Public League State Playoff Recaps, 2007-08

CLASS A
Play-In Game
At Gov. Mifflin Intermediate School, Shillington
Math, Civics & Sciences 76, High Point Baptist 74 (OT): Point guard Franklin Harris totaled 24 points, eight assists and even seven rebounds, and accounted for 21 of the Elephants' 26 points from the fourth quarter on by scoring 12 and passing for nine more. Though he missed a late layup in OT, Andre Thomas was right there to follow for the winning field goal. The Mighty Elephants had to go without scoring whiz Jose Ortiz (knee surgery). Zaahir Smith added 15 points, nine rebounds and three steals. MC&S erased a 14-point, third quarter deficit in four minutes.
First Round
At Southern
Freire 77, Roseto Pius X 57: The Dragons rolled to 14 of the first 16 points and mostly maintained control from there. Jarrod "G" Denard shot 9-for-14 en route to 21 points, Octavious Booker mixed 18 points and 11 boards and Antione "Blueberry" Singleton had nine points, seven assists, four steals.
At Martz Hall, Pottsville
Math, Civics & Sciences 79, Williams Valley 64: The Mighty Elephants stormed to a 12-1 lead in the first 2:40 and led by as many as 20, at 31-11. Eric Johnson (24) and Zaahir Smith (23) led the assault.
Second Round
At Hersheypark Arena
Freire 50, Scotland School 46: Jarrod "G" Denard scored 13 of his 20 points, including a buzzer-beating trey, in a 17-9 second quarter and Koron Reed finished with eight blocks. The Dragons trailed, 46-44, but then forced three turnovers and finished with a 6-0 rush.
At East Pennsboro
Math, Civics & Sciences 67, Blossburg North Penn 64: Trying to extend a 26-game winning streak, NP roared back from a 13-point deficit in the final 2 1/2 minutes to create a tie at 64-64. MC&S went ahead on Chuck Brown's layup and then got a late free throw-steal combo from Zaahir Smith. Franklin Harris scored 23 points. Smith (13) and Eric Johnson (12) also reached double figures.
Quarterfinals
At High School of the Future
Freire 79, Girard College 76: Jarrod "G" Denard, usually so reliable a shooter, missed his first 11 attempts as the Dragons fell into holes of 11-2, 18-6 and 40-31 (halftime). He nailed his first shot of the second half, a step-back baseline jumper, and then was off to the races, finishing with 25 points. Koron Reed, a transfer from GC, totaled 22 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks and was quite emotional afterward about his role in having ended his friends' season. Freire led, 76-63, when Denard fouled out with 1:44 left. GC roared within 76-73 before Abraham Bah converted a double-bonus.
At Spring-Ford
Reading Central Catholic 63, Math, Civics and Sciences 57 (OT): Zaahir Smith (15) and Franklin Harris (10) scored in double figures while Harris and Andre Thomas grabbed 11 and eight rebounds, respectively. The Mighty Elephants, who led by eight points with 5:30 left, missed a one-and-one at 0:15 that could have extended a one-point lead. RCC established early control in the extra session.
Semifinal
At Norristown
Freire 50, Reading Central Catholic 41: Jarrod "G" Denard again did yeoman post-intermission work, pouring in 16 of his 19 points while missing just two of nine attempts. Antione "Blueberry" Singleton had three assists, six steals. The Dragons roared to a 17-2 lead.
Final
At Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center
McKeesport Serra Catholic 67, Freire 66: Almost every team member shed tears, some for a long time, after the Dragons committed 11 turnovers in the final five minutes and coughed up a 12-point lead (60-48). Their only field goal in that span was a buzzer-beating three by Jarrod "G" Denard (12 points, seven assists, six steals). Octavious Booker powered for 18 points and 14 boards and received inside help from leaper Koron Reed (14, 11). Antione "Blueberry" Singleton had 12 points, six assists, five steals.

