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At the start of the 2009-10 school year, the Southern boys’ basketball team was considered one of the top Public League championship contenders. The squad from 2101 S. Broad St. entered the new season as the defending Public League Class AAAA champions.
But that was before returning All-Public selections Deshon Minnis, a 6-foot-2 guard, and Jamir Hanner, a 6-foot-6 center, decided to transfer to prep school. The duo combined to average more than 30 points per game last season. Now, coach George Anderson and his players are on a mission to prove they can remain competitive minus the two stars.
“If they buy into the system we have in place and play hard, we will win,” Anderson said.
The squad opened the new year 1-1 against Division-A squads. The Rams tipped things off Dec. 17 with a 64-57 victory over Lincoln. Five days later, Southern fell 73-70 to University City. Today at 3:15 p.m., Fels visits the South Broad Street gymnasium.
The Rams are hoping to build on last season’s success, in which they compiled a 16-12 overall mark of and advanced to the Class AAAA District 12 City Title game where they fell to Roman Catholic. The squad also qualified for the PIAA state playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by Plymouth-Whitemarsh.
Back to lead the current group are seniors and varsity veterans Haywood Henderson and Shaquille Gaskins. Henderson tallied a team-high 23 points against University City. Anderson also is looking for seniors Mac Stokes and Juwan Campbell and junior Rodney Chandler to step up and fill key roles. The coach noted junior Shameir Duren is a player “with super skills, but is very inexperienced.”
“We still have excellent talent,” Anderson said. “I’m still excited about the team.”
Southern scheduled some tough non-league competition to help prepare them for the meaningful postseason games in February and March. Last month, the Rams traveled to York for their annual overnight excursion to Lancaster and the Black Knights Christmas Tournament.
“They enjoy us coming and we enjoy going there,” Anderson said.
Southern opened the event with a convincing 65-35 victory over Lancaster Mennonite, in which Gaskins led all scorers with 19 points, including 10 in the first quarter. In the championship game, the Rams fell to host school Hempfield, 64-40. Henderson, who finished with 13 points, and Chandler, who chipped in 10, were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
For now, getting acclimated with one another before having to face top city squads, like Simon Gratz and Bartram, is the top priority.
“We are trying to plot a strategy to try and win the big one,” Anderson said.
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