Muhlenberg defeats Reading High in boys basketball

Muhlenberg defeated Reading High 63-61 in a Berks Conference crossover game in front of a sold-out crowd at Laureldale Tuesday.

The battle of division leaders began with fast-paced end-to-end play in the first quarter. Reading was able to force Muhlenberg outside and the Muhls (9-2, 17-5) missed on several 3-pointers. Better defensive rebounding and fastbreak points helped the Red Knights (10-1, 18-3) establish an early lead.

Edwin Suarez scored six points and Dan Mosquera scored five to keep it close for Muhlenberg. Reading High held a 18-17 after the first quarter.

Scoring slowed slightly in the second as both teams recorded plenty of fouls early on. Muhlenberg committed 12 team fouls in the first half; Reading recorded nine.

Neither team shot particularly well from the line as Reading shot 5-of-11 and the Muhls went 2-of-6 in the first half.

The Muhls went on a 9-5 run after a timeout with 4:41 to go into halftime trailing Reading 30-27.

Mosquera finished with 10 points in the first half for Muhlenberg. Suarez had eight. Xavier Davis had nine points and Ruben Rodriquez had eight points for Reading at the half.

Sloppy passing and turnovers opened the quickened the pace again in the third quarter. The Muhls were able to control the momentum and Reading continued to miss free throws to allow Muhlenberg to stay in it.

Rodriguez scored a fastbreak layup and a deep 3-pointer as time expired in the third quarter to give Reading a 45-38 lead after three.

Both teams created plenty of scoring opportunities in the paint during the final quarter. The Muhls cut it to two points with 3:57 to go after going on a 16-11 run.

The Red Knights turned the ball over after a timeout and Suarez was able to get an offensive rebound followed by the tying bucket after a missed 3-pointer by Mosquera.

With 2:45 to go and the score tied 56-56, each team missed shots on a few possessions until Suarez got a put-back with 1:28 to give the Muhls a 58-56 lead.

Alex Tomlinson scored four points in the final minute to give Muhlenberg a 62-60 lead. Rodriguez missed two crucial foul shots with 25 seconds left to leave Reading trailing.

After a Muhlenberg turnover, Reading got another chance to tie it at the foul line. Joey Chapman made the first free throw, then missed his second to leave the score at 62-61.

Tashiro Alexis made one free throw and missed another for Muhlenberg to give the Muhls a two-point lead with 4.5 seconds to go.

Reading turned the ball over on the final possession.

Both Reading High and Muhlenberg won their respective divisions and already had clinched berths in the Berks Conference playoffs.

The win increases the Muhls’ chances of earning the final spot in the District 3 Class 6A playoffs.

Source: Berkshire mont