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PIAA 6A: Walker, Red Knights bring state championship to Reading

03/26/2017, 1:00am EDT
By Michael Bullock

Lonnie Walker (above) puts the punctuation mark on Reading's first-ever state championship. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

Michael Bullock (@thebullp_n)
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HERSHEY — Finally …

Back in a state championship setting for the first time in 44 seasons, when a one-point reversal at Harrisburg’s Farm Show Arena spoiled a celebration, Reading’s Red Knights took the Giant Center floor Saturday night hoping to erase those lingering memories.

And with a huge crowd offering all sorts of high-decibel support throughout — many of them fittingly decked out in red — let’s just say those pulling for the Berks Countians were not disappointed when they hopped in their cars and headed for home.

Lonnie Walker was not about to let that happen.

Not to his team.

And certainly not to those who call Reading home.

Stuffing the stat sheet in the final game of his splendid high school career, Walker scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out three assists and registered four steals as Reading downed Pine-Richland 64-60 in the PIAA’s Class 6A championship game before a record crowd that spent the night hooting and hollering.

“We finally did it,” a grinning Walker cracked. “This is just for the city of Reading. There’s nothing I can really explain that’s going through my head, but I finally got that ring. I finally brought that state ‘chip to the city of Reading.

“It shows how far we progressed from my freshman to my senior year,” Walker continued. “It’s just an amazing feeling. I feel like I’m on top of the world.”

“I just knew he wasn’t going to leave this floor the way he left last time,” said head coach Rick Perez, referring to Reading’s 61-58 loss to Harrisburg in the District 3 semis earlier this month. “I knew there was a reason that we were gonna get back here, because he deserves that karma. He lives life the right way.

“He came back here and left his mark on the floor.”

Jose Genao Batista added 14 points — including 12 in the opening half — and Tyrone Nesby banked 10 of his 11 points in the third quarter as Perez’s determined club finally hoisted a state championship trophy and pocketed those elusive gold medals.

“Our whole team did an excellent job,” said senior Isiah Cook, who added nine points, two rebounds and two assists to the Red Knights’ collective effort.

“Whether it was the people on the floor or the people on the bench, everybody on this team has a role and everybody is important on this team,” the energetic 6-2 forward added. “It was worth it just to play in this game and make history.”

As for the history, Reading had come close back in 1973, but a 63-62 setback to General Braddock in the title game haunted the Red Knights for more than four decades.

Another promising run was in place last year, but a loss to Allderdice in the state semifinals simply served as motivation coming into this season.

On Saturday night, with former Reading greats Stu Jackson and Donyell Marshall among those in the crowd, the Red Knights were determined not to fail.

“I’m proud they came,” Walker said. “Even though they didn’t win it, we got it for them — and for the city of Reading.”

They sure did.


Jose Genao Batista came off the bench to score 14 points in Reading's win. (Photo: Mark Jordan/CoBL)

Down 30-28 at the halftime break to a Pine-Richland bunch (28-2) that popped four players into double figures — Notre Dame football commit Phil Jurkovec’s 14 points paced the Rams, while Andrew Petcash and Sean Colosimo added 11 each — Walker had a simple yet concise message for his anxious teammates.

“Just play our game,” said the 6-5 Walker, the Miami (Fla.) recruit who finished his career with 1,828 points, the highest total in Reading’s glorious hoops history.

With Nesby burying a pair of long-distance treys within his 10-point salvo and Walker closing the third quarter with an acrobatic finish at the horn, Perez’s Red Knights were holding a 47-41 advantage with eight minutes to go.

Pine-Richland, chasing its first state championship as well, refused to concede as Jeff Ackermann’s Rams climbed within a deuce (54-52) when Evan Luellen polished off a fast break with 3:35 to play by laying in a Colosimo dish.

“They’re a great team,” Walker said, lauding the Rams. “I’m not gonna take anything away from them, they got this far. They made the shots that were open. They made the layups. They made passes. That’s what kept them in the game.”

“I respect that team because they could have just quit when we were pulling away,” Cook added. “But they kept finding a way to bring it back, bring it back, bring it back.

“They played their hearts out. They did everything they could to win, but we did, too, and we were fortunate enough to come out with the victory.”

Once Reading responded with a 7-0 spurt — Wesley Butler completed an old-school three-point play and Walker added four points, including one of his patented windmill dunks — the Red Knights were up 61-52 and the crowd was roaring.

Walker, meanwhile, was his typical self.

“I blacked out,” Walker said, reusing a response he’s uttered after similar slams. “I don’t remember. The only thing I remember is me running back to the defensive side.”

“He’s scary,” Perez added. “When he blacks out, I don’t want to be part of that.”

“That man is a monster,” Cook added. “I grew up with him and I knew he was going to be good when I started playing basketball against him and with him. I knew he was gonna be a force to reckoned with, so him and Miami’s gonna be a scary sight.

“I’m just looking forward to seeing him at the next level,” Cook continued. “He’s the best in the state, but to me he’s the best in the country.”

Regardless, there was still a minute to go.

“Your seniors gotta come through,” said Perez, referring to the likes of Walker, Nesby, Cook, Genao Batista and Tymir Comfort. “And they did.”

Eventually, after exchanging three free throws for a pair of freebies and two treys, the Red Knights were diving on top of each other near the midcourt stripe.

Reading finally owned its long-awaited state championship.

“I always tell our guys this is about love, this is about other things, it’s not just about this — even though it’s really, really nice to have,” a laughing Perez admitted. “I think some of Reading really didn’t believe in this because it never happened.

“And finally it’s here, so it’s what now?”

“I never thought I would get this far,” Walker said. “Seeing how my freshman and sophomore years were, I would say we’re going to states but I didn’t really mean it.

“The hunger that we had was ridiculous,” Walker continued, his grin still in place. “We’re a public school. Philly schools have been dominating every single [classification] and we finally brought something home that we can be proud of.”

“State champions, man,” Cook remarked. “It’s great. It’s amazing.”

Finally …


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