Reading High holds off Imhotep Charter in season-opener

(This story will be updated with details and reaction later tonight.)

In the eight-and-half months since they won a state championship the Reading High Red Knights have experienced some bumps and setbacks but none of that showed up when it mattered Friday night.

The Red Knights were still the same fearless, gritty bunch, erasing a small halftime deficit and coming up with some clutch plays down the stretch to hold off Imhotep Charter 60-57 in the HoopGroup Showcase at Bollman Center.

Daniel Alcantara, out three months with a broken bone in his back after a nasty July spill, scored a game-high 27 points, including eight in the fourth quarter and was named Reading’s MVP.

Joey Chapman, who finished with 16 points, came up big in the final minutes. He powered his way to the basket for a layup and 57-51 lead with 1:43 left. After the Panthers pulled within two, Chapman hit both ends of a one-and-one to push the lead back to 59-55.

Imhotep had four late chances on its final possession but missed three shots. After a timeout with 1.6 seconds it never got a shot off as Chapman slapped the ball away.

Ahmad Nowell had 20 points for Imhotep.

Reading, which trailed 28-24 at the half, was up by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter after Chapman found Alcantara underneath.

The Red Knights started fast, going up 11-2 on Chapman’s floater 2 1/2 minutes into the game. They seemed to stun the Panthers with their speed and aggressiveness.

They led until the final minute of the first quarter, when the Panthers took advantage of three straight turnovers and took their first lead, at 15-13, on Justin Edwards’ transition dunk.

Reading came back to tie it at 15-15 on Alcantara’s basket off an inbounds play just before the buzzer, and led several times in the second quarter, the largest lead at 24-20.

Imhotep again closed fast, scoring the final six points to lead 28-24 at intermission.

Imhotep was unbeaten last season, winning its first 14 games before the program was shut down in March due to a coronavirus outbreak within the team. They weren’t able to compete in the postseason.

The Panthers were still alive in the PIAA Class 4A Tournament in March 2020 when the pandemic caused suspension of the tournament, which was never resumed.

Imhotep won PIAA Class 4A titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Edwards has offers from Kentucky, Maryland, Tennesee, Miami and UConn, among others.

Rahmir Barno has offers from Virginia Commonwealth, Temple, Hofstra and Drexel.

Nowell has offers from Auburn, Kansas and Memphis.