skip navigation

Imhotep holds off Audenried to win Public League 4A Title

02/13/2017, 11:30pm EST
By Ben McWilliams

Ben McWilliams (@BenMcWilliams22)
--

The 4A Public League championship is a stepping stone for Imhotep.

Currently ranked as the seventh-best team in the country by USA Today, the Panthers hoped the title game would be the first of many milestones in the national powerhouse’s postseason.

After a 74-69 win over Audenried on Monday night, Imhotep head coach Andre Noble was focused on using the hard-fought game to help propel his team to further postseason heights.

“We didn’t play that well today but we gutted out a win” Noble said. “You need some of these games to win a championship. I think you’ve got to have some games where you’ve got to attack, where you’ve got to fight through, where you find out who you are.”

While Audenried (17-4, 10-2) does not have the same national acclaim as its public league rival, the Rockets were looking to get revenge after Imhotep handed them an 83-63 loss on January 22nd for one of the only blemishes in its otherwise spectacular season.

Despite the disappointing outcome in the high-profile game, coach Kenyatta Bey remains optimistic about his team, who still has the state tournament to look forward to.

“We handled the pressure pretty [well] but the ball doesn’t bounce your way sometimes,” Bey said. “We’re letting [the team] know that we had a wonderful season, there’s nothing to be ashamed of, we can hold our head highs and we have an opportunity to still play.”

It was the last home game of the season for Imhotep (23-2, 10-1), and the last home game of their respective high school careers for the Panthers’ seniors.

“It was amazing, we had a really good student section, they had a great student section, it was loud in here, it was just fun,” said Daron Russell, a senior guard and Rhode Island signee. “I’m pleased that this was my last game, in that type of environment. I’m going to miss that like crazy.”

The gym was packed with fans of both teams as the bleachers shook with every possession. The two feuding student sections used every timeout as an opportunity to hurl friendly taunts at one another. The crowd behind the Audenried bench was even on its feet for nearly the entire second half.

But despite a loud showing from the Audenried faithful, the gym was mostly filled with Imhotep fans, as home games tend to be. In such a crucial game, Bey thinks that’s a problem.

“I understand the seeding,” Bey said. “They were the number one seed and we were the number two seed, but I think they should allow [the championship game] to be at a neutral site so everybody can have an opportunity to have as many fans present as they possibly can.”

Russell led the way for Imhotep with 22 points including 5 three pointers that busted the Audenried zone. David Beatty, a South Carolina commit, added 14 points for the Panthers.

“When we were driving, they did a lot of gambling and it left me open,” Russell said. “So I knew that if I get enough open shots I’m going to make a few. As the game kept going I just started getting into a rhythm.”

“[Russell] is such a gamer, he’s been that his whole career here,” Noble added. “When he makes plays, I’m never shocked, he’s a really, really good basketball player. I’ve come to expect it of him, obviously I’m going to miss it when he’s gone but he’s such a gamer, he’s such a tough kid.”

Senior Nisheem McNeal-Wright had a game-high 25 points for Audenried while his classmate Damir Prescott added 17 off the bench.

Both teams struggled from the free throw line as Imhotep shot 18-of-31 while Audenried hit on only 11-of-27. The free throw disappointment was especially evident for the Rockets in the fourth quarter when they could only manage a 3-of-10 showing while Imhotep iced the game going 6-of-8.

While the loss is certainly disappointing for Audenried, the tall task of competing in the state tournament lies ahead.

“We have an opportunity to play in states,” Bey said. “A majority of our players are seniors...We need them all to step up.”

However, the goal for Noble and his Imohotep squad is simple: state championship or bust.

“We’ve had an incredible season thus far with 23-2, we’re top ten in the country right now,” Noble said. “But for us, if we don’t win the Public League title, that’s a disappointment. If we don’t win the state championship, that’s a disappointment. We’re not acting like it’s anything but that.”

~~~

In other Public League playoff action...
1A: Sanofka 78, Parkway Northwest 65: Sanofka locked up the District 12 1A title behind an 18-point performance from Khalil Turner. Turner was aided by 10-point outings from the trio of Kobe Devine, Scott Spann and Iboo Dabo. Parkway Northwest was led by 17 points from Vernon Garvin in the loss.

2A: Math, Civics and Sciences 78, Constitution 75: A Saheed Peoples triple at the buzzer sealed the deal for MCS in this thriller. Peoples and teammate Tymair Johnson each finished with 18 while Malik Archer added in 14 for the Mighty Elephants. Tamir Green and Maurice Waters paced Constitution with 23 and 15, respectively.

3A: Del-Val Charter 86, World Communications 39: Senior guard Makhi Morris scored 27 first half points on his way to a 37-point, seven-rebound, seven-steal performance in the win. Helping Morris carry the load for Del-Val were the efforts of Dion Harris, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Antuwan Butler, who dished out 10 assists.

5A: Martin Luther King 44, Mastery Charter North 41: Pacing MLK in scoring was Mikey Robinson, who finished with 12 points. King was also helped by a nine-point, 14-rebound performance from Elijah Kifah-El and a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebound from Will McNair.

6A: Lincoln 74, Frankford 59: The trio of Jahi Randall (16), Khalif Meares (15), and Nassir Coleman (13) led the way for Lincoln in its victory.

~~~

Up Next
"Quarterfinal" doubleheader -- Wed., Feb. 15, South Philadelphia HS
Math Civics and Sciences vs. Lincoln (5:00 PM)
Martin Luther King vs. Sanofka (6:30 PM)

Bye until Semifinals: Imhotep and Del-Val Charter


HS Coverage:

Recruiting News:

Tag(s): Home  Old HS  Boys HS  Public League A (B)  Constitution  Del-Val  Imhotep  Martin Luther King  Math, Civics & Sci.  Public League B (B)  Audenried  Frankford  Sankofa  Public League C (B)  Lincoln  Mastery North  World Communications  Public League E (B)  Parkway Northwest