After reaching the state playoffs the past two years, Berks Catholic is ready to continue its high standard of success this season.
“Nothing is given,” junior Madison Langdon said. “Even though we had a successful season last season, it’s a new start.”
The Saints won the Berks I title and reached the county and District 3 Class 4A semifinals before advancing to the PIAA Class 4A playoffs last season. They lost to Audenried 59-54 in the first round and finished 20-8.
“We didn’t win the way we would have wanted to win towards the end of the season,” Saints coach Bob Birmingham said. “We played hard and we played well, we just went up against some really good teams that played better than us on those nights.”
Berks Catholic returns four starters from last season — Langdon, senior Gianna Roberts, junior Molly McFadden and junior Sydney Corado. According to Birmingham, the Saints also have a deep bench.
“We’re going to playing a little different than we did last year because I think we can go a little deeper than we could last year,” Birmingham said. “You’re going to see us push the ball a little bit more than we normally do.”
A guard and all-division selection, Langdon averaged 11.3 points per game last season and is the team’s leading returning scorer. McFadden, a guard and all-division selection, and Corado, a forward, each scored 8.1 points per game last year.
“We all play like we’re seniors,” McFadden said. “We’re all leaders.”
The four returning starters will try to fill the void left by All-Berks guard Caraline Herb, who led the team in scoring at 15.6 points per game as a senior last year. Herb led the county with 70 3-pointers and finished with 1,140 career points.
“I don’t think we have one that can fill that role, what she did, but we have kids that can pick up bits and pieces of it,” Birmingham said. “We have some kids that can score.”
While Herb was the team’s leading scorer, she guided the team in many ways along with fellow senior Sydney Brown, who also graduated.
“They were definitely leaders on and off the court,” Roberts said. “They were always talking.”
While she is a junior, Birmingham said he expects Langdon to pick up some of those leadership responsibilities this season.
“Madison Langdon is going to have the ball in her hands a great deal, so she’s got to be a leader out there,” Birmingham said. “I think she’s ready to assume that role.”
Berks Catholic opened its season on Friday with a 47-29 loss to Delone Catholic, the 2023 District 3 Class 4A runner-up. Langdon led the way for the Saints with 10 points.
“We can’t get negative when we make mistakes,” Corado said. “We just always have to remember to be positive about everything.”
The Saints will take on Reading High, the 2023 Berks runner-up, on Thursday at 6 p.m. at home and on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. on the road. Berks Catholic will play 2022-23 Berks I runner-up Wilson on Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. at West Lawn and Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. at home.
“We’ve been working super hard,” Langdon said. “We’re just super excited to show everyone what we got this season.”
Source: Berkshire mont