KNIGHTS BRING END TO SAINTS’ SEASON
Berks Catholic falls to Lake-Lehman 39-37 in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs
A substantial height disadvantage brought Berks Catholic’s season to an end on Thursday night.
The Saints could not overcome Lake-Lehman’s towering size, as the Knights relied on stellar rebounding and dominant interior defense to earn a 39-37 win in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A girls basketball playoffs at Wolf Gymnasium.
Standing at 6-1, LakeLehman senior Hailey Kline scored what turned out to be the game-winning basket with just under two minutes remaining. Kline, one of four Knights who measure 5-10 or taller, led all scorers with 13 points.
Following Kline’s field goal, Berks Catholic came up empty on its final two possessions. A potential gamewinning and season-saving 3-point attempt from junior Caraline Herb with less than 30 seconds remaining was off the mark.
The Saints struggled down the stretch with no made field goals and just one made free throw in the final six minutes. Lake-Lehman outscored Berks Catholic 8-5 in the fourth quarter.
The Saints had a chance to win in the fourth quarter thanks in large part to their effort in the third quarter. Trailing by seven points at the end of the first half, Berks Catholic quickly played itself back into contention in the third quarter.
Behind quick ball movement, the Saints sank several outside shots to begin the third quarter on a 9-0 run. Berks Catholic outscored the Knights 13-5 in the third and went into the fourth quarter with a 32-31 lead.
The first quarter between the two teams was largely even. Both sides played tight defense, and the score was 8-8 after one quarter.
District 2 No. 3 LakeLehman (19-4) started the second quarter with a 10-2 run, relying on points in the paint to build its lead. The Knights played strong zone defense, preventing the Saints from driving to the basket.
District 3 runner-up Berks Catholic (21-7) made several outside shots late in the second quarter to keep the game within reach. Lake-Lehman outscored the Saints 18-11 in the second quarter to take a 26-19 lead at the half.