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Amauro's Corner Amauro "Amar" Austin is
another of our trusty observers. He is not to be confused with Ruben Amaro,
the Phillies' assistant general manager. Like "Huck" Palmer,
Amauro is a West Catholic graduate. He will file reports on the MANY games he sees.
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JAN. 22
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Bartram 76, Central 54
Now this was Bartram Basketball! For moments in this one I
thought we rewound 3 years and Leach, Bouknight & Roberts were out
there. The Braves shared the ball and dismantled a formidable Lancer squad.
Check these stats: 5 Braves had three or four assists & the Braves controlled
the boards 39-24 (6 of the Lancers boards were team rebounds one of the Braves'
were). Finally, it seems that this squad that has had chemistry problems
throughout the season is gelling and looking to defend their PL Title. In the
first half, the ran their offense as if the the Lancers weren't even out there
getting almost any shot they pleased. It all starts with sr. CG Maurice Wood
and that's the reason for the change. He's the captain and one of the few
holdovers and is now playing the right way. He went for 16 points, 4 assists & 3
steals and was enthusiastic & vocal throughout. THIS was what I and many others
expected from him from the outset after an impressive off-season. D-IIs & IIIs
need to come and check this kid out as he could prove to be a valuable asset.
Sr. WG Tywain McKee was once again himself with 22 points (4-for-7 on
treys), 7 boards & 3 assists. McKee has extremely long arms for a 6-1/6-2 guy
and is very unorthodox once he puts it one the floor. He's not at all quick, but
uses craft/savvy to get around even the peskiest of defenders and don't dare
give him even an inch of room as he'll bomb you from deep. He's D-I talent
for sure. How he'll get there still remains to be seen. Both prep school & juco
are possibilities. 6-7 180-lb Sr. F-C Chris Seaborn continues to improve
daily. He went for 8 points, 8 boards, 4 assists & 4 blocks today. Many times he
caught the ball in the high post and made crisp passes to the cutters. He also
was the long arm of the law on defense. A year of Prep would do wonders for a
kid like Chris as I've said in the past. He needs another year of good
basketball and growth mentally and physically. I remember meeting him 21/2 years
ago and looking him eye to eye. I'm still a shade over 6-2. He's up to 6-7 now
and just turned 17 late last fall. His young looking features suggest another
growth spurt is eminent and he has some wing skills. He also seems to listen and
is willing to learn and that's more than half the battle. Jr. PG Marquise
Carrington continues to impress as well. He, too gets better each time out.
Today, he went 4-for-4 & 4-of-8 for 12 points. He also grabbed 4 boards, dished
4 assists, plucked 2 steals & even blocked 2 shots. Once, a guy rose high
looking to slam and 'Quise rose higher and pinned it to the backboard. He's 5-9
for God's sake! D-IIs & academic schools need to monitor his progress now as he
attends Bartram's best program, Motivation. Bartram has sent 2 football players
(WR Romar Drake 02' & LB Marvin Snipes 03') to Lafayette
from that building in the last few years. Sr. G-F Rhafique Price came off
the bench and gave great effort/hustle going for 8P, 5R & 3S. He's another key
for the Braves as no war will get TOO rough for him. He's their best natural
defender and the Braves will see the likes of Evans & Tyndale next week. The
most impressive thing that I saw in this victory was that it seemed like every
Lancer shot was contested (12 blocks). If it wasn't blocked it was altered or a
Lancer went to the line. That's good, aggressive D folks. The Lancers hung for a
while, but these young pups became more & more shell-shocked as the onslaught
kept coming. So. G-F Kenny St. George (14 points) was impressive
throughout. Juniors G-F Scott Rodgers (12P, 5R), F Malcolm Ingram
(14P, 5R) & PG Lamar Williams (5A) all had their moments, but even
they'll admit that they could/should have played harder.
AA's Notes: Brave coach Lou Biester was animated throughout. He
may not have his voice tomorrow. One time he called Wood over to the bench after
a Central breakout and yelled, "Tell them if anyone gets beat down the floor
again, I'm subbing ALL of you out!" They were up by 15 at the time. He's really
had to push this group extra hard and its finally starting to pay off... The
showdown with Gratz (The Nation's 20th ranked team in this week's USA Today) looks more and
more intriguing. Bartram owns 3 straight Ws over the Bulldogs and I know the
Dogs want a win over the Braves in the worst way... The Braves looked to finally
be having fun and made things look easy. 67th & Elmwood was rockin' & rollin' to
the chant of BRAVE-HEARTS! BRAVE-HEARTS! late in this one. Things are finally
beginning to take shape in the Pub with Southern and now Bartram coming together
at just the right time as challengers to Gratz...
