No. 1 Wyomissing (19-3) vs. No. 8 Oley Valley (14-8)
When: Saturday, 12:00 p.m.
Where: Wyomissing Junior/Senior High School.
Previous matchups this season: Wyomissing defeated Oley Valley 58-21 on Jan. 23.
How the Spartans got here: More of the same, winning Berks III. After finishing 28-3 two seasons ago and 31-1 last season, the Spartans are again back as the favorite to win their third straight Berks County title led by Albany commit Amaya Stewart. Stewart led the league in scoring at 19.9 points per game (ppg) and the Spartans finished off the regular season with seven straight wins. They have the No. 2 offense at 50.7 ppg and No. 1 defense allowing only 29.0 ppg. Seniors Alexis Hardy and Lili Marshall, juniors Kacey Maggs and Ella Anders, and sophomores Karly Hyde, Lily Paolini, and Addy Loeb, who has hit 38 3s - sixth most in Berks, have been key contributors throughout the season. Senior Audrey Hurleman also returned from a knee injury just in time for the playoff run, returning Jan. 28 against Hamburg and playing in the final six games of the regular season. Wyo's three losses came against quality teams in Hazleton, Middletown, and private school powerhouse Westtown. Non-league wins over Parkland and Downingtown West proved the Spartans are capable of defending not only their county title, but their district title as well. The Spartans' season ended in the PIAA semifinals last year.
How the Lynx got here: Players stepping up into bigger roles, winning Berks IV. When Morgan Snyder wrapped up her 1,000-point scoring high school basketball career and moved on to play field hockey at Penn State, the question facing the Lynx was: Who is going to provide scoring? The answer was senior forward Izzy Buehler taking on a larger role offensively in the paint and junior guard Julia Wagner (33 3s) providing consistent outside shooting to lead the Lynx back to the Berks playoffs. Senior guard Alyson Magee, junior guard Lily Hare, and sophomore guard Kadyn Rhoads have also taken their turns as the Lynx top scorer in games this year. Sophomore Taylor Schlegel, junior Ava Walters, and junior Makenzie Myers have each played in 20 or more games this season, too. A common theme on the Oley Valley roster is multi-sport athletes, so the Lynx have a load of athleticism. The Lynx have the No. 6 offense in Berks at 45.6 ppg and No. 6 defense at 40.1 ppg. Oley played Gov. Mifflin tough in the BCIAA quarterfinals last season and hope to do the same against Wyomissing this year. Head coach Kerry Snyder always has his team ready to play and is one of six active Berks coaches with 50 or more wins. Oley Valley last won a BCIAA playoff game in 2014.
Top Five Spartans Scorers: Stewart (19.9), Hardy (7.5), Loeb (5.9), Hyde (4.9), Maggs (4.5).
Top Five Lynx Scorers: Buehler (10.7), Wagner (9.9), Hare (6.5), Magee (5.8), Rhoads (5.3).
Last season’s Spartans: No. 2 seed defeated Wilson 45-36 in BCIAA championship.
Last season’s Lynx: No. 6 seed lost to Gov. Mifflin 59-54 in BCIAA quarterfinals.
BCIAA playoff appearances by Spartans (in last 10 seasons): 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.
BCIAA playoff appearances by Lynx (in last 10 seasons): 2024, 2019, 2016, 2014.
County championships by Spartans: Two (2024, 2023).
County championship by Lynx: None.
Spartans best win this season: 51-38 over Downingtown West (19-4) Jan. 14.
Lynx best win this season: 52-45 over Pottsgrove (9-13) Jan. 18.
Winner plays: Reading High or Conrad Weiser, Feb. 12 at Santander Arena.
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