City of Basketball Love

By Matt Gaffney (@GaffReports)
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For more than a decade, Constitution has been an annual favorite to reach the PIAA 2A State Championship Game. Is it any wonder? The Generals have won four state championships and finished runner-up three times since 2012.

 If other Pennsylvania 2A basketball teams are hoping 2023 is the year Constitution has taken a step back to the pack and won't be playing in Hershey in late March, they may be disappointed. Coach Rob Moore's team has their sights set on another visit to "Chocolate Town" and believe they have the talent and ability to be cutting down the nets once again. 

"Playing in Hershey the last weekend of March is always our expectation. We know this team is talented enough but we have to take it game by game," said Moore. "We play each game knowing if you lose, you're going home. Our guys are ready, everyone is healthy and we are ready to go." 

 Constitution will rely on a familiar formula of defensive pressure, forced turnovers and easy buckets to set the tone and pace of the game. Moore wants his team to impose their will and style of play on their opponents. 

The Generals are hoping to impose their will on Delaware County Christian this Saturday when they square off at 4:30 p.m.  at Bensalem High School in the first round of the PIAA tourney.

For Moore and his Generals' style of play, speed is the name of the game. His team knows that their quickness and athleticism put most of their opponents at a major disadvantage. More importantly, their opponents know that too.   

"I've talked to other coaches we've played along the way, and they tell me the same thing - they simply cannot simulate what we do in practice,” Moore said. “Our goal is to speed teams up and force the other team to play at our pace, create turnovers and get easy baskets. We put other teams at a disadvantage by playing faster and more athletic and obviously we want to play to our advantage." 

 While tempo and forcing turnovers are keys to Constitution making another deep run, it's going to take a lot more than that according to Moore. 

 “We are looking for consistency and balance,” said Moore. “We've had some games when we shot well and other games when we were terrible. We need to hit shots, rebound the ball, and play defense.”

 The Generals head into the state tournament with a record of 17-8 and the number 1 seed out of District 12, but they will be down a key player. Amir Speights is ineligible for the state tourney due to PIAA transfer rules and Moore said that other players have to step up. Constitution's cupboard, however, is anything but bare without Speights. 

"We have the personnel (to win), we just have to go out there and perform," said Moore.

Kyree Latimer, a 6'4 junior, and Tymir Brown-Smalls, a 6'3 senior, are Constitution's two go-to players who Moore fully expects to control the leadership reins and provide a bulk of the scoring. 

Moore also mentioned 6'1 senior Aamir Murray as a player to watch to step up his game. Murray may not draw the type of attention his teammates receive, but he is the type of player Moore said who will surprise their opponents. 

"Murray played big for us down the stretch," said Moore. "We had to come back and beat Frankford in the Public League quarterfinals and he had our last five points. He hit a three to tie it and then hit two of three free throws and we win the game by two. So he's hit some big shots for us. He's going to be a key factor for us." 

While Lattimore, Brown-Smalls and Murray are key guys, it's point guard Kory Jones who Moore will be relying on to set the tone. "His (Jones) play is going to be a big determining factor of how well we do, how far we go," said Moore. "He's been great for us in some games and when he is, we play really well. We are going to rely on him heavily to lead us." 

 The Generals' lineup, which can go up to nine deep, also boasts Talasi Henderson, a 6'1 sophomore. He is a stalwart on the defensive end who can guard anyone on the floor and can also be an explosive scorer. 

"He kept us in the game against West Philly when we lost in the PL semifinals and was the reason we were in the game,” said Moore of Henderson.

 While Moore isn't looking past any opponents, his team feels confident facing a very young Delco Christian squad, a program they've faced in past state tournaments. The Generals haven’t lost to a non-District 12 team before the state championship since 2013.

"Delco Christian is a very young, evolving team. I believe they start all sophomores, and we have a size advantage," the Generals coach stated. "They are a team that in the next couple of years will really jump out at you. They shoot the ball well so we have to make sure we use our length and impose our will on them. We just have to go out there and play to our capabilities."

 While Constitution has built a reputation as a state powerhouse in a relatively short period of time compared to more storied programs in the Philly area, Moore knows what is needed to get back to the top of the 2A pack and stay there. 

"For our program, it's about talent, hard work, and getting the right kids in the program who are able to perform academically and socially as well as athletically,” Moore said. “We look to continually build for the future so that there's a group of kids in each grade ready to be the next group up (when their time comes). We also ask what it’s going to take to get to the end of March?" 

 With seven appearances in the state game in the last 12 years, it's evident Constitution has answered that question time and time again. By the end of March, it will be apparent if the Generals’ formula is enough for a fifth state title.