HERSHEY — Aidan Sands had watched Tajae Broadie on film and had heard about Middletown’s 6-4, 230-pound senior post player.
But when he lined up next to the Old Dominion football recruit for the first time Thursday at Giant Center, Sands realized what he was about to face for the next 32 minutes.
“I thought, ‘That’s a D1 football player,’ ” he said. “He’s big and strong.”
Sands, however, was not intimidated. He did what Berks Catholic coach Snip Esterly and assistant Jason Linderman told him to do, held his ground and contained Broadie.
His marvelous effort was the linchpin of the Saints’ defense in a 60-37 romp past Middletown in the District 3 Class 4A boys basketball championship game.
“That guy’s a load and Aidan handled him,” Berks Catholic junior Josiah Jordan said. “He made him fight for his points.”
The 6-3 Sands, a senior, held Broadie to 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting, including just six points in the first half when the Saints built a 32-12 advantage. It was a season low in points for the Blue Raiders, the defending champs.
“Aidan was incredible,” Estelry said. “We weren’t sure what we were going to do. We just didn’t want him to get into foul trouble. If he got a quick foul, we were going to switch and take him off.
“Those plans went right out the window. We got great weak-side help. It was a really great defensive effort by everyone.”
Sands, though, had the greatest responsibility on his shoulders. He’s played terrific interior defense the second half of the season, especially in the playoffs.
Once upon a time, he was regarded as a liability on defense. Not any longer.
“It’s really all about effort,” Sands said. “In middle school that was the best thing I did. I couldn’t score back then. Defense was all my parents talked about. My sophomore year, I got worse at it. I lost the effort.
“This year I just want it more. I just wanted to win every game.”
Sands has been known as a steady outside shooter, but he’s evolving into a more complete player. He had 24 rebounds in three District 3 playoff wins, including 10 in the title game.
“He’s a good defender,” Esterly said. “You saw it tonight. He can rebound. He can flat out shoot the 3 and take the ball to the basket.”
Sands watched the left-handed Broadie on film and noticed that he read his defender’s position before he made his move and attacked the basket.
“I knew what he was going to do,” Sands said. “He likes to spin and then just stop. He waits for you to jump to get the and-one. He’s good down there.”
Sands was better and a chief reason why Berks Catholic celebrated its first district championship since 2018 and its fourth overall.
“We always give Aidan a tough assignment,” Esterly said. “We’ve played some high-caliber teams with good people. We told him to move his feet, beat him (Broadie) to the spot and make sure he gets the ball away from the basket.”
When it was over, Sands could not contain his wide smile.
“This means so much because I didn’t get much playing time as a sophomore and last year we had the worst record in school history,” he said. “We worked hard over the summer. It’s amazing.
“I had one shot at this and I got it. This was the biggest game of my life.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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