MUSTANGS TOP SAINTS
Elisa Fiore scores a career-high 17 points in Gov. Mifflin’s win over Berks Catholic
Both teams know they’re going to see each other again. Once for sure. Maybe twice.
The first meeting was a feeling out process. A chance for Gov. Mifflin and Berks Catholic to check where this Berks girls basketball picture stands.
The defending champs don’t look ready to relinquish their crown.
Mifflin scored nine consecutive points in the third quarter and never let that lead slip. It knocked off Berks Catholic 43-31 in a Berks I game at Shillington Thursday night.
“We knew they were going to be a hard team to play,” Mifflin junior Elisa Fiore said. “We knew we had to give it everything we had. That’s what we did.”
Fiore scored a career-high 17 points, including five during that game-breaking run.
Berks Catholic was ahead 24-23 after Caraline Herb drilled her third 3-pointer two minutes into the third quarter. It was a back-and-forth struggle to that point.
Mifflin scored the next nine and was ahead 33-25 heading into the fourth quarter. The Saints never pulled any closer.
“As a team, I’m super excited,” Fiore said. “I think we followed the game plan and executed it well. A team win is always good. I’m happy about that.”
Anyah Ortz scored 10 points and Shakyla Mayo had eight for Mifflin (6-0 Berks I, 8-2), which took over sole possession of first place in the division.
This is the marquee matchup in Berks girls basketball these days.
Mifflin and Berks Catholic have combined to win the past six county championships. Three times during that stretch they’ve met in the final.
Their latest encounter brought an added wrinkle. The Saints’ move to Berks I turned these powers into division rivals.
Mifflin was riding a five-game winning streak and was allowing 32 points per game entering Thursday. Berks Catholic’s winning streak was seven games and the Saints only surrendered an average of 29.5 points.
One of these trends had to change when they found themselves on the same court. The Mustangs kept theirs going.
Caroline Reedy and Herb each finished with 10 points for Berks Catholic (5-1 Berks I, 9-2), which hadn’t lost since Jan. 9.
“I knew they had shooters,” Mifflin coach Mike Clark said. “We tried to take (Reedy) out underneath and running down the lane. They did a good job with that. I’m very proud of them. It’s a good win. We’ve still got to go over there and play.”
Mifflin’s players were happy to take the first act. They know there’s more to come.