Berks Catholic Proves Its Worth As Saints Make Quick Work Of Columbia, Roll In Nonconference Win, As Young Crimson Tide Continue Upward Climb

Written by: Andy Herr on January 30, 2025

For a while there, it almost seemed like they were immune. Hard to argue considering how since between the years of 2020 thru 2024, their divisional record against fellow L-L competition flourished into a staggering 31-1 clip within that cycle. However, even for a school like Columbia, one of the proudest brands that the conference has to offer no matter what timeline in history you want to consult, the cyclical nature of this beast eventually comes knocking for everyone.

All told, perhaps what is to truly be gleaned from the Crimson Tide’s recent prowess on the boys’ basketball side of things this last half decade plus is just how remarkable it was. Proud history or not, the fact that Columbia, the smallest public school from an enrollment standpoint inside either the Lebanon or Lancaster County borders, was able to essentially have their way with their section foes with a perfect records tallied year-over-year, many of which feature private schools on an intimate head-to-head basis, is considered nothing short of stellar the further we get away from as time marches onward.

But as mentioned, high school sports at its core is a turnstile where the ebbs and flows of graduation cycles can either be to your benefit or your detriment depending on the year. Add in the fact that there are other outside factors that lead to various coming’s and going’s in this day and age of scholastic sports, and suddenly Columbia’s cementing of themselves into the upper echelon of Lancaster-Lebanon League and District 3 discussions only to continues to marvel on a much grander scale.

This year though, after seeing a roster where the lion’s share featured members of the 2024 graduating class heading out the door, and a head coach as well to boot, the 2024-25 campaign figured to look a bit different up on the “Hill.”

Coming into their Wednesday game this week, the Tide’s season – and section record – was indeed different than it has been of late. Overall, Columbia possessed a 2-14 overall mark with both of those triumphs coming at hands of Section Four opponents found in Northern Lebanon and Annville-Cleona respectively.

Yet there’s more to it than that.

Yes, while the Tide saw one of their best senior classes in program history depart this past spring, the other undeniable factor at work here is that Columbia is incredibly young from a roster perspective as a result. And when you have exactly one dozen freshman and sophomores getting an up-front lesson in competing under the bright varsity lights for the very first time, there will understandably be some growing pains along the way.

However, if there is one thing that hasn’t changed, it’s seeing the Crimson Tide test their mettle against some of the very best on this side of the state. That would readily become apparent on Wednesday night as well.

When speaking on Berks Catholic, the Saints might very well have a tangible argument to make when it comes to being placed amongst the very short list of best teams residing inside all of District 3, no matter what classification level you fancy most. Something not easy to refute or argue against given how the Saints came into Columbia on Wednesday in this nonleague affair enjoying the spoils of a 14-3 overall mark, with exactly half of those wins already coming against 6A competition from within the District 3 borders. Certainly not a bad resume to boast considering the Saints are themselves a 4A outfit seen punching two classes above their assigned weight class there. And just for added good measure, Berks Catholic has since beaten every team on their slate this year save for two as the Saints were able to even up the season series against Governor Mifflin, one of their three setbacks found earlier in the year.

Suffice to say, for a young Crimson Tide crew, even one who admittedly ducks away from no one, going up against the #1 seed in the 4A playoff rankings figured to be something altogether different for this Columbia bunch in the mid-week. Sure enough, it didn’t take very long for that assumption to become realized.

In terms of starting things off, the Saints didn’t need much time at all to get their sea legs in an unfamiliar building. Case in point, in doing the bulk of their damage from point-blank range and around the cup, seeing four straight points inside tallied by way of 6’1 senior wing, Zach Suski, prompted the Tide into calling a timeout given the hosts’ existing 13-4 deficit with 3:30 left in the opening frame.  

Finally, in terms of the Columbia side of things, one of those aforementioned Tide young pups, Chase Houck, was up to the challenge presented to him as the freshman guard proceeded to tally a smooth pullup jumper to help stem the flow in making it a 13-6 affair a short time later.

