10 things to watch in Berks
With the season set to begin Friday, COVID-19 hangs over everything
After months of uncertainty, the Berks basketball season is finally within sight. Games are scheduled to tip off Friday.
Here are 10 things to watch this season:
1. COVID-19
The undefeated champ continues to reign over every facet of our lives, including sports. It dominates like no opponent we’ve ever encountered. The best we can hope for is to stay in the game; that in itself will be a win.
The fall season was a victory for all those who made the effort, remained vigilant and kept the faith.
Basketball, played indoors during the height of the cold and flu season? Seems to be a tall task, no doubt. Already many leagues have made concessions by reducing games, cutting down travel by playing league-only games and requiring masks during games.
Will that be enough for us to reach the finish line?
Four months ago no one was sure if football and other fall sports could coexist with the virus. Despite finding out that they could, the trepidation level is even higher now at the dawn of a new challenge.
Most seasons, teams begin with hopes of a championship. As 2020 turns into 2021, every game played should be considered a W.
BOYS 2. Return of the Red Knights
Reading High always tops the list when it comes to Berks basketball, but this season there’s more intrigue than ever.
First, the fact that there is a season is big news. Until Wednesday, nine days before opening night, there wasn’t one for the Red Knights. Then the Reading School Board reversed an August decision that had shut down all extracurricular activities.
The thought of a winter with no Red Knights basketball was difficult to fathom. The promise this group displayed late last season with a stirring playoff run made that prospect even more harsh.
The Red Knights pushed Wilson to the brink in the District 3 Class 6A championship game, then continued to gain momentum in the PIAA Tournament with a pair of victories before the season was shut down by the coronavirus.
All-Berks center Moro Osumanu returns. With emerging talent Daniel Alcantara and Muhlenberg transfer Ruben Rodriguez, the three form the foundation of a formidable unit. A third straight trip to the district title game will not be a surprise — if we get that far.
3. Stevie’s last ride
Wilson’s Stevie Mitchell is set to wrap up what will be one of the most remarkable careers in Berks basketball history. The Marquette recruit is already the Bulldog’s all-time leading scorer with 1,496 points and has a chance to reach 2,000 points if the season lasts long enough. He has a chance to do a lot of special things.
The All-State pick will be carrying a bigger load, what with three starters from last year’s 28-1 district champion graduated. He’ll be forced to do more work inside because this Wilson team is lacking in post players and overall size.
Once in the open court there will be few players able to match Mitchell. His last ride will be a fun one.
4. New-look league
The Berks Conference again has a new format. Nine years after switching from four divisions to three, the BCIAA has made a move back to four.
The most notable change is Berks Catholic moving up to Division I, where it will compete against Reading High, Wilson and the other big boys.
Muhlenberg slides to Division II, where it will tower over the competition if it maintains its recent high level of play.
Teams from Divisions I and Division II will meet in crossovers and those count in the league standings. Same goes for Division III and Division IV.
The four division champs, two runners-up (based on head-to-head matchups) and two wild cards (based on power ratings) qualify for the playoffs.
5. Muhls still kicking
Muhlenberg must replace its top three scorers and overcome the loss of freshman whiz Ruben Rodriguez, who is now playing for Reading High.
Head coach Tyrone Nesby remains undaunted. He has some nice pieces to work with, including returning starters T.J. White and Erron Archie and some promising sophomores who will make his open offensive system work.
Once again, the Muhls won’t have much size but that hasn’t stopped them from reaching the district title game two years running or bringing home the 5A trophy last season.
6. Zach’s back
Wyomissing has big holes to fill after the graduation of All-Berks guard Max Hurleman and junior center Lamareon McFarlane’s decision not to play with the Spartans.
The return of Zach Zechman should help eases those concerns. He showed he’s fully recovered from a 2019 knee injury by quarterbacking the Spartans to the state championship game in football; on the court it looks like he hasn’t missed a beat despite missing all of last season.
He’ll team with returning starters Darren Brunner and Owen Doyle and several of his football teammates in a bid to claim the Berks III title.
7. Missing Lynx
Oley Valley hasn’t won a division title since 2010. This could be the year to end that drought, what with all five starters back and after heavy graduation losses throughout Berks IV, the Lynx’s new home.
The Lynx will have a balanced scoring attack and plenty of cohesion; these guys have been playing together a long time and four of the starters played on Oley’s dynamic soccer run to the PIAA semifinals.
8. Snip’s chase
Berks Catholic coach Snip Esterly needs just four wins to move into Pennsylvania’s all-time top 10 for victories.
Esterly enters his 32nd season with 740 victories, No. 6 among active coaches.
Hard to believe he needs just two more wins to reach 200 at Berks Catholic, where he has coached for nine seasons.
9. Top guns
Wilson’s Stevie Mitchell is looking for a second straight Berks scoring title after averaging 22.3 points per game last season.
Five of last season’s top 10 scorers in Berks return this season, including Antietam’s Hector Tiburcio (16.8) and Kutztown’s Marlon Creech (16.4).
The top returning 3-point shooter is Berks Catholic’s Matt Harley, who made 68 as a sophomore.
The best returning free throw shooter is Gov. Mifflin’s Greg Suber, who was good on 95.2% as a junior.
10. Schedule adjustments
Don’t bother printing any schedules; they’ll be out of date before the ink dries.
Athletic directors are in constant reschedule mode because of COVIDforced shutdowns and decisions by some leagues, such as the Pioneer Athletic Conference and Ches-Mont League, to go league-only and/or delay starting dates.
Most tip-off and holiday tournaments have been canceled in a COVID mitigation effort.
Boyertown won’t open until Jan. 4 due to a PAC decision to delay the start of the season.
Several other Berks schools are getting late starts.
Daniel Boone and Fleetwood aren’t scheduled to play their first game until Dec. 18. Brandywine Heights and Conrad Weiser aren’t scheduled until Dec.
22. Reading High can’t play until Dec.
23. Tulpehocken won’t start practice until Monday and won’t play until Dec. 23.