In a key Berks Boys Basketball Conference matchup between two sides fighting for the top spot in Division I, one team came out with more intensity on Monday night at Laureldale.
Needing a win to stay alive in the hunt for a Berks I title, the Muhls entered with the hotter hand and scored the first 13 points of the game before ultimately defeating Wilson 61-56.
According to Muhlenberg senior Alex Collado, the Muhls were hungry to win after falling to the Bulldogs 57-56 in overtime earlier in the season.
“We lost the last time we played them and we knew we had to come out,” Collado said. “It was in us for a while, we knew since that loss in the beginning of the season that we had to give it back to them.
“It feels great. They beat us the first time so we knew that we had something to prove; we knew we had to come out and get back. That’s exactly what we did.”
With his heart set on helping Muhlenberg earn redemption, Collado scored 10 of the first 13 points for the Muhls (6-3, 12-7) before ending the quarter with 14 of Muhlenberg’s 24-fourth quarter points. The Muhls led 24-12 at the end of the first quarter.
According to Muhlenberg coach Matt Flowers, Collado’s performance was rooted in his preparation that is fueled by a committed drive.
“He’s been consistent all year,” Flowers said. “He wakes up at 5 a.m. in the morning and he works out every single day. He’s a consistent worker. He’ll call me at 5 a.m. and say, ‘Hey coach, I’m here can you let me in the gym?” and I’m there.
“This kid (Collado) right here, (to him) 5 a.m. is 5 a.m. We get here, the guys shoot, I go upstairs and work out and today he hit 500 shots using the shooting machine, all by himself. So its just his consistency and how good he is. He is a hell of a worker.”
Wilson did not go down quietly however, as the Bulldogs (6-3, 13-6) outscored the Muhls 15-6 in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 30-27 heading into halftime.
Despite its momentum from the second quarter, Wilson was sluggish in the third and was outscored 10-4. Muhlenberg separated itself from the competition courtesy of strong play from junior Jayden Kantner, who scored eight of his 11 points in the third to help create a 40-31 lead.
“Well, we went to a more open offense,” Flowers said about his team’s play in the third quarter. “Jayden Kantner had the ball and when he has the ball and he’s at full speed, he’s really hard to stop. He got downhill a couple of times in the beginning of the third quarter, and we had success. And then we just kept them spread (out). We watched them play last week against Exeter. Exeter had some success in the fourth quarter against the spread offense, so we utilized it.”
Sophomore Correll Akings scored a team-high 19 points for the Bulldogs, with 10 points coming in the fourth quarter.
Wilson coach Matt Coldren said he believed his Bulldogs were not prepared to seize the opportunity and earn a victory that would have put them in sole possession of first place in Berks I.
“I’m disappointed in our effort, we weren’t ready to play tonight,” Coldren said. “I think, truthfully, it’s our immaturity. I don’t think we understand that life goes quick. We have guys who three or four months from now are gonna be walking across the stage at Gurski Stadium getting their diplomas and they’re gonna be like, ‘Oh my God, like I can’t believe this is over already.’
“Life goes by fast and I don’t think they understand that seasons go by fast. You have to cherish every opportunity that you have to play because you never know what’s gonna happen. I just think we came into tonight so nonchalant, like it was no big deal. And you saw what happened. Once you get down like that, no matter how much you try to get everybody pumped up, it’s almost like faking it.
“You have got to be ready to go from the time you get on that bus and and that should be your only focus, and I don’t think tonight that was our focus.”
Collado scored six points and went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the fourth to help put the game away.
As it stands, Reading High, Muhlenberg and Wilson are tied at the top of Berks I with two league games left to play. The Bulldogs will face Reading High on Thursday before traveling to Harrisburg on Saturday and wrapping up their season at Gov. Mifflin on Feb. 6.
The Muhls have league games at Daniel Boone on Thursday and Reading High on Feb. 6. After playing Wilson, the Red Knights will take on Cheltenham on Saturday before closing out the regular season against Muhlenberg.