After ending an 11-year drought in the state playoffs, the Wilson girls basketball team goes for another victory over a southeastern Pennsylvania school in the second round of the PIAA Class 6A girls basketball tournament on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs (19-8), the fifth-place finisher in District 3, take on District 12 champion Archbishop Carroll (18-10) at 7:30 p.m. at Spring Ford High School in Royersford.
Wilson advanced by beating District 1 third-place finisher Upper Dublin last Friday, 51-46, as junior Violet Houck scored 21 points, including 10 in the third quarter when the Bulldogs overcame a 24-22 halftime deficit for a 42-35 lead with one quarter left to play. It was Wilson’s first win in the state playoffs since 2014.
Archbishop Carroll, located in Radnor, advanced with a 61-42 win over Council Rock South as Madeleine McFillin scored 18 points and Alexis Eberz had 16.
Against Upper Dublin, the Bulldogs’ front line of Houck, Laura Crocona and Jade Lee took control of the game during a 16-0 run.
“We knew we were bigger than them and we knew we wanted to get it in the paint,” Houck said after the game. “And with the way that they were playing us, just through the game, we just saw it more that we needed to just get more paint touches. And it worked for us.”
The winner advances to the quarterfinals and will play the winner of Parkland-Central Dauphin on Friday.
Boys Class 4A
The Berks Catholic boys team opened the state playoffs with an impressive first round victory.
The District 3 champion Saints rolled to a 61-36 win over Simon Gratz last Friday in the Class 4A boys tournament.
Junior guard Kingston McKoy scored 30 points as the Saints set up a second-round matchup with District 2 runner-up Scranton Prep, a 75-48 winner over Northwestern Lehigh in the opening round.
The game is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hazleton Area High School.
McKoy, the BCIAA Player of the Year, is averaging 21.7 points per game this season.
Berks Catholic (21-4) rolled through the District 3 tourney, winning by 20.3 points per game. The Saints are giving up just 38.5 points per game in the postseason.
Scranton Prep has a dynamic scoring duo in Brycen Martin and Packy Doherty, who combined for 51 points in the first round win.
Martin had 26 points against Northwestern Lehigh and Doherty had 25. In his last five state playoff games, Doherty has a total of 114 points.
“The McKoy kid is one of the best players we have seen this season, and we have faced some kids with Division I offers,” Scranton Prep coach Larry Reagan said. “We preach playing together all the time. That is what it is going to take to contain and slow a player of his caliber. He is really tough.”
Scranton Prep (19-7) is in the second round for the 19th time in program history and the fourth straight season.
The winner moves on to Friday’s quarterfinals and will play the winner of Belle Vernon and Sharon.
Mike Cabrey and Joby Fawcett of MediaNews Group contributed to this story.
Source: Berkshire mont