Playing in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2004, the Wyomissing girls basketball team finds itself in largely unfamiliar territory.
However, 30 games into the season, the preparation for the next one — no matter the stage — remains exactly the same.
“These girls are excited,” Spartans coach Aaron Anders said. “They are locked in. It’s business as usual, it truly is.”
Wyomissing (28-2) will take on District 7 champion North Catholic (24-3), located in Cranberry Township, on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal at Bald Eagle High School in Wingate.
“They want to play,” Anders said about his players. “They have a goal.”
The Berks and District 3 Class 4A champion Spartans are coming off a 40-33 win over Neumann Goretti in the second round on Wednesday night. Sophomore Amaya Stewart, the Berks Player of the Year and Wyomissing’s leading scorer, had 25 points.
“We are a humble team,” Stewart said following the Spartans’ win over the Saints. “At the next game, it’s a clean slate.”
On the other side, the Trojans are coming off a 51-34 win over Harbor Creek in the second round, which was their 17th consecutive victory. Junior guard Alayna Rocco, a Harvard commit, had a team-high 15 points on Wednesday night after entering the game as North Catholic’s leading scorer at 17.7 points per game.
The Trojans are trying to advance to the state semifinals for the second straight year after making it to the Class 3A semifinals a year ago.
“Solid, all-around basketball players,” Anders said about North Catholic. “Very disciplined, well-coached basketball team.”
斯巴达人将努力推进国家半finals for just the third time in program history, following deep playoff runs of 1981 and 2004. According to Anders, Wyomissing needs little reminder of the significance of Saturday’s game
“Survive and advance, and that’s what you need to do,” Anders said. “They recognize that, you win or go home.”
