Senior captains look to guide young Berks Catholic girls basketball team to familiar success
Nov. 29—A year ago, Berks Catholic won the Division I title and went 18-3 in the regular season before losing in the Berks Girls Basketball League semifinals and the District 3 Class 4A final by a combined seven points.
This year, the Saints are poised to not only return to the postseason, but avenge last year's playoff losses.
"We want to make it further than we did last year," senior captain Sydney Brown said. "To make it that far and then lose, it's unfortunate, but it pushes us. It's always in the back of our mind."
After losing two of its top three scorers (Berks Player of the Year Caroline Reedy, Aaliyah Dabney) and its starting point guard (MacKenzie Gordos) from last season to graduation, Berks Catholic will lean heavily on its two senior captains — Brown and Caraline Herb — to guide the team this year.
"They've shown good leadership all summer long for us," Saints coach Bob Birmingham said about the pair. "They both work really, really hard. The other kids see how they work — and see how hard they work — and they want to do the same thing."
Brown, a guard, played in 27 games a season ago and averaged 2.9 points per game. Herb, a guard, ranked second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game, and led the county in 3-pointers with 49 in 26 games.
"I definitely have to be a leader this year," Herb said. "We're definitely going to have to lead."
Aside from the pair of seniors, Berks Catholic returns several younger players who played substantial minutes a year ago. Sophomore guards Madison Langdon, Molly McFadden and Sydney Corado are back after earning playing time as freshmen.
"They need to step up," Birmingham said about his younger players. "Now (that) people know who they are, they're not going to sneak up on anybody."
Despite their youth, the Saints, who finished 21-7 last season, are poised to win their second straight Berks I title. Muhlenberg joins the division this year, as Exeter moves down to Berks II.
"We have the same goals every year," Birmingham said "We want to win a division title, we want to win a county championship, and we want to play for a district championship and then get into the state playoffs."
In non-league play, Berks Catholic opens Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Plymouth-Whitemarsh, the defending PIAA Class 6A champion. The Saints will play at Delone Catholic on Dec. 9 in a rematch of last year's district title game.
"We have a really difficult schedule," Birmingham said. "It's just to get us ready (for the playoffs)."
Berks Catholic allowed 35.5 points per game last season, the second-fewest in the county. As it is every year, playing stout defense is a major key for the Saints.
"We can only go as far as our defense (takes) us," Brown said. "(We are focused on) just playing as a team."
With the season just days away, Berks Catholic is eager to take the floor and begin its quest to successfully defend its Berks I title.
"I'm so excited," Herb said. "I can't wait."
