Imhotep Charter Defeats Archbishop Wood 72-65: Kehler on Hoops
Written by: Dell Jackson on December 23, 2023
Imhotep Charter Defeats Archbishop Wood 72-65: Kehler on Hoops
Article by David Kehler
Imhotep Charter staved off a furious second half Archbishop Wood rally to win the finale in the second day of the Diane Mosco Foundation Shootout on Friday night at Bensalem. The event is played in honor of the late wife of Archbishop Wood coach John Mosco.
Imhotep and Wood are perennial powers, and this was the first meeting ever of the two very well-coached teams. It was played in a sold-out gym, and abundant talent was showcased. Ultimately, 6’ 1” Imhotep senior Ahmad Nowell, a Connecticut recruit, carried the day for his side, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with 34 points in the contest.
Imhotep jumped out to a 16-2 lead at the start of the game, scoring on a free throw by 6’ 2” junior Carnell Henderson, a 3-pointer by 6’ 6” sophomore Zaahir Muhammad-Gray, a 3-pointer by Nowell, a floater by 5’ 8” sophomore point guard R.J. Smith, a 3-pointer by Henderson, a fast break layup by Smith, and two free throws by 6’ 6” senior Jeremiah White. Imhotep has great team chemistry, and they zipped the ball to teammates with ease and purpose. Imhotep’s superb ball movement was the key element in their taking an early lead in this game. Normally, a high school team blitzed like this early in a game quickly folds. Archbishop Wood players have much more character and competitiveness than that, and they began to hit the scoreboard. In the latter half of the first quarter, 6’ 4” Wood senior Jalil Bethea, a Miami recruit, made a couple of 3-pointers and a couple of free throws, and his team began what would prove to be a long comeback.
While seven Imhotep players and just two Wood players had scored in the first quarter, Wood’s offense began to click in the second frame. 6’ 3” Wood junior Milan Dean hit a couple of 3-pointers in the second quarter, and his teammate, Drexel recruit 6’ 1” senior Josh Reed, scored five points in the frame by attacking the hoop. Wood’s defense was much more effective in the second quarter, holding Imhotep’s high powered offense to two field goals in the second canto. Still, Imhotep had a 36-27 lead at halftime. In general, in the first half, the more flowing the action, the better for Imhotep, while, when things got choppy, it was to Wood’s advantage.
Wood’s Reed had a strong third quarter, and his teammate, 6’ 2” junior Deuce Maxey came off of the bench to score on a three point play on a drive and to sink a floater. Imhotep was held to three field goals in the third frame, two of them 3-pointers by the superb Nowell. Wood’s Bethea was plagued with foul trouble and had to go to the bench for much of the second half when he notched his fourth foul. However, Wood finished the third quarter with a flourish—a six point run on a jumper by Reed, a three point play by Reed on a drive, and a free throw by Dean. Imhotep led 47-44 at the end of the third quarter, but Wood had the momentum.
Imhotep’s Nowell opened the scoring in the final quarter with a drive. Then, Wood took their first lead of the game with an eight point run on a 3-pointer by Maxey, a floater by Reed, and a 3-pointer by 5’ 11” junior Mike Green. That made it 52-49, Wood. Then, Imhotep tied the contest at 52 on Nowell’s fifth 3-pointer of the game. Wood forged ahead 54-52 on a clutch drive by 6’ 3” senior Tahir Howell with 5:12 left in the game. Imhotep responded with three drives by Nowell to put them up 58-54. Wood scored on a jumper by Maxey to cut Imhotep’s lead to 58-56, but Wood would never get closer. Imhotep pulled away at the end with a 3-pointer by Muhammad-Gray and more Nowell magic.
For the game, Wood had a 36-29 advantage on the boards. Imhotep had eight turnovers, and Wood had 17. Imhotep was 17 of 24 from the stripe, and Wood was 12 of 15. Imhotep made nine 3-pointers, while Wood scored seven times from beyond the arc. There were three ties and two lead changes.
It’s worth noting that, apart from senior Nowell, powerhouse Imhotep started three sophomores and a junior vs. Wood.
Imhotep Charter scoring: Ahmad Nowell 34, R.J. Smith 9, Zaahir Muhammad-Gray 8, Carnell Henderson 6, Jeremiah White 6, Latief Lorenzano-White 5, Kody Colson 2, and Zion Green 2.
Archbishop Wood scoring: Jalil Bethea 19, Josh Reed 18, Deuce Maxey 12, Milan Dean 11, Mike Green 3, and Tahir Howell 2.
Imhotep Charter 26 10 11 25-72
Archbishop Wood 12 15 17 21-65
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