Reading High suffers first loss to nationally ranked Gonzaga in New York showcase

Reading High’s nine-game winning streak to open the season was snapped Thursday afternoon, the Red Knights falling to Gonzaga College High School of Washington, D.C., 80-55 in the Jumpman Holiday Classic at Gauchos Gym in New York.

Ruben Rodriguez had 12 first-half points and Myles Grey had 10 before the Red Knights (9-1) went cold in the third quarter and the Eagles (11-0) pulled away.

Reading was outscored 44-21 in the second half and suffered its most one-sided loss since a 70-45 defeat to Allderdice in the PIAA Class AAAA semifinals in 2016.

Thomas Batties, a 6-7 Harvard commit, scored a game-high 19 points for the Eagles. Derek Dixon, a 6-4 sophomore getting Division I looks, scored 15. Nyk Lewis, a 6-2 sophomore with offers from Maryland, Kansas and others, scored 14 points for Gonzaga. He is ranked among the top 50 players in the nation in his class.

The Gonzaga roster includes four players 6-6 or taller; Reading has none. Gonzaga players live in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. It has long been one of the top programs in the talent-rich Washington metropolitan area.

Rodriguez finished with 18 points and Grey with 17. Aris Rodriguez had 11.

The Red Knights trailed 36-34 at the half but managed just two field goals and went 0-for-4 at the foul line in the third quarter. Six different Eagles scored in the quarter and Gonzaga took a 54-38 lead into the final quarter.

The game will not affect Reading’s District 3 power rating; games against non-PIAA opponents are not factored in for district seeding.

Reading’s 9-0 start was its best since it won its first 30 games in the 2007-08 season.

Gonzaga, ranked No. 13 in the nation by maxpreps.com, was competing in the tournament for the third straight day. It defeated Hudson Catholic of New Jersey 80-51 on Tuesday and Roselle Catholic of New Jersey 76-66 Wednesday. Roselle was nationally ranked in the preseason.

The Red Knights left Reading Wednesday night shortly after beating Devon Prep 58-50 in the championship game of the Reading Holiday Tournament.

Gonzaga is a national powerhouse, winning four WCAC championships, two DCSAA Championships and four Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament championships.