Career night by Ruben Rodriguez carries Red Knights past Cougars

Ruben Rodriguez scored a career-high 35 points and ignited a big third-quarter run as Reading High pulled away for a 77-60 win over Harrisburg in a non-league game Monday at Kimber Gymnasium.

Rodriguez, an All-State guard as a sophomore, scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Red Knights (9-1) broke open a close game. They were tied after one quarter and went into halftime with a 36-33 lead.

Rodriuez hit a couple of 3’s during a 14-0 run that gave Reading a 64-46 lead early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 14 field goals, three from 3-point range, and was 4-for-4 from the foul line.

Myles Grey had 16 points for the Red Knights, hitting four 3-pointers.

Janye Stanley led the Cougars (3-6) with 14 points.

The win was the fourth straight for the Red Knights in a series they now lead 33-18. It is Reading’s longest winning streak in the series since it won 13 in a row against the Cougars from 1978-79 thru 1984-5.

Rodriguez scored 10 points in the first quarter and had 16 by halftime.

Rodriguez’s previous career high came last season, when he scored 31 points in a 71-66 win over Harrisburg last season at the Geigle.

Aris Rodriguez returned for Reading High after missing the last four games due to disciplinary reasons. Daniel Alcantara missed his fifth straight game for the same reasons.

Joey Chapman, who had missed three games, played for the second straight game and scored eight points.

Reading’s next scheduled game is Thursday at Chester.