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Neumann-Goretti and Prep Charter had never faced each other prior to Dec. 29, at least not during basketball season.
It turned out to be such a hot ticket neither school’s gym was quite large enough to play host. So Ben Franklin High served as the site for the Sneaker Villa Holiday Classic, which featured two other games. The North Broad Street gym was standing-room only, leaving some ticket-holders, among them angry parents, out in the cold.
Those who did make it in were treated to a thrilling finish as Prep Charter junior Tyree Harris nailed the winning three-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining, giving the Huskies a 56-53 victory. The deciding basket didn’t surprise Prep Charter coach Dan Brinkley, who is accustomed to watching Harris hit the corner shot on a regular basis.
"When I saw it, I started screaming, ‘That is game,’" Brinkley said.
Fellow junior Fergurson Myrick, of Fifth Street and Washington Avenue, shared in the excitement. "I didn’t know he was going to shoot it," Myrick said. "When it went in, I was just happy."
Myrick did his part by leading all scorers with 16 points and 10 rebounds, earning him game MVP honors. The individual recognition was secondary to knocking off their South Philadelphia neighbor.
"I am not worried about it, it is just a trophy," the athlete said of the award. "We still have a lot of work to do. We still have to play as a team."
Neumann-Goretti sophomore Tony Chennault also walked off with an MVP trophy as he led the Saints with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Jamal Wilson added 13 points and nine rebounds.
Although the Previous two didn’t count, last weekend marked the third meeting between the South Philly schools. Summer 2006, Prep Charter won at a Rutgers University team camp. Earlier this year, Neumann-Goretti was victorious at a Villanova University summer program.
"I knew this was going to be a highly contested game," Brinkley said.
When talking Philadelphia high school boys’ basketball, Prep Charter and Neumann-Goretti are considered among the elite. The Huskies are two-time defending Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state and ’07 Public League champs. The Saints have appeared in three-straight Catholic League title games, winning in ’05 and ’06, with 14 crowns overall.
"When we first started, it was like the little brother playing against the big brother," Brinkley said. "Now we are one of the better teams in the city, so whoever we play I put it upon [the team] that there are no more moral victories. "
Dec. 27, Prep Charter dropped a 75-70 decision to AAAA school Chester.
Myrick is ready to do whatever it takes to keep his squad on the winning track.
"Other teams are coming out harder and stronger just to play Prep Charter so when they beat us it’s like winning a championship," Myrick said.
Neumann-Goretti has its own winning reputation, but this year’s group is still gelling Saturday, senior Tyrell Taylor tied the contest at 53 with 32.4 seconds remaining. Ultimately, it fell Prep Charter’s way.
But their fans weren’t there to see it.
"I was getting phone calls leading up to the game saying, ‘I can’t get in, I can’t get in,’" Brinkley said. "There is no excuse for parents not being able to get into a game."
