For Red Knights’ Myles Grey, every season tis the season for giving
Myle Grey doesn’t quite get this birthday thing.
You’re supposed to receive gifts on your birthday, not give them, but Reading High’s senior guard can’t help himself.
There he was Tuesday night out in front on a breakout against Central Dauphin; rather than lay it in for an easy two he threw the ball hard off the glass .
Trailing teammate Aris Rodriguez ended up with a spectacular dunk, throwing down the carom as part of a big third quarter that carried the unbeaten Red Knights to a 73-56 win in the opening round of the 48th Reading Holiday Tournament.
For Grey, the Red Knights’ assist leader, it was just another exhibition of the selfless play he’s exhibited for the past three seasons and yet another reason this Reading team is so tough to beat.
| RHS Holiday title games | ||||
| 2021 | Devon Prep | 75 | Reading High | 71 |
| 2019 | Reading High | 50 | Downingtown East | 39 |
| 2018 | Norristown | 63 | Reading High | 56 |
| 2017 | Dunbar (Md.) | 56 | Reading High | 54 |
| 2016 | Reading High | 91 | MCS Charter | 67 |
| 2015 | Reading High | 73 | Mt. Vernon (N.Y.) | 57 |
| 2014 | Steel-High | 55 | Reading High | 33 |
| 2013 | Albany Academy | 66 | Reading High | 59 |
| 2012 | Dunbar (Md.) | 59 | Reading High | 41 |
| 2011 | Reading High | 73 | W.C. Rustin | 42 |
“He’s our general,” said Red Knights coach Rick Perez. “Myles is just a special young man.
“To be able to coach somebody like that? He makes life easy.”
Grey, like backcourt mate Ruben Rodriguez, can do it all: Pass, shoot, run the floor.
He’s just a little less flamboyant than Rodriguez, one of the most celebrated Red Knights of all-time.
Grey quietly goes about his job, locking down opposing scorers and adding a spark to the offense when needed.
The Red Knights (8-0), who got off to a sluggish start and led just 14-13 early in the second period Tuesday, needed a jolt and Grey provided it. He knocked down 3-pointers on consecutive trips during a game-turning 14-0 run.
He added a third trey later in the period, and of course that setup for Aris Rodriguez, one of his game-high six assists.
Afterward, Grey was serenaded by his teammates and Reading fans with a round of “Happy Birthday,” acknowledging his 18th trip around the sun.
He appreciated that, just as he appreciates every basketball moment he’s been connected with at Reading, including a PIAA championship, back-to-back District 3 titles and last season’s Berks Conference crown.
“To get a chance to play basketball,” Grey said, “that’s the best birthday gift I can get.”
Grey finished with 17 points, eight of them in the fourth quarter to help close out the Rams (2-5).
Central Dauphin made things interesting in the third quarter, trimming an 18-point halftime deficit to four at one point. The Rams exploited the Red Knights interior defense. They got the ball into Georgios Arahovas and Keon Dockens, the bigs combining for 29 points.
A 3-pointer by Central’s Lleyton Fried cut Reading’s lead to 45-42 in the final minute of the third quarter. Ruben Rodriguez answered with a 3 — he was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, and finished with a game-high 18 points.
Grey opened the final quarter with a steal and feed to Aris Rodriguez in transition, starting a run that pushed Reading safely ahead again.
“We lost focus,” Grey said of the third-quarter hiccup, “we lost sight of the details; we ended up getting it back.”
Grey and the Red Knights were happy to see Devon Prep advance to the finals with a 66-56 win over Parkland. A year ago at this time the Tide took advantage of a depleated Reading roster to win the tournament, beating the Red Knights 75-71 in the finale.
That loss came with Reading starters Daniel Alcantara and Joey Chapman suspended and unavailable.
Devon Prep went on to win a PIAA Class 3A championship; the Red Knights went on to finish 26-4.
The Red Knights haven’t forgotten that loss, their first of last season after a 6-0 start and their only defeat at the Geigle. They’re anxious for the rematch Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader; Central Dauphin meets Parkland in the first game.
“We’ve gotta get ’em back, man,” Grey said of Devon Prep. “Especially in the Geigle. We’ve got to reclaim our championship.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Central Dauphin | 11 | 10 | 23 | 12 | 56 |
| Reading High | 14 | 25 | 11 | 23 | 73 |
| Rams (2-5) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Fletcher II | 4-12 | 0-1 | 1-6 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| Fried | 1-4 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Easter | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Arahovas | 6-7 | 3-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Dockens | 5-11 | 4-6 | 0-0 | 1 | 10 | 14 |
| Cofield | 3-6 | 3-4 | 1-1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Gross | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Haggans | 2-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Bridges | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yarrish | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 21-47 | 11-17 | 3-10 | 11 | 24-30 | 0 |
| Red Knights (8-0) | FG | FT | 3’s | A | R | Points |
| Burdine | 2-4 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Cruz | 2-4 | 3-5 | 0-1 | 0 | 4 | 87 |
| R. Rodriguez | 7-15 | 0-0 | 4-5 | 4 | 4 | 18 |
| Grey | 4-9 | 6-7 | 3-6 | 6 | 2 | 17 |
| Rodriguez | 6-11 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0 | 4 | 14 |
| Osumanu | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Sosa | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Samuels | 2-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Totals | 26-52 | 12-19 | 9-16 | 12 | 24-31 | 73 |
Turnovers: Central Dauphin 16, Reading High 11.
