Wilson entered the Geigle Complex Thursday with a losing record and injuries aplenty.
The defending Berks I champ Bulldogs were already without All-Berks guard Laila Jones before all-division forward Violet Houck was sidelined for the second consecutive game with a minor leg injury.
Even more daunting, Wilson was welcomed by Reading High, which had gotten out to a hot start going 3-0 in the division and 6-2 overall.
On paper, the odds were stacked in the Red Knights' favor. Kailani Hardy had pocket aces.
The precocious sophomore had 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists, four steals, and a block to lead Wilson past Reading High 65-47 and thrust the Bulldogs back into contention in Berks I.
"We didn't have a good record to start the season, so it was good to get this win," Hardy said. "I'm happy we pumped it up and were able to show out at a different gym in an away game."
The Geigle can be an intimidating place to play with its size, history, passionate fans and cheerleaders. Hardy and the Bulldogs weren't phased from the opening tip, scoring their most points in a game this season and hunkering down defensively.
Hardy scored the first four points of the game for the Bulldogs (2-2 Berks I, 3-4 overall). Laura Crocona's 3 made it 9-2. Ryan Leaman then converted an and-one and steal-and-score on back-to-back possessions to give Wilson a 14-2 lead.
"The plan was to stop, or at least slow down, [Reading's] transition game," said Wilson first-year head coach Matt Raquet, whose Bulldogs led 18-4 at the first break. "Part of the way we could do that was by getting great shots offensively, not taking quick shots and being strong with the ball."
The Red Knights (3-1 Berks I, 6-3 overall) can never be counted out with their aggressive full-court defense and offense that can erupt in a flash. The Bulldogs kept extinguishing the fire.
Yamilex Rodriguez had nine points in the second quarter as Reading chipped away at the lead, but Crocona and Hardy each hit a 3 and junior Emma Williams and freshman Jade Lee filled in admirably for the injured Houck to keep Wilson ahead 34-20 at halftime.
The Red Knights cut the lead to 43-32 with about 2:00 left in the third and it felt like the inevitable run was next.
"It started to get close," Raquet said. "The crowd here is unbelievable. They start to get loud. For a visiting team, it's a really hard place to play. It was huge that every time they started to chip away [at our lead], Ryan [Leaman] hit a huge shot."
Leaman hit a 3 to push the Bulldogs' lead back to 46-32 and then Hardy scored to push the lead to 16.
After two free throws from Reading, Leaman drilled back-to-back 3s — one to beat the buzzer — to give the Bulldogs a 54-34 lead heading to the final quarter.
Wilson's record might not have looked good coming into Thursday, but losses to a 7-1 Emmaus team, Philly powerhouse Cardinal O'Hara, and division rivals Berks Catholic and Gov. Mifflin — who they'll play again later — aren't season-enders. The Bulldogs are back on the right track.
"We have to just keep pushing ourselves," Hardy said. "We beat a team that we really wanted to beat. It was an exciting start for us tonight."
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
Wilson | 18 | 16 | 20 | 11 | 65 |
Reading High | 4 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 47 |
Bulldogs (2-2, 3-4) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
Tisdale | 1-3 | 2-6 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Leaman | 6-11 | 1-1 | 3-5 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
Crocona | 4-8 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
Hardy | 10-16 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 9 | 23 |
Williams | 2-2 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 4 | 11 | 6 |
Lee | 3-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
Peacock | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | 26-45 | 7-12 | 6-10 | 15 | 28/29 | 65 |
Red Knights (3-1, 6-3) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
Rodriguez | 6-15 | 3-4 | 0-2 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
Collier | 3-10 | 4-4 | 0-1 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
Beatty | 0-5 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
Ortega | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Laws | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Ocasio | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Spring | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
Blijden | 1-4 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Bradley | 1-6 | 4-4 | 0-1 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
Totals | 15-49 | 17-23 | 0-5 | 3 | 26/27 | 47 |
Turnovers: Reading High 25, Wilson 27. Team rebounds: Reading High 1, Wilson 1.
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