JAN. 20
PUBLIC LEAGUE
West 59, Washington 56
This contest turned into an entertaining affair as the
Speedboys came from behind to erase an 11-point halftime deficit and won going
away in an important cross-over league game for both squads. The leader of the
rally was sr. Combo-G Chris Williams. The lefty scored 18 of his 22 in
the 2nd half with 9 in the both the 3rd and 4th quarters. He also dished 4
assists & plucked 7 steals along the way which was key as the Speedboys
pressured G-Dub's guards heavily. The Speedboys led 57-56 and the Eagles had the
ball. 6-7 jr. PF Pat Martin (6P, 11R) missed a 5-footer, then 6-6 230-lb
sr. F-C Bryon Gaddy rimmed out on a follow, Martin rimmed out another.
Sr. PF Maurice Polen intentionally tipped it out to Williams who soloed
for a lay-in at the buzzer. What a wild ending! Williams is said to be a solid
student and will take the SATs this weekend. He could surely help a D-III.
Before he goes to college though, he'd better have his eyes checked. The
consensus thinks he needs glasses, though he may say otherwise. He's always
squinting and when he misses a shot or a pass, often times he's way off.
Otherwise, he'll be fine. Polen is said to be the #3 overall student in the
senior class having only 2B's in four years of high school, the rest being As.
The athletic 6-4 220-lber also has over 900 on the SATs and expects to do better
in his next attempt. Polen's this squad's most vital cog. He's this team's
silent leader & unsung hero. He claimed 15 boards in this one against G-Dub's
huge/physical front line. He, too could help a D-III, but Baseball is his main
sport and he will have interest for that as well. Sr. WG Ricardo Lovelace
scored 8 of his 15 in the final quarter. He also grabbed 7 boards, dished 3
assists & plucked 6 steals of his own. I've seen him have better days though.
Often times he stood stantionary hovering around the wing TOO much for my liking
instead of moving without the ball. At this level, he has the strength to mix it
up a bit more and when he did, he had success. I like sr. G-F Jeff Gladney
(12P, 3A, 3S, 4B) despite the fact that he can be a bit wild at times. He just
makes athletic plays and gets things done. He's very coltish and his best days
are ahead once he learns the nuances. He made for the play of the day as he
EASILY wolfed down a one-hander on the break. He's this team's best athlete and
may be their best prospect long-range because of his athleticism & room to grow.
The Neumanns, Cabrinis & Gwynedd-Mercys of the world should check him out. G-Dub
is a young team that may even make some noise this year. They start 4 juniors
and 1 senior. They just may be a solid PG away from going deep into the
playoffs. The bruising Gaddy (19 points, 15 boards) led them again. D-IIs (a
steal for a III) ought to give him a strong look. He'll give you just what you
need in the paint. The good thing about him is that the paint is where is wants
to be. Jr. G-F Dominique Curry (6-3 200) was very effective with 13
points, 8 boards, 6 assists & 2 huge blocks (rose up high and pinned shots to
the window). The strong lefty is this squad's glue and their top defender. He's
also a D-I football prospect possibly at LB or WR. Martin was rolling early, but
did nothing later. He has some skill, but must put 4 good quarters together. Jr.
G Corey White (16 points) has to play the point at times, but may be
better suited on the wing. He always seems to play tough and make big baskets.
AA's Notes: There is much to like about the Speedboys. I still
can't figure out how they lost to lowly William Penn. They have 4 guys that can
play in college next year though. The D-IIIs need to check them out. Lovelace
could probably play D-II... G-Dub head coach Calvin Jones was livid all
afternoon. It started about a minute into the game when he found of that his
side of the Speedboy scoreboard was out. the score worked, but the time was out.
He's being aided again by former Frankford star John Hampton whose son
John played on the team last season. Its always good to see him around,
great guy... The Eagles also continue the trend with 3 contributing lefties in
their line-up with Curry, jr. G Marc Appolon & soph. PG Ranard Lindsay...
