Feb. 5 – The eight men’s basketball teams that qualified for the Berks Conference playoffs are gearing up for the final night of Tuesday’s championship games, though seeding is yet to be determined.
Two county playoff spots remain up for grabs as the Berks Girls Basketball League enters its final championship night on Monday.
Division Champions qualify automatically. A second place team from Berks I or Berks II and a second place team from Berks III or Berks IV are also automatic qualifiers. These spots are determined by the teams that win the head-to-head meetings between the division finalists.
Two other teams receive wild card spots based on District 3 power rankings.
On the girls side, Berks Catholic (11-0 Berks I, 16-5), Exeter (6-4 Berks II, 10-11) and Wyomissing (10-0 Berks III, 19-2) have won division championships and automatic seats.
Wilson (8-3 Berks I, 13-8), Gov. Mifflin (8-3 Berks I, 10-11) and Reading High (6-5 Berks I, 11-10) moved up spots, also based on power rankings.
Brandywine Heights (8-3, 14-7) will clinch the Berks IV title with a win at Antietam (0-11, 1-19) on Monday. The Bullets are tied with Oley Valley (8-3, 14-7) for first place in the division, but own the tiebreaker (top-ranked District 3) after the two teams split in the regular season.
If Brandywine lost, Oley would claim the division title with a win at Kutztown (3-8, 16-5).
Last place will go to runner-up Berks III or Berks IV who won the head-to-head match of the season.
If Schuylkill Valley (6-4 Berks III, 19-0) wins at home against Hamburg (4-6 Berks III, 6-15) and Fleetwood (6-4 Berks III, 11-9) loses to Wyomissing, the Panthers would earn the spot by finishing second and beating both Oley Valley and Brandywine in championship matches.
If Schuylkill Valley loses and Fleetwood finishes second in Berks III, Oley Valley or Brandywine would get the spot since both beat the Tigers in the regular season.
Also on Monday, match-winner Wilson at Gov. Mifflin gets the automatic spot as either Berks I or Berks II’s second finisher.
The girls’ playoffs begin Saturday with quarterfinal matches at the top seed’s venue. A semi-final doubleheader will take place on February 14 at Santander Arena at 6 p.m. The league game will take place on February 17 at the Santander Arena at 6 p.m.
On the boys’ side, Reading High (10-0 Berks I, 20-1), Fleetwood (10-0 Berks III, 20-1) and Oley Valley (10-1 Berks IV, 17-4) clinched division titles . Exeter (9-2, 15-5) clinch the Berks II title with a victory over Twin Valley (3-8 Berks II, 4-16). Berks Catholic (8-3, 18-3) would win Berks II with a win at Daniel Boone (0-11 Berks II, 3-18) and a loss at Exeter because the Saints have a higher district power rating than the Eagles.
Either way, Exeter and Berks Catholic, along with Wilson (6-4 Berks I, 15-6) and Muhlenberg (6-4 Berks I, 14-7), are on the court based on power ratings.
Schuylkill Valley (7-3 Berks III, 15-5) also earned a spot as Berks III or Berks IV’s best runner-up.
Wilson or Muhlenberg will earn the automatic spot as second place from Berks I or Berks II. The Bulldogs host Governor Mifflin, while the Muhls host Reading High Tuesday.
The boys’ quarter-finals will take place on February 13 at the site of the highest seed. A doubles semi-final will take place on February 15 at Santander Area at 6 p.m. The league game will take place on February 17 at Santander Arena at 8 p.m.
In boys and girls, teams are ranked 1-8 via power rankings. There will then be a coaches challenge meeting where the final standings will be established.
