After a slow first quarter, the Wilson Bulldogs turned their fate around and took down a foul-riddled Reading High squad.
The Bulldogs defeated the Red Knights 52-44 Friday night at The Geigle in a Berks County Division 1 matchup.
“I’m super proud of them,” Bulldogs coach Matt Coldren said. “It was a rough first half. We just needed to calm down. We had a couple of guys who are good shooters, shoot some long air balls. It was just nerves.
“We missed a couple of chippies early, but I think defensively, we kept ourselves in the game. At halftime, we told them how much we believe in them, and they just have to relax; it’s just another game. I think this second half was a big improvement.”
The young Bulldogs (3-1, 5-2) started 1-for-11 in the first eight minutes but found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter.
Senior Correll Akings, a three-year starter and the only player with significant varsity experience, scored nine of his 15 points midway through the third quarter to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.
Wilson’s Michael Glover gets a put-back against Reading High in a 52-44 Bulldog victory over the Red Knights on Firday, Dec. 19, 2025, at the Geigle. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“Just keep taking open shots,” Akings said of the message after the slow start. “I think most of our shots were really good selections, but they didn’t fall right away, and we stayed confident in each other.”
The majority of the Bulldogs’ players, part of a 10-man rotation, have seen limited varsity action, let alone the bright lights of the legendary Geigle, so earning a BCIAA Division 1 road win provides a major confidence boost for what Wilson hopes to accomplish this season.
“It’s a great feeling, and just shows that we just need to keep working,” Akings said. “We can’t stop here. We still have a long season to keep going, and even go to the county championship as well.”
Akings also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, showing aggressiveness on the boards. Michael Glover added nine points and six rebounds.
For coach Rick Perez’s Red Knights (1-1, 3-3), their three top scorers, Jostin DeCastro, Weshly Rosario, and Jamier Jacob, were in foul trouble from start, affecting both their minutes and aggressiveness.
Wilson’s Peter Kelfalla slams a dunk for a 47-42 Bulldog lead with less than two minutes remaining against Reading High in a 52-44 Bulldog victory over the Red Knights on Firday, Dec. 19, 2025, at the Geigle. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
“That hurt them,” Coldren said of Reading getting into foul trouble. “I also thought we did a pretty good job making things difficult for DeCastro and Rosario. Those are two really good players. They put a lot of pressure on you defensively, but I thought as a whole, we did a pretty good job containing them.”
Rosario scored a game-high 18 points, but it was evident he was playing with foul trouble in the back of his mind, showing less aggression defensively and settling for jump shots instead of attacking the paint.
DeCastro finished with 16 points and four rebounds.
Early on, it was all Reading as they jumped out to a 12-2 lead, forcing six turnovers from the Bulldogs.
Rosario scored five points early, including a 3-pointer and a smooth euro-step layup.
Akings knocked down a 3-pointer for the Bulldogs’ first basket of the game with under a minute left, but Cameron Jones answered with a layup at the buzzer to maintain a 14-5 Reading lead heading into the second quarter.
It wasn’t until around the 3-minute mark of the second quarter that the Bulldogs’ offense began to click.
Ronaldo Gonzalez hit a step-back 3-pointer to kick off a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to 18-16.
Reading High’s Jostin DeCastro goes up for two of his 16 points against Wilson in a 52-44 Bulldog victory over the Red Knights on Firday, Dec. 19, 2025, at the Geigle. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
In the final minute of the half, both teams managed to find the bottom of the basket.
DeCastro, along with Rosario and Jamier Jacob, each carrying two fouls, scored on back-to-back layups, followed by a steal and a basket from Rosario.
The Bulldogs kept the offense rolling, with Kaler Cornish hitting a pull-up midrange shot. Then, with under 10 seconds left, Conner Moreland drilled a clutch 3-pointer from the right wing to bring the score to 24-21 at halftime.
At the 4:32 mark of the third quarter, Wilson took its first lead of the game when Akings sank two free throws to make it 29-28.
Both teams traded baskets, with the lead changing hands several times, until Akings caught the ball on the right wing, pump-faked to get his defender off balance, side-stepped, and nailed his second 3-pointer to give Wilson a 36-34 lead, a lead they would hold for the remainder of the game.
“He’s our leader and a three-year starter. He’s the only one that’s been through it,” Coldren said of Akings. “It’s hard on him at times, but he stepped up tonight when he needed to, had some big rebounds for us, and made foul shots. It’s a luxury having him, and he’s a great kid.”
The Red Knights struggled in the third quarter, committing seven turnovers.
After a DeCastro basket to open the fourth, the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to build their largest lead of the night, nine points, by the halfway mark of the quarter.
But it’s in Reading High’s DNA to never quit, and the Red Knights began a comeback.
Rosario scored five points, three from the stripe, to trail 45-42 with two minutes left.
The runs continued, this time in Wilson’s favor.
Reading High’s Weshly Rosario goes for two of his game-high 18 points in a 52-44 Bulldog victory over the Red Knights on Firday, Dec. 19, 2025, at the Geigle. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Peter Kelfalla dunked off an assist from Jayden Lockhart, sending the Wilson bench to their feet.
That highlight play essentially sealed the game, as Reading fell into intentionally fouling and struggled to answer Wilson’s free throws.
“I just want to be there for the younger guys whenever they need me, like tonight,” Akings said. “It was a struggle at first, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates, and I’m just glad that they were able to fight with me and get the win.”