DEC. 13
SOUTH PHILLY SHOWCASE
3RD GAME
Penn Wood 63, Southern 62
  This one was the final game of the day, and it was not decided until the final seconds. South Philly had the better of the first quarter play; the guard play was led by talented junior Deshon “Biggie” Minnis and Haywood “Shuttlesworth” Henderson. The two point guards were able to lead the Rams to a slim first quarter lead. Penn Wood took control in the second quarter, behind the play of Duane Johnson (15 points and 11 rebounds) and Thomas White (12 points and 9 rebounds).  The Rams got totally out rebounded by the number two team in the state in the eyes of many.  PW led by seven at the half and controlled the game throughout the latter stages. South Philly was able to make a nice comeback late and had the game within one point with less than two minutes remaining. D. Johnson and Tyree Johnson (19 points, eight in the final quarter) were able to ice the game in the waning moments as South Philly struggled immensely at the line in the clutch. Minnis, talented and tough, had an off performance. He mustered 15 points but was only 2-9 from the field. This year’s edition of South Philly basketball is not the high-flying "Phi Slamma Ramma" of last year, as this team relies much more on defense and the headiness of the point guards. After D. Johnson made a big free throw late, Henderson's trey could only get the Rams within one at the buzzer.  Junior forward Jamir Hanner battled for 12 points despite intense foul trouble. Senior Lamar “Bud” Speller looked good as well but it appears that the Rams need the services of 6’5 wing scorer Furnell Doster, who's  trying to get back in good graces academically.
  Table Talk - Penn Wood cheerleaders were all that. I felt bad for the South Philly girls when they had to go up against them. I saw South Philly’s coach giving them a lecture after the game . . . Former Overbrook star Clyde Jones is the Coach at Penn Wood and he is doing a great job with that program.
2ND GAME
Frankford 59, Glen Mills 52
  Frankford was hyped for this one. Associate Head Coach Howard Griffith could be heard in the huddle screaming, “You guys wanted a big dog! Now you get one!” The Pioneers are an aggressive Public League team that loves to disrupt ballhandlers with a pressing attack. The team does not have a true superstar although sophomore Steffon Poole and junior Dehaven Brown are both very good. As for the Mills, they have a superstar in 6’11 center Aaric Murray, an All-American who has committed to La Salle. The Pioneers went right at their suburban counterparts.  Coach Ben Dubin’s young charges have only juniors and sophomores on their roster. And get this: they can play. Poole is one to watch. He is about 6’3, with long arms for days, and he plays with energetic chip on his shoulder. Poole was terrific in the first quarter ,causing havoc and finishing with strong lay-ups even with Murray in the vicinity. Junior forward Carl Wallace was the other primary scorer (16 points). But upon closer examination it was when he got the 16 points. Each time he scored it was either a danger trey, pressure basket inside or the occasional dunk. On a team loaded with talented guards - Dehaven came off the bench and finished in tandem with fellow junior Harold Hicks as the Pioneers held off the Bulldogs. Interestingly at the end of the first half, Glen Mills led 34-27, and the general consensus was they, behind their star center, would blow the game open in the third quarter. That was a poor train of thought; this Frankford team has major cajones. Wallace was able to score 16 points while S. Poole added 18. Brown added 11 with 5 steals. Murray totaled 14 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
  Table Talk- Wallace was named game MVP. Steffon is the son of former Edison star Lamar Poole. Also on the Frankford roster is Bryant Watson, son of the former Franklin star and playground legend of the same name (though most know dad as "Sad Eyes").
