BCIAA Quarterfinal Preview: No. 3 Gov. Mifflin vs. No. 6 Twin Valley

No. 3 Gov. Mifflin (14-8) vs. No. 6 Twin Valley (14-8)

When: Saturday, 12:00 p.m.

Where: Gov. Mifflin Athletic Community Center (GMACC), Shillington.

Previous matchups this season: Gov. Mifflin defeated Twin Valley 59-44 Jan. 30.

Gov. Mifflin sophomore Bella Super takes a free throw as classmates Brooklyn George and Bridget Martin look on. (PhilMarPhoto)

How the Mustangs got here: Super sophomores, high-powered offense, winning Berks I/II runner-up berth. The Mustangs received the Berks I/II runner-up bid by defeating Conrad Weiser 59-31 on Jan. 16. Sophomore Bella Super has led these high-powered Mustangs with the second-highest scoring average (19.4 ppg) in Berks only trailing Amaya Stewart. Gov. Mifflin's stellar 2027 class also features guards Brooklyn George, who has hit 31 3s, and Bridget Martin, who does her offensive damage inside the arc and plays tenacious defense on the opposing ball handler. Senior Mia Vazquez provides scoring ability and size in the post. Freshman Saray Renninger entered head coach Mike Clark's starting lineup right away and provides size and shooting on the wing. Jayda Armstrong has been the main bench piece for the Mustangs as Jatiyah Case has been out with an injury since a few games into the season. Clark typically keeps his lineup short in close games. The Mustangs have the top scoring offense in Berks (52.8 ppg) and have hit the second-most 3s (122). Mifflin is fire-tested with competitive non-league games against Central York, York Suburban, York Catholic, Lebanon, and Cedar Crest. Is Mifflin, which has won the most BCIAA girls basketball titles, ready to take the next step?

Twin Valley junior Hailey Kilgore lets a 3 fly with freshman sister Olivia trailing. (PhilMarPhoto)

How the Raiders got here: Team basketball, winning Berks II title. Twin Valley won its first division title since 2022 after a two-year hiatus courtesy of Exeter and its all-time leading scorer Grace Reedy. The Raiders have capitalized on the potential and chemistry their junior class has built in Matt Hahn's first full season as head coach following a few down years. The junior class is led by guard Hailey Kilgore, whose 12.5 ppg are seventh-best in Berks and her 41 3s are tied for third. Junior Ellie Kaplan provides tenacity and athleticism on the wing and is a Syracuse lacrosse commit. Juniors Olivia Schmittinger and Emma Hahn provide rebounding, toughness, defense, and scoring when needed down low. The elder Kilgore, Schmittinger, and Kaplan are returning starters who have spearheaded the turnaround in Elverson. The additions of sophomore Lauren Williams as a starter in the backcourt and freshman Olivia Kilgore, Hailey's younger sister, have given the Raiders even more juice. Senior Delaney Hoover has also gotten in on the action with some hot shooting performances.

Top Five Mustangs Scorers: Super (19.4), Vazquez (9.6), George (8.1), Martin (7.6), Renninger (5.7).

Top Five Raiders Scorers: H. Kilgore (12.5), Williams (7.5), Schmittinger (6.2), O. Kilgore (6.1), Kaplan (4.7).

Last season’s Mustangs: No. 3 seed lost to Wyomissing 50-42 in BCIAA semifinals.  

Last season’s Raiders: Did not qualify for BCIAA playoffs.

BCIAA playoff appearances by Mustangs (in last 10 seasons): 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.

BCIAA playoff appearances by Raiders (in last 10 seasons): 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

County championships by Mustangs: 14 (2022, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2011, 1999, 1996, 1993, 1991, 1987, 1984, 1975, 1974).

County championship by Raiders: None.

Mustangs best win this season: 47-45 over Wilson (15-7) Dec. 16.

Raiders best win this season: 45-38 over Manheim Central (15-7) Dec. 9.

Winner plays: Wilson or Schuylkill Valley, Feb. 12 at Santander Arena.