Chelsea High’s boys basketball team saw their state championship hopes come to an end Saturday night at the Sol Nechtem Gymnasium, falling to a sharpshooting Reading High School squad 76-66 in the Division 2 North quarterfinals. Reading guard Trey Jones led the way with 33 points, predominantly from beyond the arc. Whenever Chelsea threatened to mount a comeback, Reading’s guards answered with crucial three-pointers. “We had a good night shooting the basketball,” Reading coach Paul Morrissey said. “There were soft rims, good backdrops. It’s a good place to shoot the ball.”
In what turned out to be his final regular-season contest, Chelsea senior guard Cesar Castro delivered an outstanding performance. Despite facing intense defensive pressure from Reading throughout the game, Castro put up 34 points, including a perfect 12-for-14 shooting from the free throw line. “Castro is a great player,” Morrissey noted. “He never stops. I thought we did a decent job playing defense.” Junior Felix Crespo contributed 23 points, showcasing his range from distance. The junior is expected to emerge as one of the Commonwealth Conference’s premier players in the coming season. Troy Crossley and Eli Ortiz both performed capably in starting positions for Chelsea. Mark Reddick, the Red Devils’ 6-foot-7-inch center, had moments of impact but was limited by early foul trouble. Off the bench, senior center Craig Szalkowski and freshman prospect Sammy Mojica energized the team.
Chelsea High coach Jay Seigal attributed the loss to Reading’s exceptional long-range shooting. “We knew Reading was a great ballclub but we didn’t anticipate Reading shooting the ball as well as they did,” Seigal explained. “Trey Jones was very consistent with his shot, but I thought we played very good defense. They were just very consistent from the outside and tonight they were the better team.” Castro departs the program following a remarkable four-year tenure that netted him 1,254 points, ranking third in school history. “Cesar carried us and Felix really played a solid game,” Seigal stated. “I think our guys left it all out on the court. The other team just played better than we did.” According to Castro, the team gave full effort in every contest. “We had a very successful season and I want to wish the returning players good luck next season,” Castro said. “I want to thank all the coaches. Coach Seigal was a great coach for me all four years. I can’t believe my high school career is all over.” Castro will take the court one more time for the Red Devils Wednesday at 6 p.m., competing in the Commonwealth Conference All-Star Game at Chelsea High School.
