Imhotep's Tanksley lets his play do the talking in state quarterfinal

Ameen Tanksley spoke so softly, the stop-whispering police almost had to be summoned.

Wait. Isn't a basketball team's star player supposed to gush, at high volume, after helping his team secure an overtime victory in a state playoff?

Not when the win is viewed more like an avoidance of a loss.

Tanksley, a 6-5, 205-pound senior swingman, now plays for Imhotep Charter and next year will take his skills to Niagara. He'll also lug along this thought: Overconfidence and lethargy are not cool.

On Dec. 22, the Panthers were taken to overtime by upstart Roberts Vaux before regrouping enough to prevail. Saturday brought a Class AA quarterfinal at Southern High between those same teams. This scenario? A match.

Imhotep, which not long ago won a third consecutive Public League championship and has owned the No. 1 spot in the Daily News City Top 10 since dislodging Archbishop Carroll on Jan. 18, eked out a 54-53 OT triumph.

Tanksley, doubled and fouled at the right edge of the lane during a knife-through, 45-degree-angle move to the basket, sank the second of two free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining. He then watched in amazement, which almost turned to horror, as Vaux' Rysheed Jordan, a star sophomore guard, hit the front of the rim with a well-measured halfcourt heave.

After missing, Jordan kept running toward the south end of the gym, veered off to the side, jumped into the air to grab a metal pole supporting a side basket, then briefly swung back and forth. Elsewhere the Panthers celebrated, but not exactly in unabashed fashion.

"It was scary," Tanksley said. "If that shot's just a little higher . . . Woulda been rough."

Following a hold-it-out that lasted 70 seconds, Imhotep coach Andre Noble called time at 10.1. Tanksley wound up with the ball on the right side.

"Once I got the pick-and-pop, I figured I had to hit the gap as quick as possible to either draw a foul or get the layup," Tanksley said. "When I heard the whistle, I didn't know it was going to be a foul [a walk or held ball would not have surprised] because I'd lost it a little. But there was definitely contact.

"I've been a pretty good foul shooter, so I wasn't happy about missing that first one. They changed balls at halftime. The second one was heavier. I adjusted. I told myself, 'Get this one. Can't miss two. End the game now.' I relaxed myself."

Tanksley, a lefty, finished with 18 points, bagging nine on each side of intermission. He also had five rebounds.

Though Imhotep led by as many as 12 in the second half, Vaux refused to wilt. Tanksley, for one, was not surprised.

"I went to Robert Morris [26th and Thompson, near Vaux] with a majority of their guys. I know how they are," he said. "They wanted this just as much as we did. We knew what could happen if we let them hang around, and we allowed that to happen.

"We were slouching on defense. Taking plays off. We have to always show heart."

Said Noble: "Vaux did a great job. Tough North Philly kids. We really haven't played a tough game since early January. When you go that long without one, you have to worry about what might happen when you get in one again."

One free throw by Khyree Wooten and two by Terrell Johnson allowed Imhotep to score the final three points of regulation, creating a 46-46 tie. Jordan then missed a flip shot off a spin move.

With 1 minute, 20 seconds showing in OT, Vaux guard Shawn Williams (21 points) experienced a repeat of cramping problems after drawing a foul. Jermaine Weeks, who often sees no action, came in cold and hit the second of two free throws to make it 53-53.

Center Erik Copes (George Washington) mixed seven points and eight rebounds for Imhotep. Guard David Appolon (Robert Morris) totaled six boards, four assists and three steals. For Vaux, strongman James Butler willed his way to 14 points and nine steals (six after halftime).

While prepping for Niagara, Tanksley said he has become more athletic.

"Now I have to work on my midrange game," he added.

And, like his teammates, polish the mindset.