Back From the Break Notebook: Impact Freshmen, Milestones, and More
- Sean McBryan
- Jan 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 5
The holidays have passed and the high school basketball season is revving its engine back up. It's a good time to look at some key games from the break, Berks Girls League newcomers already making an impact, an update on league statistics and standings, and how some former Berks players are doing in their first seasons at the college ranks.
Holiday Games
Let's call the official holiday break this year Dec. 24 through Jan. 4. Here were some eye-catching game and tournament results during that timeframe.
On Jan. 3, Exeter completed an impressive fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Reading High 59-55 and keep pace with Twin Valley in the Berks II race. The Eagles outscored the Red Knights 23-11 in the fourth quarter with burgeoning sophomore Addison Harper scoring 11 of her game-high 21 points in the final stanza. The crossover league win is important for the Eagles, who have already fallen to the division-leading Raiders. Exeter went 3-0 in games over the holiday break with additional wins over East Pennsboro and Wyomissing.
Speaking of Twin Valley, the Raiders rebounded nicely after losing both of their games in the Lower Dauphin Holiday Tournament against quality opponents in Cedar Crest and Lower Dauphin. The Raiders beat Wyomissing on Jan. 2 and Oley Valley on Jan. 3. Twin Valley's rollercoaster season has seen them lose their first three games, win their next three, lose their next three, and now win their next two. The Raiders face Conrad Weiser in a crucial Berks II showdown on Tuesday.
Wilson defeated Abington Heights on Dec. 29 and Parkland on Dec. 30 to win the Parkland Holiday Tournament. The Bulldogs were the only Berks team to win a holiday tournament title. Violet Houck had 11 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and a block, and Ryan Leaman added 11 points in the win over Abington Heights. Houck led the way with 14 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks against Parkland. The Bulldogs keep rolling.
Former Berks Girls League Players in College
A few former Berks Girls League standouts have carved themselves roles in their first college basketball seasons.
Randolph-Macon freshman Madison Langdon (Berks Catholic) has earned her way into the starting lineup in six of the Yellow Jackets' (8-3) 11 games this season. On Jan. 2, Langdon traveled closer to home in a matchup against Arcadia, which features sophomore Taylor Koenig (Gov. Mifflin).
Koenig and the Knights (7-4) came out on top with a 67-55 victory. Koenig had six points, three rebounds, one assists, and four steals. Langdon had six points and two rebounds.
Koenig is averaging 12.3 ppg and Langdon is averaging 5.4. Langdon finished her high school career with 1,247 points and Koenig with 868.
Albany freshman Amaya Stewart (Wyomissing) has played a big role off the bench for the Great Danes (11-4), playing in all 15 games. Stewart is averaging 12.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 1.1 bpg.
Rutgers-Camden freshman Tamyia Collier (Reading High) has started 11 of 12 games for the Raptors (6-6) and averaged 8.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 2.3 spg.
Montgomery County Community College freshman Addison Benner (Brandywine Heights) has started seven of nine games for the Mustangs (5-4), averaging 11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 2.6 apg.
California University of Pennsylvania freshman Yamilex Rodriguez (Reading High) has played in seven of 16 games for the Vulcans (8-8).
Kutztown freshman Ryanna Hightower-Prentice (Muhlenberg) has played in two of 11 games for the Golden Bears (6-5).
Standout Freshmen
Last season, Brandywine Heights' Sophia Benner, Exeter's Addison Harper, Muhlenberg's Kenleigh Brill, and Reading High's Xiani Beatty were a few of the freshmen who made their impact felt in the Berks Girls League.
This season a new crop of youngsters have made their mark in the early part of the season.
