Raw Sports

Wilson survives Reading to win District 3 6A Championship By: Tyler Harden

HERSHEY— The Wilson Bulldogs and the Reading Red Knights were the last two teams standing in the District 3 Class 6A Tournament. Wilson was the 1-seed, and has dominated all year, showing off a 26-1 record going into the game. Reading was the 3-seed, and the knocked off the 2-seed Central York to earn a spot in the district championship.

Reading showed their determination in the first quarter, as Denim Adams scored a layup to give the Red Knights a 12-10 lead to end the quarter. Wilson took over in the second quarter, as they scored many second chance points. Erik Timochenko led Wilson with 8 points in the second quarter, which included a buzzer beater floater to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the game at 30-18.

Reading came out electric into the second half, coming back from down by as much as 14 to as close as 3 in the third quarter. Wilson star guard, Stevie Mitchell, went down with 4:22 left in the third quarter with an ankle injury after scoring 10 points so far in the game. He came back in the game late in the third quarter, and scored a put back layup to give the Bulldogs a 38-34 lead to end the quarter. “I knew I was going to go back in”, Mitchell said “I just had to make the best of the opportunity I had when I was back in the game.”

Reading knew they had one last chance to win the District, and they started the quarter off the way they needed. Denim Adams was fouled, brought to the line, and made both free throws to tie the game at 41. But Stevie Mitchell answered with a three point play to give the lead back to Wilson. Adams tied the game again at 44 at the line for Reading.

Adams even gave Reading the lead, as he scored a contested hook layup to give the Red Knights a 46-45 lead. Stevie Mitchell later put Wilson back in the lead with a midrange. Reading would not back down, however, as Joey Chapman scored a layup within the last minute of the game. Timochenko fouled out later in the final quarter scoring 18 points in the game. Shortly after, Stevie Mitchell made one of two of his free throws to give Wilson a 58-56 lead in the final seconds of the game.

Reading had one last chance, and when they put up their final layup of the game, they missed. Wilson thought they had won the game, but a foul was called, and 0.6 seconds were added on the clock. Rene Rodriguez went to the line for Reading for a chance to tie the game, but he missed both free throws. Wilson got the rebound, and the Bulldogs were district champions, winning the game 58-56. “It feels great, first time in history at our school to be the District Champions”, Stevie Mitchell said, “definitely a great win and we’re definitely pumped.”

Stevie Mitchell led the Bulldogs with 27 points, 17 coming in the second half. Timochenko scored 18 along with 10 rebounds for Wilson, and Avanti Lockhart added 8 points. Denim Adams led Reading with 14 points and 13 rebounds before he fouled out in the fourth quarter, Moro Osumanu scored 12 points for Reading before he also fouled out.

Both Wilson and Reading will now play for the PIAA 6A State Tournament, and they will both play Saturday in their first round games against teams and at sites to be announced. “We have to keep rolling, keep winning”, Mitchell said, “as we like to say, not one more.”