West Reading stars finally beaten after five straight victories in California (updated)
West Reading’s winning streak ended at five Saturday when it was beaten in the second game of tournament play in Northern California 72-50 by Edison High.
The West Reading All-Stars opened play Saturday with a resounding win as recent Wilson grad Aidan Melograna scored 20 points in a 100-40 victory over Johansen High of Modesto. Aiden Dauble, a rising sophomore at Exeter, scored 15 points.
In its second game, West Reading struggled to put the ball in the basket in the second half in falling to Edison High of Stockton, 72-50. West Reading trailed by just three points at halftime but scored only 15 points in the second half.
Recent Berks Catholic grad Josiah Jordan led West Reading scorers with 15 points; Melograna had 13.
Edison, the best of the six teams West Reading has faced, went 22-6 last season.
West Reading will continue tournament play Sunday.
West Reading won twice on Friday, beating Franklin 67-57 and Ponderosa 86-47.
Jordan and recent Fleetwood grad Jake Karnish are West Reading’s co-captains. Karnish will play basketball at King’s College; Jordan will play football at Wilkes University.
The 10-player West Reading team includes two other recent grads –Jovan Hollis of Antietam and Mark Rajnath of Schuylkill Valley — as well as rising juniors Andrew Galantuomo of Gov. Mifflin, Reece Garvin of Exeter and Madyx Gruber of Wilson and rising sophomore Danny Fleischood of Wyomissing.
Former Holy Name coach Tony Balistrere is the head coach; his staff includes Wilson assistant coach Jeff Ebner and Ron Krick Memorial League co-director Randy Hinsey.
As part of the trip the players and coaches will see sites throughout the Sacramento and San Francisco areas during their week-long stay in California.
The West Reading Summer League celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Cultural Exchange program last summer when Franklin High visited Berks County for several games.