Reading 63 CD East 51

The Reading High Red Knights captured their 19th district title today by beating the Panthers of CD East this afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Here are my thoughts on today's game:

1. We really didn't play great on the offensive end today but defensively we came through with a championship performance. Hats off as it was a total team effort. Coming into the game I really thought we would have to limit their three guards and not only did we limit them we really shot them down as Amani Glenn was 1 for 11 from the field, Demond Bates was 4 for 11 from the field and John Breeden was 2 for 11 from the field. So their big three shot 7 for 33 for 21 percent.
2. To me the MVP of the game was Nelson Leon. He set the tempo in hitting a couple of three's to start the game and played his usual outstanding defense and the other's seem to feed off his great defensive play.
3. What is really scary about our squad is that we played about our B- game on offense and still beat CD East by 12.
4. Jermaine Jackson did fall hard on his back and with a week to rest hopefully he can be ready for the first round of the State tournament on Saturday. While not having an outstanding he still had a great game in getting 12 points and 10 boards and while earlier this week talking the talk he also walked the walk.
5. Hats off to all of our loyal fans who made their presence felt today and made it like a home game for us. Also memo to all the naysayers throughout District III and especially in the Harrisburg area what more do you want this team to do before you give us some damn respect.
6. Memo to the Giant Center if you want even bigger crowds how about lowering your concession prices. I'm not asking for $1 hot dogs or anything but when get chicken tenders and a small coke and it costs $11 something is wrong with this picture. Its not like the people attending the game our folks with 6 figure salaries.
7. Also great to see Marcus Dawkins return to action with him seeing big minutes I really expect us to play suffocating defense like we did today.
8. I wanted to say congrats to CD East for getting this far. Coach Leib is a class act and his program is definitely on the right track.
9. It was great to see Coach Reyes celebrating with the players and seeing him happy. Also classy move in the post game interview on WEEU giving credit to his assistants as well.
10. As we look ahead we will play the Indians of Souderton High school who entered the District I tournament as the 20th seed. In their last couple games they have only played six players so its definitely a team we have to make run the full court and just wear down.
11. For those of you who are reading my blog on pennlive.com if you want to view a video of the pics I sent please visit my blog at www.redknighthoops.blogspot.com