Bulldogs get win vs. Red Knights
Laila Jones scores a game-high 19 points for the Bulldogs
Wilson closed out a 53-46 win after a late fourth-quarter push by Reading High in a Berks Girls Basketball League Division I game Friday night at West Lawn.
The Bulldogs (8-3, 13-8) led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, but the Red Knights (6-5, 11-9) cut it to six late in the fourth. Laila Jones scored four of her game-high 19 points in the final two minutes to help seal it for Wilson.
“The way they play you know it was far from over,” Wilson coach Chris Gallo said. “I give (Reading High coach) Rashida (Suber) and Reading High all the credit in the world. I knew it didn’t matter how much we were up early, it was going to be a game down the stretch.”
Violet Houck scored six of her 12 points in the fourth quarter for Wilson.
The first quarter was all Wilson. Four Bulldogs scored and they also held the Red Knights scoreless in taking a 13-0 lead.
It looked like Reading High was in for a long game.
However, the Red Knights started the second quarter on a 7-0 run to get right back in it. Laysha Pimental scored five points in the run.
Wilson responded with a 14-4 run, Jones scoring six, and the Bulldogs led 27-11 at halftime.
“She played great tonight,” Gallo said on Jones. “Sharing the ball well and seeing the floor. She guarded a bit better tonight, so she did some really good things.”
Reading High opened the third quarter similar to the second, scoring the first nine points to cut Wilson’s lead to 27-20 with three minutes remaining in the frame.
Once again the Bulldogs found their groove, going on a 12-4 run, which started with a layup by Jasilyn Moncada, to take a 39-24 lead into the final quarter.
The Red Knights kept fighting in the fourth quarter.
With about two minutes left, Reading High got within seven at 46-39. Yamilex Rodriguez scored five of her 10 points in the fourth.
The Bulldogs remained composed as Jones and Houck combined to score seven points to seal the victory.
Ashanti Chapman scored a team-high 14 points for the Red Knights. Elyssa Spring had 10.
Wilson will close out its season against Gov. Mifflin in a Berks I game Monday at Shillington. The Bulldogs and Mustangs are tied for second in Berks I, with Monday’s winner will clinch an automatic berth in the Berks playoffs. The loser will then have a chance to make based on District 3 power rankings.