The Muhlenberg boys basketball team spent the last week hearing and reading criticism after its thrilling victory over Reading High.
The naysayers said it was a fluke.
The Muhls wanted to make a statement in the Berks Conference quarterfinals Monday night at Laureldale and did so emphatically.
Edwin Suarez scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked seven shots in three quarters to carry fourth-seeded Muhlenberg to a 70-48 victory over fifth-seeded Fleetwood.
“They feel that they have a lot to prove,” Muhls coach Matt Flowers said of his players. “They feel that some people don’t respect what they do. They’re out to prove this week that there’s a lot on the line and they’re up to the challenge.”
With their seventh straight win, the Berks II champion Muhls (18-5) advanced to the Berks semifinals Wednesday night in the second game of a doubleheader. They will take on top-seeded Reading, an 83-42 winner over Wyomissing.
As ludicrous as it sounds, some wags suggested that the Red Knights didn’t give a complete effort in a 63-61 loss at Muhlenberg, trying to diminish the Muhls’ hard-nosed performance.
“The worst thing we heard is that it was given to us,” Flowers said, “and that we didn’t earn it. There was no respect for what we did.”
Suarez and the Muhls looked very motivated against Berks III champ Fleetwood (16-6), which had won its first division title since 1979.
The Tigers tried a combination defense to limit Suarez, but he made 11-of-16 shots on some pretty moves and in transition. At the other end, it seemed like he blocked or altered every Fleetwood shot within 10 feet of the basket.
“To me, he’s the best player in the county,” Tigers coach Terry Sitler said. “He’s a beast. We game-planned for him and still couldn’t do anything. I think he probably had more than seven blocks. You might want to check the ball because I’m sure there are a couple dents in it.
“I don’t think he’s 6-6, but he plays like he’s 6-8.”
Xzavion Robertson scored 15 points on five 3-pointers, four in the third quarter when Muhlenberg built a 30-point lead.
Jake Karnish, a 6-2 junior, kept Fleetwood within striking distance for much of the first half before the Muhls took a 36-20 lead. He scored 14 of his 18 points in the first two quarters and finished with 11 rebounds and six assists.
“He showed his leadership ability,” Sitler said of Karnish, “and that he belongs with the better players in the county. With his scoring, rebounding and passing, I think he’s one of the top five or six players in the county.”
Aiden Soumas had 11 points and Will Ryan 10 for Fleetwood, which will open the District 3 Class 5A playoffs at Hershey next Monday.
Muhlenberg, on the other hand, moved within two wins of its first Berks championship since 1969. But first things first, and that’s a rematch with Reading.
“The kids played very well tonight,” Flowers said, “but we have another level to get to. We’re going to move forward and get ready for whoever we play on Wednesday.”
Source: Berkshire mont