December 7-9

Jenny and I did our weekend lunch visit on Friday instead of Saturday, it was her idea and it was a good one. She had a few errands she needed my help with and since I had nothing else going on Friday it afforded us more time than Saturday may have. I did my usual Friday run the next morning, in the afternoon I was at McCaskey for the first bus ride of basketball season and the start of Year #31 for me personally. The destination was the northern suburbs of Reading for a game at Muhlenberg High School in Laureldale. In forty years of involvement in pro sports in Berks County I always knew where Muhlenberg was but I had never been there for any game of any kind, they are a new opponent on the non-league portion of our schedule. The JPM varsity roster features fourteen players including eight returnees, one from the '17-18 JV squad and five completely new to the program. The JV roster has thirteen players, all newcomers. The night began with a barnburner JV game, the Red Tornado won 46-44 on a shot with two seconds remaining. The varsity contest was more of the same, JPM prevailed 81-79. The score was tied in the final thirty seconds, Muhlenberg had possession and their coach was frantically calling for a timeout. Neither official acknowledged the request as Bryam Menendez stole the ball and was fouled as he scored a layup, the converted free throw gave us a three-point lead. With one second left a Muhlenberg player was fouled in the act of attempting a three-pointer, he made only two of the three to leave them a point short. On the subsequent inbound Makai Ortiz was fouled, he converted one-of-two with 0.3 seconds on the clock to ice a heart-stopping two-point win. Five players finished in double figures: Makai led with 23 (including 11-13 at the line), Ajani Simmons and Brian McKenzie had 14 each, Isaiah Thomas scored 13 and Bryam Menendez added 10. Also in the book were Carter Gingerich with four, Tyrell Melendez with two and Jahsaan Greaves was 1-2 at the foul line. The win is the first for Freddy Ramos as the program's new head coach, hopefully it is the first of many. The boys are back on the floor on Wednesday the 12th at home against Reading High (never an easy touch), the league season starts on the 14th. Take care thanks for reading.