.
“I just can’t speak enough about the way we played defense today,” Birmingham said. “You didn’t see any fear.”
The first quarter was largely even, with both teams trading quick possessions. Both sides began the game with speed, and Berks Catholic led 11-9 after one quarter.
Bermudian Springs began the second quarter on a 12-2 run to take the lead. The Eagles’ solid defense forced several Saints’ turnovers, which turned into points on the offensive end.
Berks Catholic did not go away quietly, however, finishing the second quarter with five unanswered points. Bermudian Springs led 21-18 at the half.
Senior Aayilah Dabney led the Saints with nine points in the first half and was dominant on defense. She finished with 13.
“We have the confidence in the way they play, especially on the defensive end,” Birmingham said about Dabney and Reedy. “I thought Aliyah Dabney and Caroline Reedy’s defensive rebounding was awesome again tonight.”
After being held scoreless in the first half, Berks Catholic junior Caraline Herb began to heat up in the third quarter, scoring nine points. She led all scorers with 16 points overall.
“Our team as a whole, they really supported me,” Herb said. “I just kept shooting.”
Behind Herb’s offensive burst, the Saints kept pace with Bermudian Springs. Both teams scored 14 points in the third quarter and the Eagles led 35-32 after 24 minutes of play.
“We all had to keep each other up,” Herb said. “We had to push through.”
Berks Catholic pushed through the fourth quarter and overtime, as both teams traded leads until Reedy’s game-winner in the final minute of overtime. The Saints outscored Bermudian Springs 17-11 over the final 12 minutes of play to earn a spot in the district championship game for the first time in their high school careers.
“It means a lot,” Reedy said. “I’m really, really excited.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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