BCIAA Semifinals: Top-Seed Wilson, Defending Champs Reading High Set for Round 3
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Wilson and Reading High will face each other Wednesday night in the Berks County girls basketball playoffs for the first time since 2022 with a BCIAA semifinals tilt at Santander Arena at 7:00 p.m.
The full girls and boys semifinals schedule is:
Girls: No. 2 Gov. Mifflin vs. No. 3 Exeter - 4:00 p.m.
Boys: No. 1 Berks Catholic vs. No. 5 Exeter - 5:30 p.m.
Girls: No. 1 Wilson vs. No. 4 Reading High - 7:00 p.m.
Boys: No. 2 Muhlenberg vs. No. 3 Reading High - 8:30 p.m.
The winner between the Bulldogs and Red Knights moves on to face either No. 2 Gov. Mifflin or No. 3 Exeter in the BCIAA championship Friday at 6:00 at Santander Arena.
The last time Wilson and Reading High matched up in the BCIAA playoffs was four seasons ago when the No. 3 Bulldogs defeated the No. 7 Red Knights 37-34 in the semifinals. Wilson then fell to Gov. Mifflin in the championship.
This season, the Bulldogs swept the Red Knights in league play with a 54-44 victory on Dec. 18 behind Laila Jones' 14 points and a 58-42 victory on Jan. 29 behind another 14 from Jones and also Jade Lee.
No. 1 Wilson Bulldogs (21-2)
In the first season without Wyomissing and Amaya Stewart reign of terror over the Berks Girls League, Wilson has assumed that role. The Bulldogs (12-0 Berks I, 21-2 overall) swept their league games and are currently riding a 13-game winning streak.
The Bulldogs defeated No. 8 Kutztown 53-19 in the quarterfinals.
Last season as the No. 2 seed, the Bulldogs fell 60-56 to No. 3 Gov. Mifflin in the semifinals. Two years ago as the No. 1 seed, the Bulldogs fell to No. 2 Wyomissing 45-36 in the championship. Three years ago, the No. 3 Bulldogs fell 43-35 to No. 2 Wyomissing in the semifinals.
Wilson will be motivated to win its first county title since 2014, when the Bulldogs completed a threepeat behind seniors Ivory Bailey, Carley Brew, Avery Marz, and Jessie Wallace.
The Bulldogs have won the third-most county titles all-time with nine, trailing Gov. Mifflin's 14 and Reading High's 10. They've appeared in 22 championship games, the most in Berks history.
Head coach Matt Raquet is already up to 41 career wins in just his second season at the helm with back-to-back 20-win seasons. The Bulldogs won their first state playoff game since 2014 last year.
Wilson's only two losses on the season have come against Cardinal O'Hara and Dallastown. They haven't lost since three days before Christmas.
Top Five Bulldog Scorers: Laila Jones (12.2), Kailani Hardy (11.9), Laura Crocona (7.8), Jade Lee (7.5), Violet Houck (7.1).
Last season’s Bulldogs: No. 2 seed lost to Gov. Mifflin in the BCIAA semifinals; lost to Dallastown in District 3 Class 6A quarterfinals; lost to Archbishop Carroll in PIAA Class 6A second round.
BCIAA playoff appearances by Bulldogs (in last 10 seasons):Â 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.
County championships by Bulldogs: 10 (2014, 2013, 2012, 2008, 2006, 2000, 1998, 1989, 1986).
Bulldogs best wins this season: 51-46 over Emmaus (18-5) Nov. 29; 39-33 over Cedar Crest (13-10) Dec. 20; 55-35 over Abington Heights (13-7) Dec. 29; 53-24 over Parkland (17-4) Dec. 30; 54-52 over Central Bucks East (19-3) Jan. 31.
No. 4 Reading High (13-10)
In the previous section, Wyomissing and Amaya Stewart's reign of terror was mentioned — and for good reason.
The Spartans won three straight District 3 championships and two Berks titles. It was the Red Knights who prevented them from winning three straight Berks crowns last season.
The defending champion Red Knights (7-5 Berks I, 13-10 overall) knocked top-seeded Wyomissing out of the BCIAA playoffs in the semifinals last year en route to their first county title in 15 years with a 63-57 win over Gov. Mifflin.
Reading was in a similar position last season before its championship run. They finished the regular season 8-4 in Berks I and 14-8 overall before winning county gold as the No. 4 seed.
The Red Knights beat Conrad Weiser last season in the quarterfinals by 16 points. They beat Schuylkill Valley by 14 in the quarterfinals last Saturday.
The title last season moved the Red Knights past Wilson for the second-most in Berks history with 10.
Head coach Rashda Suber has won 74 games in through her six seasons at the helm. Sophomore guard Xiani Beatty has taken the reigns as the go-to player with graduation of Yamilex Rodriguez.
Top Five Red Knights Scorers: Xiani Beatty (10.9), JilliAnn Laws (9.5), Nayara Ortega (8.0), Yolanda Velez (5.1), Skie Blijden (3.8).
Last season’s Red Knights: No. 4 seed defeated No. 3 Gov. Mifflin 63-57 in BCIAA championship; lost to Mechanicsburg in District 3 Class 6A first round.
BCIAA playoff appearances by Red Knights (in last 10 seasons):Â 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018.
County championships by Red Knights: 9 (2025, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1981, 1980, 1979).
Red Knights best wins this season: 58-49 over West York (14-8) Jan. 17; 58-44 over Schuylkll Valley (15-7) Feb. 7.