Berks Catholic’s quest for a state title caps the first of three busy days of basketball in Hershey later this week.
The Saints will play Devon Prep for the PIAA Class 4A boys championship on Thursday at 8 p.m., the last of four games in the Giant Center that day.
Berks Catholic (24-4) has won seven straight games, starting its run after losing to Reading High in the BCIAA semifinals.
The Saints, the District 3 champions, advanced to the title game with a 67-59 win over North Catholic in the semifinals at James Buchanan High School in Mercersburg on Friday night.
BCIAA Player of the Year Kingston McKoy, a 6-3 junior, scored 24 points and Bryce Gumby scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Saints trailed 47-44 with one quarter left to play.
Devon Prep (23-4) won the PIAA Class 3A title last season and moved up a class this year. Prep beat Valley View 64-44 in the semifinals on Friday.
The Saints will have to deal with Prep’s two stars – Zane Conlon who had 27 points and eight rebounds, and Reece Craft who added 24 points and nine rebounds for the Tide in the semifinals.
All tickets to the state championship games must be purchased online. Go to piaa.org for information.
The Berks Catholic-Devon Prep game finishes off the first day of championship games at the Giant Center and is one of 12 games to be played over three days.
Here is the schedule for the PIAA championships:
Thursday
Noon – Girls 2A, Berlin Brothersvalley vs. Bishop McCort. Brothersvalley (26-2) won District 5 and defeated Mountain View 41-38 in the semifinals to advance to the title game. McCort (26-4), the District 6 champion, advanced with a 55-53 win over Penns Manor Area in the semifinals.
2 p.m. – Boys 1A, Sankofa Freedom Academy vs. The Neighborhood Academy. Sankofa was the District 12 champion and advanced to the finals with a 63-42 semifinals win over Lancaster Country Day. The Neighborhood Academy (28-1) won District 7 and advanced with a 55-38 victory over Otto-Eldred.
6 p.m. – Girls 3A, 1 Loyalsock Twp. vs. Shady Side Academy. Loyalsock (29-2) won the District 4 title and advanced to the final with a 65-46 win over Imhotep. Shady Side (28-1) was second in District 7 and beat OLSH 43-29 in the finals.
8 p.m. – Boys 4A, Berks Catholic vs. Devon Prep.
Friday
Noon – Girls 1A, Linville Hill vs. Bishop Guilfoyle. Linville Hill (25-2) was the District 3 champion and advanced to the finals with a 60-45 win over Lourdes. Bishop Guilfoyle (29-2) was the District 6 champion and beat Bishop Carroll 49-42 in the semifinals.
2 p.m. – Boys 2A, Linville Hill vs. Sewickley Academy. Linville Hill (23-5) was second in District 3 and advanced with a 68-43 win over Northwest Area. Sewickley (24-5) was third in District 7 and beat Greensburg Central Catholic 52-48 in the semifinals.
6 p.m. – Girls 6A, Perkiomen Valley vs. Upper St. Clair. Perkiomen Valley (27-3) was the District 1 winner and beat District 12 winner Archbishop Carroll 52-45 in the semifinals. Upper St. Clair (23-6) won District 7 and advanced to the finals with a 53-49 win over District 1 runner-up Garnet Valley.
8 p.m. – Boys 5A, Neumann Goretti vs. Hershey. A matchup featuring district champions with Goretti (18-11) taking District 12 and Hershey (25-3) District 3. Goretti advanced with a 79-53 win over Upper Moreland and Hershey downed District 7 champion Chartiers Valley 66-50 in the semifinals.
Saturday
Noon – Girls 4A, Neumann Goretti (25-4) vs. Lansdale Catholic (23-5). This game features two teams coming off easy semifinal wins. Goretti, the District 12 runner-up, dispatched of Audenried Charter 71-52, and Lansdale Catholic, third in District 3, rolled over North Catholic 54-16.
2 p.m. – Boys 3A, West Catholic vs. South Allegheny. West Catholic (13-14) won District 12 and gained the final with a 58-57 win over Holy Cross. South Allegheny (27-3) won District 7 and beat Aliquippa 36-31 in the semifinals.
6 p.m. – Girls 5A, Archbishop Wood vs. South Fayette. Wood (22-7, District 12 champion) rolled over Crestwood 62-29 in the semifinals. South Fayette (28-2) was the District 7 runner-up and beat District 7 champion Peters Twp. 50-36 in the semifinals.
8 p.m. – Boys 6A, the final game of the three-day marathon features two Philadelphia Catholic League schools, neither of which won District 12. Father Judge and Roman Catholic were second and third, respectively, in District 12. Judge (23-7) defeated District 12 Imhotep in the state semifinals, 69-58. In the other semifinal, Roman Catholic (25-5) defeated Upper St. Clair 59-46. In the second round, Roman Catholic defeated defending state champion Central York 96-46. Roman Catholic won the title in 2022.
Source: Berkshire mont