Reading falls at C.V.

Reading entered Tuesday’s District 3-6A semifinal averaging 67 points. Cumberland Valley was allowing just 47 points a night. Something had to give at the Dome. The sixth-seeded Red Knights went nearly seven minutes in the fourth quarter with only one field goal. The three-time defending District 3 champs fell to the Eagles 66-47. Cumberland Valley outscored Reading 16-to-3 over the final four minutes. Daquan Burgess hit a triple to pull the Red Knights within 45-42 with seven minutes remaining. They wouldn’t make another shot until Yadiel Cruz’s layup with one minute to go. Cruz, a 6’2 senior, poured in 28 points. The BCIAA Player of the Year exploded for nine points in the opening quarter. Reading led 13-7 in that period. Nick Chapman added eight points. No one else had more than four points for the (19-9) Red Knights. They trailed the second-seeded Eagles 31-25 at halftime. The Mid-Penn Conference champions were on top 44-37 after the third quarter. JJ Lebo finished with a team-high 18 points, ten above his season average. The 6’2 junior guard made a pair of 3-pointers and went 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Nolan Buzalka proved to be a handful at 6’3, 220 pounds. The TE/DE on the Cumberland Valley football team had 17 points. Creston Austin, a 6’4 junior forward, provided 11 points including nine in the second half. The (23-3) Eagles extended their winning streak to eight. They ended up 18-of-28 from the foul line. Twenty of those attempts came in the fourth quarter when Reading was fouling to stop the clock. The Red Knights were 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Each team connected four times from beyond the arc. The Red Knights struggled from long range against Cumberland Valley’s matchup zone. They attempted 19 treys. Jake Snyder, the lone senior in the Eagles’ starting lineup, chipped in with nine points. Cumberland Valley lost to Reading 55-54 in overtime in last year’s District 3-6A final. The Eagles will get another shot at their first District 3 title on Friday night. They face fourth-seeded Chambersburg at 8pm at the Giant Center. Meanwhile, the Red Knights will host Red Lion in the third place game on Thursday at 7pm.