I always feel at home in Speedboy land. Its the alma mater of more than half of
my family and being in the building makes me feel special. It also always good
to talk with AD - Pat Cassano. She really knows her stuff. I just hope
that things can return to how they were in the glory days. Only time will
tell...
JAN. 17
NON LEAGUE
Cheltenham 57, Bartram 56
The Braves just may be the city's biggest enigma and they
started the game that way in this one. Its already Mid-January and they aren't
executing well or meshing together. The Panthers of C-ham led by as many as 15
early in the 3rd quarter, but the Braves fought back hard and even tied and had
chances to take control deep in the 4th before running out of gas. The ironic
thing is that they did it mostly with their bench as the line-up of starters sr.
WG Tywain McKee & jr. PG Marquise Carrington ran with sub forwards
sr. Elijah Johnson, sr. Justin Lawus & jr. Bryan Spriggs
(4P, tons of fight). Eventually, 6-7 sr. F-C Chris Seaborn (14 points, 9
boards & 3 blocks) & sr. G-F Rhafique Price (8R, tough defense on star jr. WG
Harris Mansell) finished the game. It was an impressive comeback. A win
would have been a humongous confidence builder. McKee (5-for-15, 1-for-6 on
treys for 13 points) struggled with his shot and had he made a semi-open trey
late, I think his team would have pulled it out, but you can't make 'em all.
Many times he fought hard around screens and wasn't rewarded so he had to get it
and create is own many times. This must be frustrating for him as you can see
the play is ran for him and he doesn't even touch it sometimes. This HAS to be
worked out. He did still look good in grabbing 9 boards (6 off.) & plucking 4
steals. Carrington (11P, 5A, 4S) played a tough game as well. He's really
starting to grow on me. He still needs to be more authorative at the point, and
has to know that PGs MAKE their free throws (9-of-14), but there's much to like.
He plays very hard at both ends. The D-II state schools should check him out
early. Seaborn (5-for-9, 1 trey, 3-of-4 at the line) is getting better every
night. With his frame and young looks, a year of Prep would do wonders. He still
has to channel his emotions as once again the refs warned him for a delay of
game. High D-IIs could do a whole lot worse as he could star one day under the
right tutelage. Cheltenham was led by juniors CG Pat Fluery (20 points, 6
steals & tough hard play) & 6-2 WG Harris Mansell (18 points). Mansell is
a D-I prospect who had Penn eying tonight.
AA's Notes: Got to show love back to the Cheltenham student
section. For the 2nd time I've been in the gym while C-ham has been playing,
they started an Amauro Austin chant. Thanks guys, I'm not big on
attention, but I can't tell you how much its appreciated to be appreciated...
This game had a playoff atmosphere. This is what we'll see in the state playoffs
in the future... Finally, the other night I was corrected as I bumped into
former Frankford star PG Adrian "Pinky" Burke. He tells me that
Carrington is his younger brother not his nephew as I said in the past. I like
this kid's chances even more knowing that...
JAN. 17
NON LEAGUE
Mansion 66, Overbrook 56
I've made this an annual stop on my trail for the last few
years. Last year there was no game as longtime 'Brook aide and former star
Tony Johnson's funeral was being held. This year 'Brook fought hard and
played tough before bowing out to the more talented Knights. Mansion was led by
sr. WG Tracy Worley with 30 points mainly on 17-of-18 at the line. He's
simply lights-out there and which in a close game is key. Worley also grabbed 10
boards, dished 5 assists & plucked 3 steals. This may have been the best I've
ever seen him. I always thought that he was talented, but also always knew that
something was missing. He seems to have that savvy now that he'll need to take
with him at the next level. His left hand man sr. SF John Scarbrough
(14P, 6R, 3A) was again his tricky self. He made some extremely athletic plays
throughout. Both are on the top Juco radar. Worley is said to be a top-notch
student. Jr. G-F Leon "Squeak" Rollins hustled for 8P, 6R & 3A. This
group of Knights could be dangerous, but would be hard to beat with another
scoring option. The Panthers were led by their all senior backcourt of 5-5
Kyle Copeland (10P, 5R, 3S) & 5-7 Maurice Millner (12P, 5A, 7S). Both
played hard & tough and never gave up. Both could help a D-III program and are
said to be solid students.
