Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
Reading has struggled in the third quarter this season. Those eight minutes turned Monday’s game with Exeter around, but this time it was in the favor of the Red Knights. They outscored the Eagles 27-to-10 in the third period and cruised to a 72-51 victory at the Geigle Complex. Reading coach Rick Perez said his team’s defensive commitment and communication was the difference. “Once we got stops, we got out and the pace picked up. In the first half, we didn’t score too many transition buckets. I knew that was gonna come at some point. That’s a staple of what we do,” explained Perez. The (4-3, 1-2) Red Knights forced 21 turnovers, including eight in the decisive third quarter. “We stress POAs, winning the point of attack. When you win that, we can get it out and everybody can finish,” noted Cameron “Bron Bron” Jones. Jostin DeCastro finished with a game-high 23 points. The 6’3 junior guard squeezed 13 points into the third period. “He is maturing right before our eyes. He is a young man that is assuming a leadership role. I’m proud of him,” replied Perez. DeCastro is averaging a team-high 21.7 ppg. this year. Reading snapped a three-game slide and ended Exeter’s four-game winning streak.
Weshly Rosario, who was providing 18.3 ppg., picked up two fouls in the first four and a-half minutes. Jones took over at point guard and hit a pair of triples before finding Jamier Jacob for a layup. The 6’ sophomore helped the Red Knights build a 19-14 edge after the opening quarter. “Oh my goodness, Bron Bron is exceptional to the game. He just knows how to play…I love him to be a playmaker. He really forces tempo and starts the break,” emphasized Perez. Jones ended up with ten points, the most in the early stages of his career. He enjoys sharing the ball. “I like to get everybody involved, make sure everybody is happy,” he said.
Braylon Reinert got his second foul less than three minutes into the game. The 6’3, 225-pound forward managed just two points in the first half. The (6-2, 2-1) Eagles were once again without Dylan Donate. The senior guard, who averaged 19 points in three games, is dealing with a calf strain. Exeter got some good news on Monday with the return of Aidan Dauble. The 6’3, 215-pound senior was an All-Division pick a season ago when he contributed a team-high 16 ppg. Dauble struggled from 3-point range against Reading, but he hadn’t played since the season opener due to an injury. The first team linebacker in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League led the Eagles with ten points. Dauble scored the first basket of the second half to pull Exeter within 28-27. The Red Knights responded with a 23-to-4 run. A three-point play by DeCastro made it 44-30 midway through the third quarter. Rosario knocked down a trey with three minutes left in the period for a 51-31 advantage. Reading was on top 55-35 entering the fourth quarter.
Four players were in double digits for the Red Knights. Jacob had a dozen points and Rosario added ten despite being limited due to foul trouble. His third foul came one minute into the second quarter. Mikal Portalatin chipped in with six points. He started in place of Javon Merriweather who expects to return this Saturday. The sophomore shooting guard has been putting up nearly 15 points a night. Reading went 11-for-15 from the foul line, while the Eagles were 14-of-20. Reinert and Jayden Ware finished with eight points apiece. Exeter only made three 3-pointers and two of those shots came in the final minutes.
Jones was the spark that the Red Knights needed in the first quarter. After falling to Muhlenberg and Wilson at home, Reading earned its first league win. This is a program that has won a record 25 BCIAA championships and 24 District III titles. Perez guided the Red Knights to a trio of state crowns, most recently in 2023. “It’s a legacy, it’s a culture. You feel some different type of energy when you got the Reading High jersey on,” stated Jones. Perez believes that Jones has a bright future. “If there’s one person who understands Red Knight toughness and Red Knight culture, it’s him,” remarked Perez.