Short-handed Reading High hands Berks Catholic its first loss

(This story will updated with details and post-game reaction later tonight.)

Even without its full lineup, Reading High remains head and shoulders above the rest of the Berks Conference.

Myles Grey stepped up with a career-high 19 points and spearheaded a defense that forced 19 turnovers as the Red Knights beat Berks Catholic 67-51 Monday night in a Berks Conference Division I game at the Geigle.

Ruben Rodriguez scored a game- and season-high 24 points for Reading, which used an 11-point run early in the fourth quarter to build its first 20-point lead.

Josiah Jordan led Berks Catholic with 19 points.

The Red Knights (3-0, 7-1) again played short-handed, with starters Daniel Alcantara and Joey Chapman and key reserve Aris Rodriguez not in uniform.

Once again it didn’t matter, as their aggressiveness on the boards and constant defensive pressure were the difference against the Saints (2-1, 6-1).

The Saints hung close through the early minutes and took a 14-13 lead into the second period after Jordan hit a tough drive in traffice in the final minute of the opening quater. Jordan scored seven first-quarter points but got into foul trouble in the second quarter, picking up his third personal on a block with 59 seconds left in the half

The Red Knights took control early in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points and opening with an 11-2 run to lead 2-16.

Berks Catholic was within 24-20 after Jordan hit a free throw with 2:25 left in the half, and within 28-23 when Parker Nein came off the bench and drilled a 3-pointer in the final minute.

Reading pulled away, scoring six points over the final 30 seconds to lead 34-23 at the half.

The Red Knights were playing without Alcantara, Chapman and Aris Rodriguez for the third straight game, including their first loss of the season last week to Devon Prep. Reading won its first six games before losing in the championship game of the Reading Holiday Tournament to unbeaten Devon Prep.