But Berks Catholic proved themselves to be a team with far-reaching postseason aspirations here upcoming in the near future.

In fact, for their first field goal that came away from either the paint or the charity stripe inside the opening frame, a 3-ball sunk by way of 6’3 junior wing, Gavin Welker, pushed the visitors’ lead out to double figures, 16-6, before the curtain finally closed on a businesslike first quarter performance from Berks Catholic which culminated in the Black and Gold owning the 20-6 cushion.

Yet the Saints’ snowball kept continuing downhill at a nothing if not rapid pace.

In terms of seeing their lead swell upwards to 20 inside the game’s second act, those honors would be bestowed up Kingston McKoy and Jackson Kozik respectively, as a smooth Euro-step finish at the cup following a steal was finished off by McKoy, making it a 25-6 bulge, before a sweet Kozik jumper from the top of the key was all bottoms and nothing net, then ushering the Saints out to the 28-8 advantage.

From there, Berks Catholic’s silky smooth 6’3 junior floor general continued to show off his well-rounded wears as McKoy would promptly bury a triple a short time later – en route to his 12-point showing – which made it a 33-8 contest with 2:45 left in the opening half before a nice take to the rack courtesy of another of the Crimson Tide freshmen contingent, Marty Baker, put Columbia into double figures as Baker’s late bucket helped to send both teams to the clubhouse with Berks Catholic in total control given their 35-10 lead after the first 16 minutes of play.

Then, upon entering the second half, perhaps the most pressing of outstanding questions was to whether or not that Berks Catholic would invoke the mercy-rule into effect with what would be a 30-point advantage.

For that, the Saints needed to wait all of a minute inside the third frame as a Kingston McKoy take to the cup would commence the running clock in motion for the remainder of the night given the 40-10 difference.

However, even if time now running short given the circumstances involved, Columbia nonetheless continued to fight hard down the homeward half.

In that regard, a hoop plus the harm registered from the handiwork of yes, another freshman, Tyler Brommer, made it a 44-12 ballgame with three minutes left in the third before another step-back jumper cashed in by Chase Houck made the score stand at 46-18 before the penultimate quarter scoring would later settle on a 50-21 Berks Catholic lead with a rapidly-moving final eight minutes getting set to roll.

But as became clear in this game against Columbia, Berks Catholic is far more than just their initial starting five.

Specifically speaking, 12 of the Saints’ 13 listed on the varsity roster card would end up hitting the scoring column against the Tide on this night. And in the fourth quarter, Junior Guilavogui and John Bennett took their turns appearing in starring roles as a pair of Guilavogui J’s preceded a Bennett triple which then kept the difference at 30, 59-29, with the fourth quarter already having hit its halfway point.

All told, once the final buzzer would sound and the final verdict displayed what was a very mature 67-34 Berks Catholic defeat of Columbia where there was no needless frills or drama whatsoever, it would indeed be considered a successful business trip once the Saints boarded the bus bound for the trip home to Reading.

Again, while this was not Columbia’s night, don’t let this year fool you in terms of what their future prospects may entail. Yes, while this season is an outlier in terms of what the Tide’s ardent fanbase has grown accustomed to most recently, maybe the best word of advice for opposing teams is to try and get your shots in on the Crimson Tide while you can. As Columbia fans can attest to first-hand, the sum of all their parts working together in harmony in establishing that core nucleus is what has far and away been the underlying factor as to the Crimson Tide’s dominance these last few campaigns that have resulted in both section and district titles.  

Maybe it will take a while to learn their names and become familiar with their games. That much is fair. But for an overwhelming cast that is getting grizzled inside the crucible and the fires of battle in the here and now, it probably won’t be long before the Tide is once again at the top of the heap. For when that happens, both the town, and the league itself, is all the better for it.

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