Imhotep edges Constitution for Public League boys' crown

Before Sunday, if there were a metaphoric Imhotep Charter basketball party, Daron Russell would not have been invited. The sophomore guard did not have the proper credentials.

Although he would know everybody inside, Russell would have to stand outside the velvet ropes. Only those with a Public League title would be welcome.

However, Russell turned in an MVP performance Sunday in the Panthers' thrilling, 77-75 championship victory against Constitution. That would earn him a ticket.

"We've been teasing him that all of our good guards have championships and he didn't have one," said Imhotep coach Andre Noble. "We were telling him it's like they're all in the club dancing and you're outside looking in. So, the first thing he said after the game was, 'Did I get in?' I told him, 'Yeah, man. You're in the club.' "

Russell scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in a come-from-behind fourth quarter at St. Joseph's University that gave Imhotep its fifth title in seven years.

Arguably his most impressive shot was a deep three-pointer slightly right of center that tied the score at 71 with about two minutes remaining.

The line-drive conversion helped to erase what was once a 10-point Constitution lead in the third quarter.

"I'm not surprised," Noble said. "Either before or after practice he's the kid shooting another 100-150 shots. He's a warrior when it comes to his work ethic. Just really proud of him."

Russell's heroics also set up a fast and furious finish.

Cananchet Jordan (six points) gave Imhotep (19-8, 6-4) its first lead of the second half at 72-71 with a free throw at the 1-minute, 34-second mark.

Constitution standout Kimar Williams (27 points) responded for a 73-72 Constitution edge with 1:12 left.

Imhotep senior DeAnte Robinson followed with a short hook off a busted play that gave the Panthers a 74-73 lead with 17.8 seconds remaining. With 10.3 ticks left, junior forward Nysir Marshburn extended the lead further with two free throws.

After Williams hit two freebies for Constitution, Jordan hit 1 of 2 for Imhotep with 5.9 left, setting the stage for an exhilarating finish.

Trailing, 77-75, the Generals' Youssef Diabate corralled Jordan's miss and gave the ball to Williams, who was unquestionably Constitution's top performer.

Williams jetted up the right sideline, cut back to the middle and eventually passed to Chad Andrews-Fulton, who was on the left block.

Unfortunately for the Generals (19-8, 9-1), time clearly expired a moment before Andrews-Fulton (21 points, nine rebounds) made the layup, which sent Imhotep's players and fans into hysterics.

Imhotep became the third Public League school to win boy-girl championships in the same season. The girls beat Mastery Charter North, 61-33. University City and Central also doubled up in 1995 and 2005, respectively. Imhotep also won the Public League's Class AAA football title in the fall. Ss. Neumann-Goretti has a chance to equal that three-peat in Monday's Catholic League title game.

"This is a big moment," Russell said. "Kimar is a really good player and I really respect his game. . . . We just got the championship."

Constitution 19 21 15 20 - 75

Imhotep 21 18 11 27 - 77

C: Kimar Williams 27, Chad Andrews-Fulton 21, Ahmad Gilbert 9, Haneef Vaughn 11, Akeem King 5, Anthony Satchell 2.

I: Daron Russell 19, Devin Liggeons 10, DeAnte Robinson 11, Jaekwon Carlyle 10, Khalif Tinley 12, Cananchet Jordan 6, Nysir Marshburn 7, Josh Townsend 2.