Frankford earns Public A title after a pair of wins

Most folks will remember the two games in one day for two different teams.

Carl Wallace will recall the two generations in one truck - with a gap between them, no less - and how everybody was having all kinds of fun.

First the particulars . . .

Frankford High yesterday clinched the Public A basketball title with a pair of wins. First, in their gym, the Pioneers rolled past University City, 70-54. Then, after changing their jerseys from white to red, they piled into relatives' vehicles and hightailed it to Northeast, where the Vikings were waiting after falling to Southern, 77-51.

As you might remember, Frankford owned a 32-21 halftime lead over visiting Northeast om Feb. 4 when a broken basket caused a suspension. The game had to be completed and, with the schedule packed due to so many recent snowouts, yesterday wound up being the day.

Rather than beg Northeast to return to Frankford, the Pioneers offered to switch sites. They won, 63-51.

Now for the ride to Cottman and Algon . . .

Along with Wallace, a 6-4, 180-pound senior forward, were his grandparents, Carl and Karen Fowler, and two teammates, Terrell Clark and Imire Taylor.

"My grandparents were talking about laxatives," Wallace said. "And Terrell was sitting in the back, imitating them.

"My grandmom was saying how she takes the juice from collard greens and stores it in the refrigerator, and how she makes my grandpop drink that juice if his stomach is hurting. Fifteen minutes later, it stops hurting.

"It was a cool ride. We were all laughing."

In the first win, the highly athletic Wallace contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. He totaled 11 points in the daycap and he powered down two hellacious dunks during the stretch. They were needed, too, because the Vikings, winless in Pub play, had hustled their way into a 51-51 tie.

"By the end, some Northeast kids were rooting for us," Wallace said. "That seems to happen a lot. People like our team.

"Though I'm cramping and my stamina's down, this was interesting. I didn't mind. It really wasn't anything new. Sometimes in AAU ball, you have to play three games in 1 day. No riding from one place to another, though."

Against UC, Dehaven Brown (16) and Steffon Poole (10, with six rebounds) also scored in double figures. Poole (13) and Brown (11) were the leaders vs. Northeast along with Wallace.

The day was not without its challenges.

No refs showed up at Frankford. Luckily, a guy named Anthony Smith, who's certified and lives in the neighborhood, was there to watch. He hustled home, got his shirt and whistle, and the game began a half-hour late at 3:45. There was also just one zebra for Part II, which began at 5:50. That was Marvin Doughty, who first traveled to Frankford because he wasn't aware of the switch to Northeast.

Chime right in. You know the words by now . . . Only in the Pub.

"I'll take the blame for the first game," said Frankford coach Ben Dubin. "I should have called the refs to make sure they were coming."

Today, the Pioneers visit Thomas Edison to complete the regular season.

"Five games in 4 days. It's been a fun experience," Dubin said. "Guess I wouldn't be saying that if we'd lost one, though. We use 10 to 12 guys, so this shouldn't kill us. We do a lot of running all the way from September. The kids are in good shape."

Does that mean Dubin someday wants to repeat the experience?

He laughed. "Absolutely not."