Reading senior Amier Burdine

Reading won its first four state playoff games by an average of 26 points.  The PIAA-6A championship against Roman Catholic was a much different story.  The Red Knights and Cahillites needed four extra minutes to settle this epic matchup in front of 5,025 fans at the Giant Center in Hershey.  Reading prevailed 63-56 in overtime for its third state title in seven years.  "We do it for the city...Our fans come deep all the time. They're gonna bring the energy and we feed off that," said Amier Burdine.  The 6'2 senior forward was also part of the Red Knights' 2021 state championship team.  They defeated another Philadelphia Catholic League opponent, Archbishop Wood, two years ago.  "I feel like we're always slept on by the Philly schools. Every time we show up against them, we get it done," stated Burdine.  Aris Rodriguez (16) and Myles Grey (14) combined for 30 points in the thriller versus Roman Catholic.  The (27-4) Cahillites were searching for their fifth PIAA title.  Rider commit Ruben Rodriguez added 8 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals as Reading improved to (32-1).  The Red Knights finished the season with 23 consecutive wins.  Burdine is headed to Division I Sacred Heart for football.  He will leave the "Castle on the Hill" with two gold medals.  "I don't have the words to explain it," he told Paul Roberts of SV Sports