CLASS AA
First Round
At Southern
Straw. Mansion 79, Columbia 71: Eddie Frazier hustled for 24 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks, Devon White added 18, 12 and four and Dwayne Davis scored 16 points as Mansion persevered. Columbia received 52 points and six treys apiece from Adam Pittman and Mike Seibert (five in fourth quarter).
At Parkland
Imhotep 64, Northern Lehigh 61 (OT): The Panthers received a 19-point, 18-rebound performance from Rashad Savage and Miguel Bocachica knocked down a late trey to force OT. Will Adams totaled 15 points. Afterward, Imhotep's bus refused to budge from the parking lot and other transportation had to be summoned.
Second Round
At Gov. Mifflin Intermediate School, Shillington
Straw. Mansion 57, North Schuylkill 34: Eddie Frazier led a balanced effort with 14 points. Isaac Bradford and Dwayne Davis were close behind with 13 and 10.
At Hersheypark Arena
Imhotep 63, Hughesville 36: Lamar Trice mixed 12 points and eight assists while Will Adams (15), Rashad Savage (14) and Sam Prescott (11) also scored in double figures.
Quarterfinals
At Reading High's Geigle Complex
Straw. Mansion 71, Trinity 53: Dwayne Davis poured in 22 points (four treys) in a 36-19 first half and finished with 32. Eddie Frazier (12) and Devon White (11) also reached double figures.
At Bethlehem Freedom
Imhotep 61, Holy Cross 59: After allowing an uncontested follow with 5.9 seconds left, Imhotep prevented OT and earned the win as Lamar Trice (six assists) passed to Miguel Bocachica (14 points, four treys beforehand) for a buzzer-beating backdoor layup. Rashad Savage totaled 16 points (nine in the fourth quarter) and eight rebounds.
Semifinal
At Southern
Straw. Mansion 80, Imhotep 68: Mansion placed all five starters in double figures -- Dwayne Davis (24), Eddie Frazier and Isaac Bradford (16), Devon White (12), Darren Lawrence (10) -- while becoming the Pub's first "veteran" school (28 seasons) to reach a state final. White added 13 rebounds and did all of his scoring after Imhotep's lone inside force, Rashad Savage, picked up his third foul 3:30 into the third quarter. Will Adams drained four treys en route to 23 Panther points.
Final
At Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center
Jeannette 76, Straw. Mansion 72 (OT): Terrelle Pryor, widely considered the nation's No. 1 quarterback prospect at 6-6, 220, showed his basketball savvy by contributing 23 points, eight rebounds, five blocks and four apiece of assists and steals as Jeannette became a two-sport state champ. He also played successful defense early on Devon White and late on Dwayne Davis, who'd scored 19 of his 28 points in the first 2 1/2 quarters. Eddie Frazier had 16 points and 12 rebounds. White managed 12 boards as well. In regulation, Pryor missed two late free throws and a buzzer-beating flip but set the OT tone by blocking a semi-breakaway layup right off the tap.

CLASS AAA
First Round
At Southern
Communications Tech 69, Lancaster Catholic 54: The Phoenix assured there would be no letdown, in the aftermath of a Pub title, by frolicking to a 32-8 halftime lead. Andrew "Scootie" Randall powered to 24 points and 14 rebounds and Chris Jones (3-for-4 on treys) scored 10 of his 13 points before intermission.
At Chambersburg
Greencastle-Antrim 48, Franklin LC 47: The Bobcats left themselves vulnerable by shooting just 5-for-16 at the line, and they were done in by a buzzer-beater. They'd gone ahead on Jake Wasco's follow with 16.5 left; it was his only shot of the game. Denzel Yard (16) and Khalief Trawick (12) scored in double figures.
Second Round
At Norristown
Communications Tech 60, Holy Ghost Prep 39: The Phoenix dominated from the start, rolling to leads of 8-0, 26-7 and 36-11 and forcing the Firebirds to shoot 10-for-35 through three quarters (46-23). Andrew "Scootie" Randall managed 16 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Chris Jones added 13 points, two assists and two steals. Sub Shaquille Shannon had 12 points, five assists and four steals.
Quarterfinal
At Reading's Geigle Complex
Susquehanna Township 57, Communications Tech 44: Temple-bound forward Andrew "Scootie" Randall concluded his career with a 14-point (1,735 total), 20-rebound effort. Shaquille Shannon drained four treys for 12 points, Chris Jones added nine points and Antonio "Gee" Monroe dealt five assists.

CLASS AAAA
First Round
At Southern
Ridley 76, Frankford 38: The Pioneers fell behind early with star Malik Tinsley on the bench due to foul trouble, and were never in it. Khayree Brown managed 12 points, 10 rebounds.
At Germantown
Southern 45, Downingtown West 44: Furnell Doster scored 13 points, Deshon Minnis had all six of his markers at crunch time and sub Byron Jones notched a late steal to preserve the victory. Fraternal twins Anthony "Crip" and Antoine Reese scored an identical eight points.
At Hersheypark Arena
Harrisburg 50, Gratz 42: Only Joe Reid (12) scored in double figures. The best Bulldog, guard Charles White (Hartford), was missing with the reoccurrence of a sports hernia.
At Council Rock North
Norristown 63, Bartram 56: The Braves surrendered 10 of the last 12 points. Tyrone Garland shot 10-for-22 en route to 24 points while Novar Gadson (Rider), burdened by foul trouble, settled for 16 and finished his career with a school record of 1,346.
Second Round
At Colonial Elementary School (Plymouth-Whitemarsh)
Southern 73, Souderton 54: Furnell Doster shot 10-for-15 en route to 23 points while adding six rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks. Inside partners Jamir Hanner (15) and Antoine Reese (11) also scored well while Anthony "Crip" Reese dealt eight assists. The Rams fashioned a 15-1 run after Souderton drew within 50-44.
Quarterfinal
At Villanova's Pavilion
Norristown 71, Southern 44: The Rams were smoked, 40-13, in the middle two sessions. Jamir Hanner and Antoine Reese halved 20 points.