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Del-Val Charter crushes Boys' Latin in Public League playoffs

Delaware Valley Charter senior Semaj Motley played maestro Thursday afternoon at Martin Luther King, leading the Warriors' potent attack in second-round Public League playoff action against Boys' Latin.

Delaware Valley Charter senior Semaj Motley played maestro Thursday afternoon at Martin Luther King, leading the Warriors' potent attack in second-round Public League playoff action against Boys' Latin.

Motley's crew drummed Boys' Latin, 90-76, in Game 2 of a doubleheader at King, which sets up Saturday's Class AAA classification championship at Southern against defending Public League champion Imhotep.

In Thursday's Game 1, M.L. King held off Frankford, 59-53, in Class AAAA play.

"It's always a good feeling, knowing we got to the next step," said Motley, who scored 25 points and added seven assists. "[Now] just getting ready for Saturday."

No. 2-seeded Del-Val (20-4, 7-3) was swept by top-seeded Imhotep (21-3, 10-0) during regular-season play, with the margins of defeat averaging 18.5 points.

"Playing against them we can't make any mistakes," Motley said. "That's an elite team. We've got to all be on our P's and Q's, bring our best games and bring some heart."

A repeat of Thursday's marksmanship could help.

By halftime against Boys' Latin (20-5, 11-1), the Warriors had shot 17 of 26 from the field (65 percent) and 7 of 12 from behind the three-point line (58 percent).

They finished 8 of 18 from three (44 percent) and shot 52 percent overall.

"When we're sharing the ball, nobody's playing selfish and we're all looking out for each other, that's when we all look the best," said Motley, who transferred from KIPP DuBois last year.

Antwuan Butler finished with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 2 of 2 from three-point range.

Waheem Lowman added 16 points, while his twin brother Wade chipped in 10 points and four blocks. The Lowman twins are seniors who transferred from Imhotep this season.

"We're just trying to go out with a bang," Motley said. "Me and the twins, we've been on a mission since we transferred. We're just trying to get that [league championship]."

Gus Sephes led Boys' Latin with 20 points. Cameron Gardner-Nicholson added 13 and 11 rebounds.

King (13-10, 4-6) was led by Jabri McCall's 17 points while Nasir Bell added 14 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Seydou Cisse led the Pioneers (11-11, 6-6) with 15 points and seven rebounds. Nahmeer East added 14 points and 10 boards.

Martin Luther King 14 12 17 16 - 59

Frankford 7 13 12 21 - 53

MLK: Nasir Bell 14, Jabri McCall 17, Ishum Horn 1, Jakwon McQueen 4, Ricardo Monteiro 11, Qadir Burgess 3, Kahssian Kay 2, Nahim Lee 7.

FKD: Anthony Rodriguez 10, Frankie Okpala 2, Seydou Cisse 15, Nahmeer East 14, Jermaine Bent 12.

Del-Val Charter 27 26 23 14 - 90

Boys' Latin 13 19 24 20 - 76

DVC: Mahki Morris 9, Dwayne Coleman 2, Mikel Sullivan 3, Daniel Gilliam 2, Wade Lowman 10, Semaj Motley 25, Antwuan Butler 23, Waheem Lowman 16.

cartera@phillynews.com

@AceCarterINQ