Mansion escapes Pub playoff game with win over New Media Charter

DON'T TOUCH that Dial! The Strawberry Mansion Basketball Show has not been canceled.

Granted, the ratings are no longer lofty, but some entertaining viewing is still available, and there are moments that will make your heart rate soar.

Mansion, a former junior high in its 33rd season of Public League competition, is scheduled to close this June. Thursday, the Knights traveled to New Media Charter for a first-round playoff, which doubled as a Class A quarterfinal, and among the witnesses were former coach Gerald Hendricks, former athletic director Charles Sumter, and current AD Jill Syp.

You know, one of those just-in-case-this-is-the-finale deals.

But nooooooo! Mansion claimed a pulsating, 53-52 win and the ultimate hero, Raekwon Dial, was a perfect match for the circumstances.

Dial, a 5-7, 140-pound wing guard, lives on North Natrona Street, only a block away from Mansion. He began attending games there as a second-grader and the current coach, Matthew "Moo" Johnson (Class of 2006), was one of his chief idols.

"I love Mansion basketball," Dial said. "My whole time growing up, I couldn't wait until I'd be able to play for this team.

"In school, ever since last Friday, kids were saying, 'This could be Mansion's last game.' I tried not to listen. That was a lot to think about. I was pretty nervous. I was feeling anxious. This is my third year on the varsity. I kept thinking about how we didn't [go anywhere] in those first 2 years. I was thinking, 'Ah, man. Is this gonna happen again?' "

Thanks to a short-range flip shot by John Fieffe, NM claimed a 52-51 lead with 50.9 seconds remaining. Luckily for Mansion, Fieffe missed the tacked-on free throw.

Soon, Dial accepted a pass in the right corner . . . and lost the ball over the baseline.

Then it happened. Fieffe bobbled the ball a shade over halfcourt and teammate Ahtiff "Rex" Govan-Wheeler recovered maybe 15 feet to the left.

"Next thing you know, I was going to the hoop," Dial said, smiling.

That's right. He made a steal, zipped directly to the basket and canned a right-side layup.

"I definitely knew I was making that shot," he said. "No way I wasn't. It was too important. My whole team was depending on me."

One problem: NM called time, and the scoreboard still showed 7.9 seconds.

Devin Bullock made a short inbound pass, quickly received the ball back and raced toward the other end, where most of the Jaguars' rooters, including the cheerleaders, were perched on the stage, ready to explode in ecstasy.

"I was covering him," Dial said. "He blew past me, and I knew I had to catch up. I was right there when he put it off the backboard."

The shot, a layup-flip hybrid, was taken from the left side. When it didn't succeed, the Knights rejoiced with passion. There were midair hip bumps and major hugs, and Mansion fans gathered 'round to snap away with cellphone cameras.

"I'm real happy. Real excited," Dial said. "We needed this."

At Wednesday's practice, Dial had not exactly been the apple of Johnson's eye.

The personable Dial, who has friends throughout the Pub, will mark his 17th birthday Friday, and he has been planning a party.

"I was talking about it at practice," Raekwon said, sheepishly.

"I had to ream him out," Johnson said. "I said, 'Do you want to be a basketball player or a party promoter?!' "

Dial finished with nine points, three assists and seven steals and was one of the guys who participated in a second-quarter, threeball festival. He hit one and Brandon Jiles and Donovan Barnes (22 points) drained two apiece as the Knights went 5-for-5 until the last few seconds. Jiles then missed from behind the arc, but Anthony Askins-Pickney made a buzzer-beating follow to make it 31-25.

NM's comeback was fueled primarily by Bullock (17) and Fieffe (15), though the latter missed a crucial period down the stretch after suffering severe cramping. With seven, Khalil Moore was the game's only player with more than five rebounds. Govan-Wheeler dealt four assists.

If Mansion does close (the fight continues), its students supposedly will head to Ben Franklin.

"Not even thinking about that," Raekwon Dial said. "I'm blessed to be at Mansion, and that's where I want to stay."