Imhotep king of the Pub, again

Despite forcing 12 first-half turnovers with its lethal 1-2-2 press, heavy favorite Imhotep Charter walked to the locker room with only a two-point lead against Constitution High.

That made for some concern, but not, Panthers coach Andre Noble said, any chair-throwing tirade or major shouting behind closed doors at Temple's Liacouras Center.

"Actually, it was pretty calm," Noble said. "The guys were talking to each other and sharing some ideas. We weren't in a panic. We have too much experience and have been through too much for that."

Imhotep opened the second half with an 8-2 burst and, holding Penn-bound forward Xavier Harris to one point on just three field goal attempts, topped undermanned Constitution, 57-44, Saturday to secure its third consecutive Public League championship.

The Panthers, ranked No. 2 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, became the first team to win three straight league crowns since West Philadelphia captured five in a row from 1974 to 1978.

"That makes it even more special," senior Ameen Tanksley said. "It puts us, I think, among the best to come through the Public League. We have a place in history now."

The 6-foot-5 Tanksley, a do-everything type ticketed for Niagara, garnered MVP honors with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots. He shot 5 for 9 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line.

Imhotep's other two Division I signees, 6-8 center Erik Copes (George Washington) and wing guard David Appolon (Robert Morris), produced 15 and seven points, respectively.

Early on, with a press headed by 6-6 sophomore Brandon Austin (eight points), the Panthers (25-3) made it difficult for the Generals (22-5) to get the ball past the half-court stripe.

"We practiced for it," Constitution coach Rob Moore said, "but it's hard to simulate the length of a Brandon Austin. He's a 6-6 kid with long arms. It's not like going up against a 5-11 guard."

With Imhotep ahead by 30-26 late in the third quarter, Tanksley's follow and inside bucket put the Panthers in front by eight. In the fourth, a three-point play by 6-4 senior sub Tyhiem Perrin made it 41-28 with six minutes remaining.

Daiquan Walker, a junior combo guard, paced the Generals with 18 points. Mamadou Diakite, a 6-4 senior forward, posted 11 points and 10 boards.

The 6-5 Harris, who came in averaging 14 points, second to Walker's 18, was held to one field-goal try in the first half and two in the second. He went 1 for 3 from the line.

"Our plan was to slow it down," Moore said. "We weren't trying to score a bunch of points. But it definitely hurt us that we didn't get Harris or [6-8 senior Erik] Raleigh the ball enough. We have to correct that going forward."

Constitution   8 12 6 18 – 44

Imhotep Charter   16 6 12 23 – 57

C: Tamir Bolger 3, Daiquan Walker 18, Xavier Harris 1, Mamadou Diakite 11, Abdul King 5, Erik Raleigh 5, Marvin Champ 1.

IC: David Appolon 8, Terrell Johnson 4, Erik Copes 7, Brandon Austin 8, Ameen Tanksley 15, Khyree Wooten 5, Tyhiem Perrin 7, Earl Brown 3.