AA's Notes: It almost hurts to go to Brook these days. Brook is suffering
a horrible year in athletics. The Top of the Hill is arguably the most
prestigious public high school in the country in terms of athletics. Many-a-kid
have made it out of 59th & Lancaster over the years... I was thinking that maybe
this annual date with the Mansion should be tabbed in the future, the Tony
Johnson Classic. Maybe with another game or two added (maybe West/Franklin
or West Catholic/FLC). Tony did much work for kids in West Philly and touched
many. His funeral was the largest I've ever been to. It would be something nice
for Brook. Maybe it'll all come to pass...
JAN. 15
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Lincoln 58, King 43
Well this wasn't my third clean game in a row, but I didn't
expect that coming in. These two squads are exact opposites. Lincoln is
experienced with a wealth of seniors, while King is largely inexperienced with
only one player with much previous varsity experience so struggles have been
prominent. The Golden Cougars played the Splitters tough for a half (23-23), but
lost its focus in the 2nd as Lincoln cruised. They were led by high-scoring soph.
PG Malik Alvin with 27 points (12-of-14 at the line), 2 assists & 2
steals. Alvin buried all 8 of his free throw attempts in the 4th which was a key
to victory. He's a very good ball-handler who is in no way scared to put it up.
The more varsity action he sees, the better he gets too. Sr. strongman
Maurice McPherson (6-4+ 240) was steady throughout scoring 10 points,
snatching 15 boards, dishing 3 assists & swatting 6 (including 2 dunk attempts).
Many times, he caught it in the mid to high post and found open shooters. He
would have had 10 assists had they converted. He has to get his SATs up, but you
have to figure that the D-II State schools should chase hard. He's 6-4+, a good
athlete & built to play right away. He's hard to control inside and likes
playing there. He could be an instant contributor. He's also a kid you have to
root for as his situation has caused him to bounce around a lot and he never
seems bitter. Sr. G Steve Hassell didn't shoot well, but did snatch 6
boards, dish 4 assists & pluck 3 steals. The crafty lefty could be a very
productive D-III or lower level D-II player especially once he learns the
nuances. As I said earlier, King is painfully young and inexperienced. Sr. G
Ricardo Laing (11 points, 5 rebs & 2 As) is the only one who has been there
through the good times. Sr. WG Ricky "Smooth" McClain is a talented
lefty, but he appears to be a bit TOO smooth as he could do more. I did like
sophomore small forwards Darnell Moore (6R, 2A, 3S) & Zane Oxley
(5-of-5 for 10P in foul-limited action). Both were starters and both have
similar good strong basketball builds in the 6-2 180 range. Moore plays very
hard and lends tons of hustle, while Ox' may be the team's top talent for long
range purposes. He looks to be very athletic and still growing. 6-6 Sr. C
Isaiah Starks (6P, 4R in less than 10 minutes) is intriguing. His size,
strength & athleticism made him the only Cougar that could physically match up
with McPherson. He had one monster slam and attempted two others. Smaller Jucos &
trade schools that field basketball teams should check him out. It may work in
their favor.
AA's Notes: This was my first time up at King in two years. Now
days, they have stands. They are playing mainly for the future with a team that
has 4 of each sophs & jrs... It was great to see Railsplitter sr. deep subs G
Hakim Mubarak & F Richmond Jackson get some light late in this one as
both got in the books in the 4th. The Lincoln bench was ecstatic. Its always fun
to see some lesser lights get some love...
JAN. 14
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Central 62, Dobbins 54
Well 2 straight days I saw a cleanly-played Pub game.
Hopefully, the streak will continue. This one was nothing special except for the
fact that I hadn't seen Dobbins yet so it was a prime opportunity plus Coaches'
Rich Yankowitz (Dobbins) & Haviland "Biff" Harper (Central) are
two of the League's best and most experienced coaches. So its always refreshing
to watch either of their teams especially with the way things are these days in
the Pub.
