No neighborhood schools in Public League semifinals

Sound the death knell. The version of Public League basketball that everyone knew (and mostly loved) is history . . . well, at least for this year.

In a first, no neighborhood high schools will be involved Tuesday night when the Pub holds its semifinal doubleheader at Southern.

The 5 o'clock game will feature Constitution and Math, Civics & Sciences, a special-admit and charter, respectively. The all-charters 7 o'clock nightcap will match Imhotep and Philadelphia Electrical & Technology, most commonly known as PET.

With all of its starters back, Imhotep is primed to capture its third consecutive championship, a feat not accomplished since 1978 (when West Philadelphia concluded a 5-year run).

The 2009 and 2010 semis included only one neighborhood school apiece - Southern, then John Bartram. They advanced from the AAAA Division. But for this year's quarterfinals, the format was changed by Ben Dubin, the Pub's new hoops chairman, and the top AAAA squads (Frankford/Bartram) were skunked by Constitution and MC & S, respectively, by a total of 44 points. They emerged from the smallest enrollment group, Class A.

The PL this season numbered 68 schools, including 18 charters.

Prep Charter was the first charter to enter the league, in the 2001-02 season. The Huskies were the first charter to advance to a semi, in '05, and this year's visits by MC & S, Imhotep and PET will make it 11 for charters over the last seven seasons.

The much-anticipated Catholic League semifinals will unfold Wednesday night at the Palestra, with La Salle vs. Archbishop Carroll at 7 and Ss. Neumann-Goretti vs. Roman Catholic at approximately 8:45.

Though N-G did go 13-0 during the regular season, it did not frolic to the same degree it did in '09 and '10 while claiming back-to-back titles.