Rick Perez-Reading

It was a magical season at the “Castle on the Hill.” It started with an 87-68 rout of Central York on December 6th. Ruben Rodriguez and Aris Rodriguez combined for 61 points in the opener against the Panthers. It ended back at the Geigle Complex with a celebration on Saturday. Players, coaches, cheerleaders, and fans were singing, dancing, and smiling all afternoon. “We just want to spread as much love, as much joy, as we possibly can,” said head coach Rick Perez. The parade began at 13th and Union Elementary School. The coaching staff and team members were riding in jeeps and pickup trucks. They waved and tossed mini basketballs to the fans who were lining 13th Street. The festivities continued inside the Geigle with performances by the Reading High School dance team and Marine Corps JROTC. The guest speakers included State Senator Judy Schwank, State Representative Manny Guzman, and Reading Mayor Eddie Moran. They praised the (32-1) Red Knights who won their 25th Berks County championship, 24th District 3 title, and third state crown. Reading outlasted Roman Catholic 63-56 in overtime for its third PIAA-6A championship in the last seven years. Perez became the winningest coach in program history this season. He’s (281-74) over a dozen years. Perez emphasized that the trophies don’t mean as much as the bonds that are formed. “The dancing, the cracking jokes, the long prayers…those things are irreplaceable. They’re priceless,” he replied. The Red Knights ended their campaign with 23 consecutive victories. Four starters, including 2000-point scorer Ruben Rodriguez, will be moving on. Yadiel Cruz, Malik Osumanu, Nick Chapman, and Nico Sosa will return for their senior seasons. “We got a long way to go, but I’m excited because I love the toughness that is returning. They’re nasty,” stated Perez. He also noted that freshman guard Weshly Rosario has a bright future. The focus on Saturday, however, was on a special group of young men that reached the top of the mountain in Pennsylvania high school basketball.