Central is a tough bunch, though undersized (no regular bigger than 6-4). Most
of their guys are wings, but they really get after it at both ends and can go
8-deep. Their leader is jr. G-F Scott Rodgers. In this one he went for 17
points, 11 boards & 5 assists. Rodgers is beginning to draw D-I attention and
rightfully so. He is very athletic, skilled enough to play every position at
this level, has a rock hard body (6-3 205) & plays extremely hard (makes sure
his teammates do too). Jr. PG Lamar Williams (11P, 5A, 3S) seems to be
improving daily. I like his approach as well. He has a quiet confidence about
him -- never seems rattled. Sr. G Noam "Jon B" Fliegelman may have been the difference today as he
scored 8 of his 14 in the decisive 3rd quarter mostly on wide open right corner
jumpers. Soph. G-F Kenny St. George went 2-fo-2 (1 trey, the other an
impressive controlled end to end drive) & 2-for-2 for 7 points in limited
action. He looked to be sick before the game and that was probably why. The
Lancers also got strong contributions from bench players sr. G Reggie
Strickland (3A, 2S) & jr. G-F Andre Woodlin (9P, 2S). The Mustangs
were led by jr. PG DuJuan "Bud" Anderson (16 points, 3 assists). He was
very impressive. He's really strong with the ball and very authorative. He's
also crafty & tough. I'll look for continued improvement. 6-5 Sr. F-C Ahkieme
McClendon (12P, 14R, 3B) is very no-frills, but very effective. He keeps the
ball high at all times and finishes around the hoop. D-IIIs (even the better
ones) should give him a good look. He'll definitely help one day. I liked jr. G
Codell Johnson (6A, 3S). He caused havoc on the defensive end and played
PG from the wing on offense. Jr. G-F Steven Sydnor contributed nicely off
the bench especially in the first half (6P, 4R) then didn't see much time in the
2nd. The football star knows what it takes to make plays during crucial times so
I'm figuring he'll be a key in the playoff run.
AA's Notes: I was interesting to see if Coach Yank' could sit down
for a whole game. He did for the most part. Under PIAA rules the coach
can't stand up and Yank' has made hs living almost being the sixth man for the
Mustangs for over 30 years (smile)... The Lancers are a dangerous bunch who'll
be tough to beat by February. Its a shame their gym is still not available as
its THE most intimidating place to play in the Pub...
JAN. 13
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Roxborough 50, Masterman 45
AMEN! This was easily the most cleanly played Pub game I've
seen all year. Both teams ran set offenses and were effective; very competitive.
Roxborough won this one behind a hot start (20-7 1st qtr) in which they did a
great job of moving the ball against the Blue Dragon zone to find their
shooters. This was good basketball -- nothing less, nothing more. The Indians
were led by sr. WG Donte Robinson, a light's out long range shooter who
has an excellent natural feel for the game. Robinson went for 24 points on
8-of-12 from the field, 5-for-8 on treys & 3-of-4 at the line. His shot always
looks good when it leaves his hands and he NEVER forces. He says he was a bit
short on his first SAT attempt and coach Terrell Burnett says he's a
C-student. D-II State schools need to get on this case ASAP as he's just what
the doctor ordered for any of them. He'd STAR instantly at the D-III level. Jr.
F-C Ameer Ali had his way down low going for 10 points, 12 boards & 3
blocks. His play will be key during the stretch run as the Indians make a push
for the playoffs. Sr. G Tyrone Ryales lent 8P & 4A to the cause including
2 1st Qtr treys. Masterman's headliner is 6-6 soph. F Zahir Carrington (21
points & 6 boards). "Zah" just might me the League's top soph. He has an
exclusive package of skills (faces up, puts it on the floor, hits the mid range,
finishes in traffic, ect.) for a young big man. He's also very athletic and
coordinated. Not many kids his size/age while they are still growing and filling
out have his coordination. One college coach raved about him to me the other day
and feels that the Penn's of the world need to get on him early. I concur. He'll
be interesting to watch for the next two and a half seasons. Sr. F Stephen
"Same Name" Stevens lent grit & toughness en route to a game-high 13 boards.
The Blue Dragons also have one of my favorite players in the city in 5-3 jr. PG
Pierre Milburn (12P, 6A, 4S). Someone find me a tougher customer than
this kid. The D-IIIs will be camping at his doorstep next year. Don't be fooled
by his height. The little guy can rumble and will rumble against any and
everyone -- And guess what -- Win or lose you WILL respect him afterwards.
AA's Notes: This Roxborough squad has a sure shot at the dance.
They are playing very well right now. It helps with the addition of 4 FB players
(jr. F Chris Mitchell (LB), sr. G-F Terrence Clark (WR), sr. F-C
Keenan Hite (two-way end) & sr. G Bradell Ruff (specialist)).
