46382629
The third act usually intensifies a drama’s action, blending expectation with mystery. The boys’ basketball team at The Academy at Palumbo, 1100 Catharine St., made its third season akin to any worthwhile dramatic composition, crafting appreciation for what has come and fostering wonder for what may be.
Under the guidance of Steve Gittleman, the Griffins have made their school, now in its fifth year of operation, a powerful member of the Public League’s Division D. As the victors in 19 of their 21 regular season games, they were the picture of adolescent confidence Monday as they prepared for Tuesday’s home playoff contest against Thomas E. FitzSimons High School.
“We started as a varsity sport right away, even though we had no seniors our first year,” Gittleman said of his squad’s brief history. “We had good players when we began, and last year we had a decent team, too.”
Losing seven seniors to graduation last year had the towering coach thinking a long season would be his fate.
“I’m stunned,” he said of the team’s regular season mark, which included a 10-1 record in division play — the lone defeat coming against division champ Audenried. “I had not envisioned a winning season.”
The team proved that its coach should never consider a career as a psychic. Monday’s practice featured crisp passing, enviable leaping, accurate shooting and smothering defending, the last of which Gittleman said made the campaign so fruitful.
“We thrive off our defense,” the retired teacher said. “We get anywhere between 15 and 20 steals a game. We tire teams out.”
Being in love with hoops never fatigues Gittleman. It led him to the Hawthorne-based school after secondary stays at Bryn Mawr’s Akika Hebrew Academy and Northeast’s Abraham Lincoln High School.
“Athletic director Erik Goldstein asked me to start the program here,” he said of making the transition to South Philadelphia.
Formerly the athletic head at Northeast’s Swenson Arts and Technology High School, Gittleman accepted the offer, placing him among players whose speed could make gazelles jealous. An already strong team became stronger when football season ended, as the addition of more bodies gave him more substitution options. Gittleman used at least eight players each game, with two extra frames prepared to hit the court if foul trouble plagued their teammates.
“I get stronger when I substitute, and, most times, other teams can’t match me,” he said of the rotation.
It is fitting that he is fond of substituting, as the school enables him to pursue another form as a substitute teacher.
“During basketball season, it is easy to substitute because I am here with my guys,” he said.
To them, Gittleman, who also coached the women’s basketball team at Community College of Philadelphia and played for the University of Southern Mississippi, is not a secondary voice; he is the chief influence.
“I’ve matured over the years,” senior forward Vincent Christopher said. “I credit coach for helping me to develop an outside shot and for giving me confidence to attack the basket.”
“Vincent is a hard worker,” Gittleman said of Christopher, a West Philadelphia resident who was one of six Griffins with more than 100 points this season. “His leadership has encouraged other players to step up.”
Gittleman has not needed to force his personnel to give maximum effort during his tenure. In their first year, the Griffins amassed a 10-8 record and scored a playoff appearance. Last year’s version registered a 14-9 mark and another postseason trip. Neither team recorded a playoff win, however.
“We set goals at the beginning of the year. The first was to make the playoffs. The second was to win a playoff game, and the last was to get to 20 wins,” Gittleman said, adding that the Public League’s limiting teams to 22 games makes any 20-win season a rarity.
Unfortunately, the Griffins still remain in search of that first playoff victory after dropping Tuesday’s preliminary-round contest to FitzSimons, 50-45. Junior guard Sharif Smith led them with 18 points.
But the players did meet Gittleman’s expectations for a stellar defensive year. Heading into the playoff tilt, they had yielded more than 50 points only eight times. Their lone setbacks came Dec. 20, a 61-44 loss to Division A member Fels, and Jan. 24, a 63-59 heartbreaker to Audenried, 3301 Tasker St. The latter defeat kept the Griffins from the No. 1 playoff seed but did nothing to make Gittleman think his team could not topple the top teams.
“Our defense hasn’t worked only one time,” he said, referring to the Fels loss, a disappointment they avenged Jan. 31 with a 54-41 win.
Though the defense has been firm, Gittleman and the players love offense, using “Put the ball in the basket” as a mantra. The Griffins failed to score at least 50 points only twice during the regular season. They averaged 62.1 points per game, with junior star Demetrius Davenport, of Fifth and Bainbridge streets, leading the way with his 20.9 points per contest.
“I’ll do whatever I can so this team can win,” Davenport, who enjoyed his first injury-free season, said. “I like that coach put so much on me. I thrive off responsibility.”
Davenport has not found this season’s success as stunning as Gittleman has.
“We had the drive all along; we just needed to be cohesive,” the guard said.
Being cohesive means that although Davenport is the showcase scorer, everyone needs to contribute.
“We need five guys to win a game, not just one,” Davenport, who is already thinking about the next level, said.
“Hard work and dedication brought us this far,” Christopher said of the team’s third quest for postseason glory. “We’ve all worked hard to be where we are.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
46382634
46382624
