Red Knights ‘Cruz’ past Cardinal O’Hara to win Reading Holiday Tournament

By Mike Drago Last updated Dec 29, 2023

2023 Berks basketball coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

Yadiel Cruz was basically a role player for Reading High last season, grabbing rebounds and scoring inside but mostly working in the shadows of All-Berks picks Ruben Rodriguez, Myles Grey and Aris Rodriguez.

With them gone, Cruz has been counted on to provide scoring for the Red Knights, and he’s come through. In bunches.

The 6-2 senior scored a career-high 30 points Thursday as Reading High defeated Cardinal O’Hara 73-66 in the championship game of the Reading Holiday Tournament. It was Cruz’s fifth game of 20 or more points.

The Red Knights (5-3) need every last one of his points Thursday as O’Hara’s Aasim “Flash” Burton lived up to his nickname, scoring a game-high 40 points.

Burton, a 6-3 senior committed to play at Rider, had 14 points in the fourth quarter and 24 in the second half.

Thanks to Cruz the Red Knights were safely ahead most of the way and able with withstand Burton’s late flash. Cruz scored 16 first-half points to held Reading to a 43-26 lead.

Senior Malik Osumanu scored 12 points for Reading.

Burton entered the game leading the Philadelphia Catholic League in scoring at 24.0 points per game. He was second with 21 3-pointers. He had scored 30 points three times earlier this season.

O’Hara (5-3) defeated Middletown, De., 41-40 Wednesday to advance to the final game.

Burton played at Math, Civic & Sciences as a sophomore. He committed to Rider late in the summer, saying he was influenced in part by the fact that Reading’s Ruben Rodriguez had committed there. Rodriguez is currently a freshman.

Burton played at the Geigle and against Rodriguez and Reading High early last season. He had 14 points in Reading’s 68-65 win, one that made Rick Perez the winningest coach in program history.

Reading beat Devon Prep 58-50 in last year’s championship game but has not had a strong recent history in its own holiday tournament. Before last season the Red Knights had won the title game just three times in the previous nine years.

Thursday’s meeting was the first championship match-up between Reading and O’Hara in the 50-year history of the tournament, which began in 1974. The Red Knights have won the tournament 29 times.