These guys add toughness to the bunch and the willingness to do the little
things. If I were a HS coach, I'd always look forward to a few FB players coming
out... It was fun sitting near Masterman coach John Gannon. He had one
liners for days... One of the referees for this one was dot.com colleague
Mark "Froggy" Carfagno. he and his partner did a great job of calling a
clean game...
JAN. 9
CATHOLIC LEAGUE
Roman 76, Neumann 72
Another down-to-the-wire affair in the Neumann-Roman series. Is
it me or are all these games the same: Many heroes, big plays, clutch down the
stretch plays. The biggest hero in this one was sr. swingman Khalil Ferguson,
an athletic, high energy lefty. Ferguson went for 23 points (3 treys) & plucked
3 steals. He started fast (9 1st qtr. points) and kept it going all game. He's
an interesting prospect as many D-I FB programs are sniffing and would like him
to look into a year of Prep school. In his only season of varsity football, he
opened plenty of eyes. In hoops, he's surely a D-II prospect who could make an
immediate impact in some way -- he's just a LIVE body and there's always room
for those. It was another night at the office for sr. F Charron Fisher.
He scored 13 of his 29 points in the 4th quarter including 9-of-10 at the line
in that frame. Overall he went to the line 16 times and canned 15 of them, very
impressive. He also snared 13 boards. Jr. PG Bob Jordan (9P, 4R, 4A) lent
game-long toughness & little things. Sr. swingman Andre Sloan-El made
large contributions in the 4th scoring all 6 of his points and having one each:
rebound, assist, steal and a block. So. PG Ray "Doodles" Sims (3A) showed
good flashes as he still adjusts to his new surroundings. He still has to learn
to focus for 32 minutes, but he's getting there. His defense (especially on
ball) looks 1000% better
than in the past and that will be key. For Neumann, sr. PG Richard "Tabby"
Cunningham (10P, 4A, 2S) played hard, but struggled with his shot. Sr. F
Adon El was again impressive going 6-for-9 & 3-for-4 en route to 15 points.
He also snatched 9 boards, dished 4 assists & had 3 blocks. This guy gets it
done night in and night out and there's much to be said for that. Ted and I were
saying last week at the Prep game that he looks to be a bit more athletic these
days as well and that showed on a high flying follow slam. He's SURELY
recruitable for Lower level D-Is & High level IIs. Jr. G-F David Burton
hustled for 11 points, 11 boards & 4 assists. 6-5 So. G-F Earl Pettis led
had a team-high 17 points with many impressive moments. You have to LOVE fellow
soph Derrick "D.J" Rivera's (9P, 5S) constant hustle. There was one
stretch in the 3rd quarter where he plucked 4 steals. His better days are
definitely ahead.
AA's Notes: Roman's gym was overflowed with this one. I though I
was getting there early by making it at halftime of the JV game, but it was
already standing room only... The Cahillites continue the trend of 3
contributing lefties with Ferguson, Sloan-El & Sims... Referee Horace "Pappy"
Owens (Dobbins 79' & former McDonald's AA) just can't win. All game long he
was heckled by fans and pleaded with by players & coaches. It can be a rough job
when everyone knows you ha...
JAN. 8
PUBLIC LEAGUE
U-City 74, Lincoln 72
In all my travels thus far this year, all I've been able to say
that this has so far been a very strange year. Teams beating teams they
shouldn't, others not teams that they should, ect. Boy it seems to get weirder
and weirder too. This particular contest went from stinker to classic in a
hurry. Let's start in the game's final minute. The Railsplitters led 66-62 until
UC so. PG Aaron Stephens (4R, 2S, 2 key treys for 6 pts) nailed a right
wing trey to make the score 66-65 with 1:14 remaining. A few sequences went by
and UC finally took at 69-68 lead off a Anthony "Tank" Morrison steal &
pass to Sr. WG Terrence Cutner for an acrobatic finish. Lincoln called
for time. Both teams exchanged 2 free throws apiece and UC led 71-70 until so.