1ST GAME
Bartram 80, Bodine 77
  What a way to start of your basketball day. The Braves were able to eke out a victory over the upstart Ambassadors. Early in the game, the Ambassadors looked like they would run away with the game. They led 11-2 before Bartram coach James Brown called time out. The Braves came back to take a one-point lead at the half.  The leader for the Braves is 6’1 junior super-guard Tyrone Garland. Garland went to work with a 35-point performance.  His top playmates are 6’5 senior workhorse Danny Walker, 6’3 senior wing guard Solomon Davis, and junior guard Quasim Jones. In time, this group should be able to challenge for the Pub and/or City 4A title.  The Ambassadors could challenge in the overcrowded 2A, Public League title. They held the lead early behind the play of guards Pendarvis Williams (a 6’5 true combo guard) and 5’11 point man Donte Greene. Greene looked every bit the part of the classic Public League sleeper. He is solid with the ball and makes plenty of brassy decisions on the court. Greene can also shoot the ball. Williams is a late-bloomer who can handles, shoots and is really just scratching the surface of his capabilities. A year of Prep school for the 16-year-old senior could be the calling for this kid. That being said, the Ambassadors' go-to guy is 6’3 wing guard Lamar Gary. The ultra-feisty and talented Gary is battling back from an injury to his jaw that kept him sidelined for two months. He was beyond solid in this one. The Braves tried to blow the game open in the early stages of the fourth quarter but here comes Lamar draining two tough treys and making play after play to have the Ambassadors down two with only a minute remaining. After Garland buried two free throws, the Ambassadors got a shot Greene brought them within one. The Braves failed to convert largely due to the defensive presence of 6’8 junior center Eric Raleigh (six blocks) and 6’2 handyman Tarran Prince (11 points.) Gary took a runner from the corner and the ball bounced tantalizing on the rim and then was corralled by Garland, who threw a perfect outlet pass to Jones who finished the scoring with a not-easy dunk as the buzzer sounded. Gary finished with 24 points; he sniped 3-5 from the arc. Greene stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 6 assists and 3 steals. Williams added 14. Jones was able to register 18; the Roman transfer is an excellent complement to Garland because he provides another ballhandler/scorer to attack any defense. Walker, an athletic strongman finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
  Table Talk - Garland was named the game’s MVP. I have said this before: He is the best junior in the city . . . Bodine plays Dec. 20 in the 1st Annual  Dr. Eric Bray Winterfest at Widener University against Academy Park at 7:45 pm. Three games precede that encounter: at 2:30 pm, Freire Charter takes on Friends' Central, at 4:15 Engineering and Science takes on Central Bucks East, and at 6:30 Franklin Learning Center takes on West York. It should be fun.

DEC. 12
NON-LEAGUE
Imhotep Charter 77 North Catholic 64
  When you get the high school schedule each year, you take out a red pen and circle certain match-ups. This was one of those occasions. Last year, 'Hotep registered a big win at the Pit. So this year in the second game in Imhotep's gorgeous new gymnasium (is says here they should call it The Temple), the match-up was going to be intense as ever. The  Falcons started off on fire from the field, led by junior transfer Jack O’Neill and junior point man Woody Redding. The Panthers countered with a great all-round effort from senior forward Sam Prescott, a Marist signee who totaled 14 points and 16 rebounds. The 6’3 Prescott was easily the most energetic player on the court. Imhotep’s sixth man is Jamal Jones, who in my opinion is the toughest son of a gun in the Pub. He is strong as an ox, lively and physical. Jones got the ’Hotep people jumping and dancing in their seats with a sickening one-hand follow dunk in traffic in the late stages of the first quarter. The Panthers were able to wear down the Falcons by taking advantage of their tremendous depth, key baskets in a late rush with the score 66-63 with 3:57 remaining in the final period. A key basket on a controlled drive was scored by senior Kenny Battle.  The point guard for the Panthers is the cool, calculating Parrish Grant, a transfer from Prep Charter. Grant was able to set a steady pace for the Panthers, who are loaded with athletes. Grant only registered one assist, but his steadying influence is important for this club that loves to attack and attack. Grant scored an important layup to get the score to 68-63.  Parrish finished with 20 points, highlighted by three treys and 7-9 from the field. Senior forward Will Adams (Towson) was able to add 13 points. The Falcons' coaching staff in particular seemed frustrated with the lack of touches that 6’10 center Rakeem Christmas received. I counted four touches but was later overruled when a trusted friend told me five touches. The lack of touches for Christmas will be something I’m sure that Coach McCarron will address in practice. Also, Christmas has to assert himself on the glass. The sophomore is getting interest from North Carolina, Florida, Memphis and all the Big Five schools, so he has to start to rebound the ball. O’Neill was very impressive twice when Imhotep was trying to distance themselves. Jack hit assassin-like jumpers to quiet the overflow crowd. In addition to shooting, he is athletic and active. O’Neill registered 21 points. Redding was able to generate 14 points. Woody is a leader on the floor, so he has to do a better job of making sure the ball is shared to all of the capable scorers on the floor. Jaleel Mack was solid on both sides of the floor for the Falcon,s who were without one of their top defenders in junior guard Mike Terry (injured). The Panthers were without 6’6 Dougherty transfer Lamont McLaurin, who is a load in the paint. 6’8 Sophomore center Eric Copes was the team leader in assists with four and had four blocks. His progress bears watching.
  Table Talk- Great music yet again, and I was waiting for “Swing Dat’ so I could show off my d-mack skills but you know I had to stay in my seat. Hockey Puck had on two pair of glasses, it was something only he could pull off. Pretty much every college assistant in the Big Five was here, as was almost every recruiting analyst.