Harley shoots Mifflin past Wilson, 54-52
Kyle Conrad didn’t need to dig deep into his playbook or conference with his assistant coaches in the final 25 seconds.
With the score tied, the Gov. Mifflin boys coach knew the basketball was going to Matt Harley.
“He’s a scorer,” Conrad said. “He was on a roll. He’s a senior. He’s a leader. That’s the guy. They say dance with the one who brought you.
“He was playing well. You got one possession to win it. Put the ball in your best shooter’s hands and let him make a play. And he did.”
The left-handed Harley drove the left side of the lane and banked in the game-winner with 6.2 seconds left, sending the Mustangs past Wilson 54-52 in a pulsating Berks Conference Division I opener Friday night at Gov. Mifflin Intermediate.
Harley scored a game-high 22 points, one off his career high of 23 against Wyomissing when he was a Berks Catholic sophomore. He had 13 after the Bulldogs had taken a 46-38 lead with 5:15 to go. He scored all but four of Mifflin’s 18 points in the fourth quarter.
“I just dialed in,” Harley said. “I told myself I had to hit those shots. I just locked in. I don’t know how to describe it. I just had a feeling.”
Harley’s heroics gave the Mustangs (1-0, 2-1) their first win over Wilson (0-1, 3-1) since the 2016-17 season after nine consecutive losses to their archrivals.
When Cleveland Harding’s potential game-tying jumper from the wing bounced off the rim, Mifflin students and fans stormed the court to celebrate.
“That was amazing,” Harley said. “The energy from the fans, the players and the coaches was great. I really enjoyed it tonight.”
The Mustangs made 10-of-19 3-point shots, including four in the first half by Gerrell McNeil when they led 22-20. They didn’t make their first 2-pointer until Harley made a turnaround in the lane with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
“I think we’re one of the better 3-point shooting teams that we’ve had,” Conrad said. “The last several years we had a guy or two who had some range and was good from outside the arc. I think we have more guys capable of making 3s than we’ve had in the past.
“Gerrell was hot in the first half. We did talk about that not being sustainable over the long haul, but it kept us around.”
McNeil finished with 15 points and reserve Tyler Minick drained a 3 from the right corner that tied it 52-52 in the final minute before Wilson turned it over on an illegal screen.
That set up Harley’s gamewinner with a Wilson defender in his face.
“I thought we did a good job on him,” Bulldogs coach Matt Coldren said. “He made some really good shots. I think maybe I should have switched someone else on him just to give him a different look.
“I thought we were on him on every shot he made for the most part. He made tough shots.”
Wilson had one last chance after Harley’s drive. Harding wound up with the ball after two passes and had an open look from inside the arc. He had 19 points, but he couldn’t get his final shot to fall.
In front of the other bench, Conrad was holding his breath as Harding released.
“You’re just praying it falls short or comes off the rim,” he said. “Luckily it did. We got one last stop. Tonight shows them what we’re capable of doing.”