PG Malik Alvin drove the left baseline and nailed a contested 12-footer
with 13 tics remaining to make the score 72-71 'Splitters. Lincoln played tough
D for 11 seconds and deflected the ball out of bounds. With just over 2 seconds
remaining Morrison inbounded, passed to Cutner who was standing free in the left
corner, he rose high got a good look and next thing you new, SPLASH, BUZZER! UC
74, Lincoln 72. What a game. The Jaguar leader throughout was Sr. G Antoine
Coaxum (16P, 6R, 4A, 7S). He got to the line 20 times! He only made 10
though, but he has that old-head savvy about him and just throws himself at the
basket always looking like he gets killed when someone even taps him. He could
make a living there. He also played sticky defense on Hassell. D-IIIs should
take notice of him as he could surely help at that level. Sr. G-F Jeff
Andrepoint (11P, 9R, 3S) made solid contributions. Morrison, a Jr. G-F led
with 18 points (also 7R, 3A, 3S), but connected on just 6-of-21 from the floor
and many times took rushed shots that took his team out of the flow. He's an
awkward lefty and he plays extremely hard so he's hard to guard, but he would be
that much more dangerous in more of a rhythm. Jr. G Terrell Ligon (7R,
3A) came through off the bench in big way as well. All three of his
assists & 2 key buckets were in the 4th after Coaxum & Stephens had fouled out.
Coming in I was very intrigued by the match-up between top so. guards Alvin
(Lincoln) & Stephens (UC). Alvin won hands down today though Stephens made some
big plays. Malik is quick, athletic, tough & has that take charge attitude even
as a soph. His teammates REALLY respect him and that says something. It also
said something that he had the ball in his hands for most of the stretch one and
calmly drained 9-of-12 of his free throws at that point. He did miss two key
ones, but hey he is still just a soph. playing in just his 5th Varsity game. I
just hope Malik gets his act together off the court because he seems to have it
down on the court. He finished with 18 points (10-of-14 at the line), 6 boards,
3 assists & 3 steals. Sr. sniper Markell Dorsainvil (7P, 4A) missed all
but the first minute of the first half after picking up two quick ones, but he
was more than solid in the 2nd. sr. G Steve Hassell (19 points, 5 boards)
is a crafty lefty. He made big plays all second half as well. Sr F-C Maurice
McPherson (12 points on 6-of-9, 12 Boards, 6 Blocks & 3 Steals) NEEDS MORE
TOUCHES! They may have won the game if they gave the big fella the ball more
often. No Jag regular goes bigger than 6-1. "Big Mo" goes 6-5 235-lbs easy and
he knows how to use every bit of it. He fouled out on a cheap one and had at
least 2 other questionable fouls called on him probably just because he was so
much larger than everyone else. FB players F-C Otis Young (7) & F
Kareem Dennis (8) were both strong off the bench on the boards. Young went
3-for-4 and put in 6 points as well. He too was whistled for a couple ticky-tack
fouls because of his size.
AA's Notes: Now for the weird stuff. UC must be the 4th team I've
seen this season that has 3 lefties (Morrison, Andrepoint & Sr. G-F Leo
Tilghman) in their regular rotation. UC was out-rebounded 45-31, but Lincoln
also beat UC (22-of-44 from the line) in fouls 28-17. There were 10 jump ball
tie-ups. Lincoln led by as many as 8 in the 4th. Lincoln shot 55.7% (29-for-52)
from the floor compared to U-City's 38% (24-for-63). This could only happen in
the Pub. How in the world did UC win this one? I guess the numbers do lie
sometimes. This is INDEED a weird season... Former UC players Marcus Rosser
(99', Montana) & Justin "Bird" Huckel (00') were in attendance to lend
support. Rosser may help assists Coach Ken Gritter at some point... The
atmosphere was king especially down the stretch. The fans were in every play...
These games are key for the playoff run. Lincoln has slipped to 1-2 in division
A, while the Jags move to 3-0 in B...
JAN. 6
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Lamberton 68, Mastbaum 57
This game was sloppy and a bit hard on the eyes. The Blue
Devils jumped on the Panthers early and kept them at arm's length the rest of
the way on their way to victory. They were led by the quick start of bulky Sr.
