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Friday night, two schools from opposite sides of the Public League girls’ basketball track took the court at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Up for grabs was the PIAA District 12 Public League title.
Sitting on one bench were the Central Lancers — winners of five of the last six and eight of the last nine crowns — playing Goliath. On the other side, the young and hungry Lady Huskies, soaking in the big-stage setting of their first league title contest.
Prep Charter, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., took the court with the momentum of becoming the league’s AAA champs two night earlier, marking the first crown of any kind for the program.
The veteran Central squad was looking to regain league bragging rights after dropping the 2008 final to Engineering & Science. In the end, experience was the difference-maker as Central celebrated its 53-42 victory.
Although the tears of defeat spilled down the faces of the heartbroken players, every member of the Prep Charter squad remained optimistic. Raven Jones, who finished with 10 points, is the lone senior on the roster and foresees promising times ahead for the program.
"Prep Charter has helped build me into a better basketball player and person. I told the team to keep their heads up and keep fighting as my last words of advice," Jones said.
Coach Paul Reiser noted making the league final is just the start, not the end.
"We are no longer a team. We are a program," he said. "We’re definitely coming back next year."
But the Lady Huskies don’t have to wait until ’10 as they’ll be back at Temple 5 p.m. Saturday for the PIAA District 12 title game against Catholic League champ Archbishop Carroll. A week later, they’ll face an opponent yet-to-be-named in the first round of the AAA state tournament. This roster of one senior, four juniors, six sophomores and two freshmen has plenty of reasons to keep their heads high.
Against Central, they displayed the heart of a champion in the making, as the South Philly squad refused to let a 12-point deficit spoil the moment. They clawed their way back and got within eight to start the fourth quarter. Prep Charter swapped baskets with Central for most of the fourth until they came within striking distance, trailing by five points, with 1:13 remaining. In the end, Central’s championship experience put them over the top.
Come this time next winter, sophomore guard Bria Young, who led the Lady Huskies with 14 points, and her teammates know they’ll be back.
"We will be much better next year, and we’ll definitely be in the championship again," Young said.
