After a quarter against Bishop McDevitt Friday night, Berks Catholic found itself in a tie after giving up 11 points.
The Saints would allow just 17 more the rest of the way to defeat the Crusaders 52-28 in a District 3 Class 4A girls basketball quarterfinal at Wolf Gymnasium.
“Defensively we played really well,” Berks Catholic coach Bob Birmingham said. “Especially in the second and fourth quarter, which we gave up four points in each of those quarters. Everyone stepped up and played really well.”
The second-seeded Saints (19-6) were led by Madison Langdon, who scored a game-high 18 points and played excellent defense.
“We came into this game ready to play,” Langdon said. “We had to play bigger than our size and I think we did a real good job executing that.”
The seventh-seeded Crusaders (17-7) got the game’s first score on a layup by Mia Walker. For the Saints, Gianna Roberts and Langdon each had four points in the opening quarter.
The second quarter is when the Saints started to gain momentum as they outscored the Crusaders 15-4.
Caraline Herb, who had 17 points, got a steal and converted a layup as time expired in the half to give Berks Catholic 26-15 lead.
The Saints continued to apply pressure in the third as they started on an 8-2 run to extend the lead 34-17.
Langdon drew the defense assignment against Sophia Formica, who came in averaging 13 points per game and scored just two.
“We knew we had to not let No. 10 (Formica) score the way she did against Wyomissing where she had 27 or 29 (actually 26),” Birmingham said. “She can shoot the ball from just about anywhere on the floor. Madison Langdon did an absolutely phenomenal job on her. The defensive effort started with Madison.”
In the fourth quarter, the Saints extended their lead to as many as 26 points before unloading the bench with 2:13 remaining.
Kayla Culver and Walker each had eight points for Bishop McDevitt.
Next up for the Saints is a semifinal against third-seeded Wyomissing Monday at Wolf Gymnasium at 6 p.m. The Berks champion Spartans defeated sixth-seeded Middletown 51-38 on Friday. Berks Catholic is looking to advance to its second straight title game.
“I think as a team we’re excited because it’s a big rivalry in Berks County,” Langdon said of Wyomissing. “We have a lot to prove especially after counties. We’re going to go into it motivated.”
“Wyomissing is big, strong, and they trap in a halfcourt set,” Birmingham said. “Our kids are confident and we played well tonight. Enjoy this tonight then get ready for Wyomissing. I tell our kids ‘Play the way we’re capable of playing and do that and we’ll be in just about every game.’ ”
Source: Berkshire mont