SF Chris Clahar, who put in 10 of his 20 points in the first quarter. He
also snatched 7 boards & plucked 2 steals. Clahar deserves looks from solid
D-IIIs. He plays with much juice and is a good leader. He also has scored over
900 on his SATs. Blur-like Jr. PG Rob Phillips was again impressive. He
wheeled and dealed his way to 8 points, 7 boards & 7 assists. He's on my
Juniors-to-watch list. I hope he's a gym rat on the off-season. He could come
back as one of the League's best guards. Play-alike Sr. wings Brian Robinson
(10P, 7R, 3S) & Harold Hall (12P, 7R, 4A) again played alike. Both
deserve D-III attention as well. Jr. F-C Courtney Temple came off the
bench to snag a game-high 12 boards. He's one of those guys that's still growing
into his body. He'll open some eyes once he puts it together as he is this
squad's best athlete and has a great hoops frame. Mastbaum rode out with 32
points (4 treys) & 4 steals from Sr. G Buddy Rose. IIs & IIIs really need
to pick up the scent on this kid. Rose plays hard from buzzer to buzzer and
moves well without the ball. He's a dead-eye from deep and he makes plays in
traffic. He also is skilled enough to handle either guard position. Jr. PG
Zelnay Hernandez was much more under control today than in the past in
dishing 6 assists. I was disappointed with the play of 6-6 Jr. SF Tariek
Belcher (8P, 9R, 3B). He just won't drown in his own perspiration if you get
my drift. He has worlds of ability, but that don't always cut it folks. He put
up solid numbers for a guy in game-long foul trouble, but those numbers could
have easily been doubled had he went full blast. I hope he gets it one day
because he has an opportunity in front of him to get a free education in the
future if he does.
AA's Notes: This Lamberton squad has a shot at being solid by
February and possibly making the playoffs especially if they listen to coach
Mitchell Kurtz. Some of his guys get a bit TOO pouty for my liking. That's
NEVER a good sign. The one good thing is that they are experienced and tough...
The Panthers need more from others besides Rose. He just can't do it alone. They
could be in position to make the playoffs if that happens consistently as
well... Finally, I have to give a shout out to the Lamberton managers:
Jaimise Carter & Annie "Reds/Charlie" Johnson a.k.a Thelma &
Louise (smile). They were bothering me about getting some light and they are
both cool as a fan so. OOPS and a I almost forgot the third leg of the crew
Jasmyn Ford, the silent assassain...
JAN. 3
NON-LEAGUE
FLC 50, Penn Wood 48
This was a tough, hard-fought road win against a quality opponent
for the Bobcats. This squad seems to have that knack for winning close games which should
prove to be key in February. I think it kind of helps that there is no one star. Today it
was Sr. PG Michael Scott. He fought his way to 20 points (9 in the 4th)
while dishing 5 assists & plucking 3 steals. He turned it over a lot, but was
under heavy game-long pressure and the refs let the guys guarding get away with
some rough stuff. Never the less, he persevered and pulled it out for his team.
I also think its safe to say that Mike got a good sleep last night (smile). The State Schools are beginning (???) to pick up
the scent and rightfully so. They won't find a better lead guard than Scott. Sr. F Josh
Grier was silent for the most part, but he snatched a game high 13 boards and once
again caught a sky-scraping ally-oop dunk off of an in bound pass. Sr. G-F Meril Branch
(7R, 4S) struggled early, but didn't force things later and did the little things. The
key may have been Jr. C Jahkal Curry (15 points, 10 boards). The big guy played
better than I've ever seen him play. He could be the wild-card on this bunch if he's
willing to work hard and get himself in better shape. He has much ability, but his work
ethic & conditioning have been question marks to date. Maybe this
performance will send him on the
right path. Penn Wood is a tough/athletic bunch from Landsdowne, (Delaware County) PA.
They are coached these days by one of their All-Time greats in Rap Curry (St. Joe's). They
have 2 legitimate players and many others who scrap and play hard. The best of the two is
6-5 245-lb Sr. F-C Ed Millard (20 points on 7-of-10 shooting (6-of-9 at the line),
11 boards, 5 steals). The big fella is very nimble and multi-skilled, very hard to control
in the trenches. He's recruitable for Low-Is & High IIs. Sr. WG Kyle Finklea
(13P, 4A, 3S) has a sweet stroke especially from 15-feet on in. D-IIIs should be banging
down his door. Though I'm a city guy to the core, I had to show these guys some love. I
only live in the Penn Wood district and have for the last 7 years.
AA's Notes: This night was dedicated to deceased Penn Wood boss Doug Randolph.
Randolph coached 8 seasons ending last year before passing in July. This was the 2nd game
of a double-header and the plan will be to do this forever. Randolph was an important man
in Delaware County and touched many. It just so happened that he coached FLC boss Cedric
Powell in his senior year at Lincoln University...