A look at the Berks County League playoff picture for the local teams

We’re heading into the home stretch of the winter sports season so it’s time to look at the playoff picture and see where the local teams stand. There is a lot yet to be decided with several local teams right in the hunt for the Berks League playoffs as of Sunday, Jan. 27.

Girls’ Basketball
Among the local teams, Governor Mifflin has the best chance to make the playoffs. At 4-3 in league play, the Mustangs are just a game behind Reading (5-2) for second place and a sure spot in the Berks League playoffs.

In the Berks County League, eight teams will make the playoffs - the top two finishers in each of the three divisions will qualify, with the top two of the remaining teams being chosen by the power rankings.

With three games remaining (Wilson, Daniel Boone and Muhlenberg) on their schedule the Mustangs still have a chance at second place and a sure playoff spot. Wilson is along in first place at 7-0 and will be next to impossible to catch.

Reading will also be tough to catch when you consider that the Red Knights’ final three games will be against the bottom three teams in the division - Daniel Boone, Muhlenberg and Exeter. Considering Mifflin still has Wilson left on their schedule, it will be very tough to catch Reading. Reading’s victory over Governor Mifflin last week could have been the deciding game for second place.

Daniel Boone is at 2-4 in the division with four games remaining. Although it’s mathematically possible to catch Reading and finish second, it’s next to impossible.

That means both Governor Mifflin and Daniel Boone need to rely in being one of the two wild card teams. Right now Governor Mifflin and Fleetwood could be those two teams. Of couse there is still time and anything can happen.

Exeter is 0-6 in the league and out of the playoff picture.

Boys’ Basketball
On the boys’ side, Exeter’s loss to Daniel Boone last week really hurt Exeter’s chance to finish in the top two in Division 1. It’s a dogfight up there with Reading alone in first place and Exeter tied with Wilson for second place at 5-2.

The good news for Exeter is that their fate is in their own hands. With three games remaining, the Eagles have both Wilson and Reading on the schedule. The bad news is that both of those games are on the road. The Eagles defeated Wilson earlier in the season, and a another victory over Wilson in West Lawn on Jan. 29 would go a long way to assure the Eagles second place.

But if the Eagles end up in third place, they will stand a good chance to make the playoffs. They have the highest power rating of any of the other third place teams.

Daniel Boone could also slip in to the second wild card spot, with much help from the victory over Exeter. They have a tough schedule remaining with games against Reading, Wilson and Muhlenberg. They can’t afford to lose to Muhlenberg, but another upset over Wilson or Reading will do much to improve their power rankings.

Governor Mifflin is 0-7 in the league and is out of the playoff picture.

Wrestling
The Berks County Team Championship Tournament took place on Saturday, Jan. 26, with Governor Mifflin and Exeter participating.

Governor Mifflin opened the tournament with a quarterfinal round win over Brandywine Heights, 38-23. But in the semifinals, the Mustangs were defeated by Division 2 champs Schuylkill Valley, 36-31

Exeter was also victorious in their quarterfinal round match-up, defeating Hamburg, 46-28. In the semifinals, Exeter was beaten by the eventual league champion Wilson Bulldogs, 51-18.

Wilson went on to defeat the Panthers in the championship match, 53-16.

Governor Mifflin qualified for the District 3-AAA Tournament as the 14th seed. The Mustangs’ opening game was at Cedar Cliff on Jan. 29. Due to our press deadline, we are unable to report the result of the contest.

Boys’ Bowling
The playoff picture in bowling is much easier to figure out. The top three teams in each of the two Berks League divisions qualify for the playoffs. The two division champions get a quarterfinal round bye while the second and third place teams battle for the chance to beat the division champions in the semifinals.

It looks like both Governor Mifflin and Exeter are almost assured of making the playoffs. AT 10-22, Daniel Boone is, if not mathematically, realistically out of the picture.

Mifflin is alone in first place in Division 1 with a record of 25-2 and just three matches remaining - Exeter, Daniel Boone and Muhlenberg. Exeter is in second place with a record of 19-8, also with three matches remaining - Twin Valley, Muhlenberg and Governor Mifflin. Even if Exeter wins all three matches by 3-0 scores, they will have to count on Daniel Boone and Muhlenberg (14-13) to get three combined wins against the Mustangs - very unlikely.

So for Exeter, they need to finish in second or third place. That means that both third place Twin Valley (17-10) and fourth place Muhlenberg need to pass Exeter. Muhlenberg is five games behind Exeter with nine games to go with matches against Governor Mifflin and Exeter still on the schedule.

That means that Exeter will make the playoffs. It’s just a matter of finishing in second or third place.

Girls’ Bowling
On the girls’ side of things, only Governor Mifflin is really in the playoff hunt. The Lady Mustangs are 15-12 in Division 1, two games ahead of Twin Valley, but too far behind second place Muhlenberg (21-3), or first place Wilson (30-0)

This means the Lady Mustangs must hold off Twin Valley with three matches left (nine games) for both teams. Mifflin has Muhlenberg, Daniel Boone (6-21) and Exeter (9-18), while the Raiders take on Exeter, Wilson and Reading (2-28).

With that schedule, it will be tough for Twin Valley to catch Governor Mifflin, but it’s a very real possibility. That spot is still very much up for grabs.

Neither Daniel Boone or Exeter have any real shot at making the playoffs.