Public League Playoff Recaps, 2003-04

ROUND OF 16
   Franklin LC 75, West Phila. 62: Led by Michael Scott (16-for-17), the Bobcats went 39-for-44 at the line to win going away. Scott had 21 points, six assists and four steals. Joshua Grier and Meril Branch added 14 points apiece. West, which had to forfeit a regular season game to Gratz for using illegal throwback uniforms, received strong efforts from Ricardo Lovelace (25, 12 rebounds), Chris Williams (20) and Maurice Polen (15 boards).
   Bartram 79, Lincoln 56: Tywain McKee (26) hit three of his four treys while scoring 11 points in a 25-14 third quarter. Maurice McPherson (18) and Steve Hassell (14) led Lincoln.
   Eng. and Science 68, Washington 66: Keshan Myers buried five treys en route to a 37-point outburst and had 15 points in a 26-11 third quarter. Tramaine Jackson (21) went 13-for-17 at the line. Tyree Williams grabbed 11 boards. For Washington, which drew close on a last-second trey, Corey White had 24 points.
   Gratz 81, Straw. Mansion 63: Mark Tyndale mixed 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Tyrone "Tamir" Smith (nine assists) and Matthew Walden (seven blocks) also made big contributions. Mansion's John Scarbrough had 21 points and 13 boards.
   Frankford 59, Franklin 56: Six Pioneers scored between six and 14 points as Ryan Smith dished seven assists. Lewis Leonard (14, eight rebounds) and Malik Dickerson (12, nine) helped inside. Franklin's Anwar Rascoe had eight points and 15 boards.
   Germantown 58, Roxborough 55 (OT): The Bears advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1983 despite blowing an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead. The only OT points came on Corey James' trey. Corey Bethea (16) and Ivan Evans (12, nine rebounds) led in scoring. For Roxborough, Donte Robinson scored 11 of his 20 points in a 24-13 fourth quarter and Shaheed Rucker forced OT with a steal and free throw.
   Olney 58, Central 52: Erik "Ugs" Adams pogo-sticked for 26 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks and scored 11 points in a 21-17 third quarter. Scott Rodgers (19) and Kenny St. George (18) led Central.
   Univ. City 62, Southern 55: The Jaguars, the ninth seed from the A-B grouping, stunned the Division D champ mostly behind the stellar play of Anthony Morrison (28 points, five treys, 15 boards). Jeffery Andrepoint (14) and Terrence Cutner (13) also scored in double figures and Aaron Stephens dealt seven assists. Cutner had nine of his points in an 18-6 fourth quarter. Shawn Sabb (14, seven boards) and Antoine "Doo Dirty" Brown (13, five assists) led Southern.
QUARTERFINALS
   Bartram 66, Franklin LC 59: Tywain McKee contributed 20 points (three treys), 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals to lead the Braves to the road victory. Maurice Wood (14, 11 boards) and Daziah Miller (11, 14) lent assistance. Justin Lawus came off the bench to block seven shots. Michael Scott had 23 points and six assists for FLC.
   Gratz 49, Eng. and Science 31: After spotting the visitors a 16-9 lead after one quarter, the Bulldogs turned the defensive screws and eased to victory. Mark Tyndale had 23 points, 11 boards and three assists. Matthew Walden (nine) and Jason Hickenbottom (eight) helped on the glass. Kechan Myers and Tramaine Jackson had 10 points apiece for E&S.
   Frankford 65, Germantown 54: With Ryan Smith unavailable (ankle injury), Maurice Miller moved from the wing to the point and came through with 17 points, five assists and three steals. The Pioneers won the last quarter, 24-11. Malik Dickerson grabbed 13 rebounds and shot 7-for-8 en route to 18 points. Alfred Thomas added 14 points. G-town's leaders were Corey Bethea (15, 10 boards) and Ivan Evans (11, nine.)
   Univ. City 57, Olney 47: For the second time in eight years, the Jaguars advanced to the semifinals by winning a second consecutive road playoff. Only one other team in that span (Central in '02) matched that feat. Anthony Morrison had 16 points and 11 rebounds while Aaron Stephens dealt four assists. UC's rotation included no one over 6-2. Despite the lack of size, the Jaguars attempted just four treys (making none). Olney's Eric "Ugs" Adams had 12 points and 17 boards. Kevin Presberry nailed three treys en route to 16 points.
SEMIFINALS
At La Salle University
   Gratz 70, Bartram 67: The Bulldogs blew an 18-point lead in a shade under six minutes -- extending just into the start of the fourth quarter -- but recovered and survived. Mark Tyndale had 24 points before fouling out with 2:19 left. One other Bulldog and two Braves fouled out and 46 personals were whistled. Malcolm Welles helped to hold Bartram's chief scorer, Tywain McKee, to 15 points (two through three quarters) and 3-for-11 shooting on treys. Jason Hickenbottom (16), Tyrone "Tamir" Smith (13) and Matthew Walden (10) helped Tyndale. McKee's assistance came largely from Maurice Wood (17, six assists) and Chris Seaborn (15, eight rebounds). McKee was unable to connect on a 65-foot heave at the buzzer.
   Frankford 59, Univ. City 54: This was the first time since 1965 that a semi did not have a coaches' first team All-Public honoree, and the absence of true headliners was reflected in some of the stats -- 106 missed shots (74 floor, 32 line), 34 turnovers, 45 personals. Lewis Leonard had 19 points for Frankford in very strange fashion; 3-for-6 on treys, 2-for-8 on twos, 6-for-14 at the line. Malik Dickerson grabbed 16 rebounds. Maurice Miller, having just returned from tending to a family crisis in NYC, entered the game in the second half, wearing a teammate's shorts, and came up with six points, four assists and two steals. UC's leaders were Antoine Coaxum (21 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, 15 points in fourth quarter) and Aaron Stephens (14, five steals). Coaxum's basket cut the deficit to 56-54, but on Frankford's attempt at a breakaway, an intentional foul was called the Pioneers went 3-for-4 at the line.
FINAL
At Temple's Liacouras Center
   Gratz 71, Frankford 53: After going without a field goal in a four-point first half, Mark Tyndale went crazy and finished with 27 points. He had six in the third and 17 in the fourth and canned his last eight shots from the floor; most followed hard, athletic moves to the hoop. He shot 9-for-18 and 9-for-15 while adding eight rebounds. Tyrone "Tamir" Smith mixed 15 points and five assists while Jason Hickenbottom (12) and Malcolm Welles (11) also scored in double digits. Maurice Miller, Frankford's only double-figure scorer, nailed four treys en route to 20 points. The Pioneers eased within five points at the start of the fourth quarter, then faded.