Hamburg's Ashayleoni Camper is averaging 9.0 points per game and has hit 13 3s in 10 games for the Hawks. Muhlenberg's Blanca Ramos is averaging 8.8 ppg and has hit 10 3s for the Muhls. Wyomissing's Mayleen Armistead is averaging 6.0 ppg for the Spartans. Antietam's Asahnti Dotson is averaging a team-high 6.1 ppg for the Mounts. Berks Catholic's Jaylianni Ortiz is averaging 5.9 ppg and has hit six 3s in 10 games for the Saints. Exeter's Avrie Hassler is averaging 4.3 ppg and hit 12 3s for the Eagles. Wilson's Mariam Osumanu and Lila Houck have received quality playing time off the bench for the Bulldogs.
Scoring, 1K, Wins Update
As of all games played through Jan. 4, Gov. Mifflin junior Bella Super leads the Berks Girls League in scoring with a 20.4 average. Super is followed by Twin Valley senior Hailey Kilgore (17.8), Exeter sophomore Addison Harper (17.6), Conrad Weiser junior Geniva Paul (14.3), and Schuylkill Valley junior Hannah West (13.9).
Super, Kilgore, and Wilson senior Laila Jones are all nearing 1,000 career points. Super is at 985 followed by Kilgore (965) and Jones (935). The next closest are three Bulldogs: Senior Laura Crocona (687), junior Kailani Hardy (685), and senior Violet Houck (659).
Hailey Kilgore leads the league with 27 made 3-pointers. Benner is No. 2 with 25. Jones (24), West (21), and Super (21) are the only other players with 20 or more.
Brill and Paul are tied for the lead with 42 free throws made. Out of players with 15 or more attempts, Hailey Kilgore is next with 39 FTM and she leads the league with a 83.0-percent average. Next is Brill at 82.4 percent, Kutztown junior Kaitlyn Houptley (27 FTM, 81.8 percent), Harper (28 FTM, 77.8 percent), and Gov. Mifflin junior Bridget Martin (12 FTM, 75 percent).
A few coaches have also hit milestone wins recently. Conrad Weiser head coach Chris Kline reached win No. 50. Exeter's Derek Wolfe reached 40 career wins and Wilson's Matt Raquet reached 30.
Standings Outlook
These are the early division leaders: Wilson in Berks I, Twin Valley in Berks II, Schuylkill Valley in Berks III, and Oley Valley in Berks IV.
The Bulldogs (4-0, 10-2) have gotten off to a strong start to the year. Their two losses are to quality opponents in Philadelphia Catholic League powerhouse Cardinal O'Hara and Dallastown, the defending District 3 Class 6A champion.
Gov. Mifflin (3-1, 6-3) and Reading High (2-2, 6-6) are next up in Berks I. Each has lost to the Bulldogs already. The Mustangs fell to the Bulldogs 54-35 on Dec. 15 and the Red Knights lost 54-44 three days later. They'll each get another crack at Wilson at the end of January. Berks Catholic (1-3, 4-7) and Muhlenberg (0-4, 0-8) will try to throw a wrinkle into the top three's plans.
Twin Valley (3-0, 5-6) is in good position in Berks II, despite a 2-6 record in non-league games. The most important win was a 54-47 victory over Exeter on Dec. 11. The Eagles (2-1, 7-4) figure to be the Raiders' biggest division challenge and they'll play again Jan. 26. The Raiders still play Conrad Weiser (1-2, 6-4) twice. Exeter beat the Scouts 74-47 on Dec. 18. Daniel Boone (0-3, 1-7) is hoping to play spoiler.
Schuylkill Valley has taken the early Berks III advantage. The Panthers (2-0, 5-3) beat defending champ Wyomissing 39-23 on Dec. 9. The Spartans are 0-2 in division and 1-8 overall. Two games each against Hamburg (1-1, 5-6) and Fleetwood (1-1, 1-8) loom for Schuylkill Valley.
Oley Valley (4-0, 7-4) is off and running in Berks IV. The Lynx picked up an important 29-26 slugfest victory over Kutztown on Dec. 15. The Cougars (3-1, 5-4) and Lynx play again on Jan. 29, which could prove crucial in deciding the division. Brandywine Heights (1-3, 1-9), Tulpehocken (1-2, 3-7), and Antietam (0-3, 0-7) have their work cut out for them.
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