Imhotep boys win revenge game over Del-Val
When the PIAA playoff brackets were released weeks ago, Imhotep certainly had Del-Val - and revenge - on the brain.
When the PIAA playoff brackets were released weeks ago, Imhotep certainly had Del-Val - and revenge - on the brain.
Del-Val, which had won 19 consecutive games entering the Class 3A quarterfinal at Southern, unseated the defending champion Panthers in February en route to claiming the school's first Public League basketball title.
Friday night, however, the Panthers sought to send a message.
"We saw that they were on our side [of the bracket], so we're like, 'Del-Val, Del-Val, Del-Val,' every day in practice," said Imhotep junior captain Daron Russell.
The Panthers defense helped devour Del-Val, 71-54, in a physical, disjointed contest that featured 57 combined fouls and 66 total free throws.
In a semifinal Tuesday, Imhotep will meet Neumann-Goretti, which beat Lower Moreland, 78-52, Friday night.
Russell led all scorers with 17 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Jaekwon Carlyle added 13 more on 5 of 12 from the field.
The true measure of the team's success, however, came on the defensive end.
Imhotep (24-5) finished with nine steals, forced 19 turnovers, and outrebounded Del-Val, 30-19, with 14 rebounds coming on the offensive glass.
Koby Thomas supplied 11 points and seven rebounds (five offensive). Russell finished with four steals. Carlyle coupled three steals with six rebounds.
The Panthers had beaten Del-Val (27-5) by double figures twice in the regular season before being upset, 62-58, in the Public League's 3A title round back in February.
"Obviously we wanted to play them, because we didn't win the Public League title," said Imhotep coach Andre Noble. "They knocked us off. And congrats to them. They had a great season. But we felt like we were the better team from the first two times we played them. We just played awful that third game."
Friday night, the Panthers parlayed a six-point halftime edge into an 11-point advantage entering the final frame.
Despite foul trouble, the Warriors fought valiantly, finishing with nine steals, forcing 17 turnovers, and blocking six shots.
Imhotep finished 24 of 35 from the foul line. Del-Val shot 20 for 31 at the line.
Senior forward Wade Lowman led Del-Val with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He also added three blocked shots and two steals. His twin brother, Waheem, was the only other Warrior in double figures with 10 points.
After taking aim at Del-Val, Russell and the Panthers will look for more revenge against Neumann-Goretti, which beat the Panthers, 75-67, in last year's semifinal.
"We might be moving up to 4A next year, and they might stay in 3A, so this could really be the last time we'll see them in states. So it's very important," Russell said, smiling. "We want them. We want them."
Imhotep 13 20 17 21 - 71
Del-Val 11 16 12 15 - 54
IM: Jaekwon Carlyle 13, Daron Russell 17, Koby Thomas 11, Donte Scott 9, Bernard Lightsey 7, Josh Townsend 8, Nysir Marshburn 4, Khatib Cousins 2.
DV: Wade Lowman 11, Mahki Morris 8, Antwuan Butler 9, Rashae Nixon 1, Semaj Motley 9, Dwayne Coleman 6, Waheem Lowman 10.
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