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When Prep Charter and Imhotep Charter face-off, it’s more than just a game.
In all three meetings this season, including last night’s Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AA boys’ basketball semifinal, which started after press time, the result had a lot more riding on it than bragging rights.
In the Feb. 20 meeting, Prep Charter’s victory gave it the Public League’s Division C title, as well as the No. 1 seed in the Public League District 12 AA bracket. Five days later, the two schools met again for the District 12 AA title, with the Huskies coming out on top. But last night’s match was the biggest of all, with a trip to Penn State University for the March 24 PIAA AA state final up for grabs. Like the previous meetings, coach Dan Brinkley went into last night’s contest anticipating another tough encounter.
"This is a battle for pride because they’re an up-and-coming team and we want to get back to the state title," Brinkley said. "This is going to be a Philadelphia war."
Prep Charter was, of course, looking to make city history as the first Philadelphia school to win back-to-back state titles, but its focus this week was on Imhotep. "I think they’re having a good year," Brinkley said of the competition.
Prep Charter, who defeated Simon Gratz earlier this month for the school’s first-ever Public League crown, advanced to the semifinals with wins over Trinity, 46-45, Lower Moreland, 56-44, and York Catholic, 65-57. The latter came in the March 17 quarterfinal round in Reading.
The Huskies had three players finish with double figures in scoring. Marcus Morris led the way with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while twin brother Markieff chipped in 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Jesse Morgan added 16.
Imhotep was going to be another tough test as the previous meetings were decided by two and four points, respectively. Imhotep also has three future Division I players on its roster in Kashief Edwards (Niagara), Tamir Johnson and Jermaine Washington (both Central Connecticut State). On the Prep Charter side, the Morris twins are heading to Memphis.
The winner last night now has a four-hour trek to Penn State ahead of them. If Prep Charter is that team, Brinkley said the plan is to go west tomorrow night for the PIAA AA state final slated for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bryce Jordan Center. The winner of that contest will meet the victor of the other semifinal between Aliquippa and Jeannette, which also took place last night after press time.
