Reading High, Muhlenberg move closer to division titles
Reading High and Muhlenberg each took a step closer to division titles with big wins on the road Tuesday night.
The Red Knights (8-0 Berks I, 16-2) got 22 points from Ruben Rodriguez and 17 from Daniel Alcantara in a 72-55 Berks Conference Division I win at Exeter.
The Muhls (6-2 Berks II, 13-5) scored the first 14 points in routing Conrad Weiser 76-36 in a Division II game at Robesonia.
Reading High, which has won five straight since a 61-57 loss to Lower Merion, can clinch the Berks I title by beating Wilson (5-3, 10-5) Friday at the Geigle and Berks Catholic (6-2, 13-2) Monday at Wolf Gymnasium.
Muhlenberg can clinch its second straight Berks II title with its next league win or with Twin Valley’s next league loss. The Raiders (2-5, 6-7) play Wednesday against winless Daniel Boone; they play Gov. Mifflin Monday and at Muhlenberg next week.
Muhlenberg has won back-to-back division titles only once in program history, in 2011 and 2012, Reggie Weiss’ only two seasons as Muhls coach.
The Muhls got 21 points from Edwin Suarez and 15 from J’Daniel Mosquera Tuesday in knocking off the Scouts (1-7, 4-12). Mosquera had 10 first-quarter points, including a pair of 3’s, as the Muhls raced to a 30-6 lead. They were up 46-18 at the half.
Aanjay Feliciano led the Scouts with nine points.
Reading shared the Berks I title with Wilson last season; it has not won an outright division title since 2019.
The Red Knights used a big third quarter to pull away from the Eagles (4-4, 9-7). Alcantara hit a 3-pointer and scored seven points and Rodriguez had six points as Reading outscored Exeter 19-10 to take a 49-38 lead into the fourth quarter. They led just 30-28 at halftime.
Colin Payne, the league’s leading scorer, scored 19 points, 11 in the final quarter, to lead Exeter.
Junior Aris Rodriguez came off the Reading bench to score a career-high 16 points. Joey Chapman did not play for Reading High.
The Red Knights won the first meeting against Exeter 66-40 on Dec. 17.
Reading has won or shared eight division titles during Rick Perez’s first 10 seasons as head coach.