Imhotep Charter Defeats Previously Unbeaten Abington Heights in PIAA Class 5A Playoff Quarterfinal: Kehler on Hoops

Written by: Dell Jackson on March 16, 2024

Imhotep Charter Defeats Previously Unbeaten Abington Heights in PIAA Class 5A Playoff Quarterfinal: Kehler on Hoops
Article by David Kehler

Every single minute of Friday’s PIAA Class 5A state championship playoff quarterfinal demonstrated the enormous importance of rhythm and flow in high school basketball. Imhotep Charter defeated previously unbeaten Abington Heights 56 to 46 at Freedom H.S. in Bethlehem in a game that had very distinctive segments. Philadelphia Public League and PIAA District 12 champion Imhotep had two significant advantages in this contest: they were bigger and they were quicker. PIAA District 2 champion Abington Heights, on the other hand, started five guys who are all outside marksmen, and they had the big crowd in Freedom’s beautiful gym behind them. Imhotep led all of the way, but Abington Heights launched a very strong challenge in the third quarter.

Imhotep’s quickness and tight man-to-man defense disrupted Abington Heights’ offense in the first quarter. Abington Heights committed five turnovers in the first frame, and, when, they got off shots, accuracy was often an issue. Imhotep’s offense, on the other hand, had great flow from the opening tap. Imhotep’s Ahmad Nowell, a 6’ 1” senior, setting up on the right side of the court, hit two early 3-pointers. Nowell additionally scored on a drive in the early going and, when fouled shooting from beyond the arc, he made all three free throws, also in the first period. Imhotep also dominated the boards in the first frame, with a 10 to four advantage, and Abington Heights did not get an offensive rebound in the first period. The uptempo pace of the game favored Imhotep, and they led 17 to 7 after eight minutes of play.

Things got worse for Abington Heights in the second quarter. Nowell made two more 3-pointers, both from the right side of the court, four of his teammates also scored in the frame, and Imhotep’s defense continually blunted the Abington Heights offense. Abington Heights committed four turnovers in the second quarter to none by Imhotep. Many of the Abington Heights turnovers in the first half were for traveling, and their offense never got traction, missing several layups and frequent attempts from beyond the arc. Attesting to the ineffectiveness of the Abington Heights attack, they didn’t get to the free throw line in the second quarter. An outstanding outside shooting team, Abington Heights was limited to one 3-pointer in the first half. Imhotep led 34 to 13 at halftime.

A lesser team would have quit, but Abington Heights courageously battled back in the second half. They scored first in the third quarter on a drive by 6’ 3” junior Robbie Lucas and on a drive by 6’ 1” senior Will Marion. Imhotep countered immediately with a 3-pointer by 6’ 5” sophomore Latif Lorenzo-White, and his side led 37 to 17. Abington Heights responded with a 3-pointer by Marion. Then, Imhotep scored on a floater by 6’ 6” sophomore Zaahir Muhammad-Gray, and they led 39 to 20. At that point, Abington Heights unleashed a 14 to 0 run, with the crowd roaring with each score, on a 3-pointer by Lucas, a drive by 6’ 4” senior Mason Fedor, a putback by Marion, a 3-pointer by Fedor, a drive by 6’ 2” senior Ryan Nealon, and a drive by Marion. That cut Imhotep’s lead to 39 to 34. Imhotep’s Muhammad-Gray made a free throw, then Abington Heights closed the scoring in the third quarter with another 3-pointer by Fedor. Imhotep Charter led 40 to 37 at the end of the third quarter, but Abington Heights had all of the momentum. During their run in the third frame, the Abington Heights squad was brimming with confidence, and they were boosted by the very pro-Abington Heights crowd. Abington Heights out-rebounded the taller Imhotep seven to five in the third frame. For whatever reason, Imhotep defenders did not guard as closely in the third quarter as they had in the first half. It may not have been significant, but Imhotep’s Nowell set up on the left side of the court in the third quarter, rather than on the right side as he had in the first half. Nowell was scoreless in the third frame. In the third quarter, the Abington Heights defense was particularly strong around the rim.

Turning the tide, Imhotep immediately recaptured command of the game at the outset of the fourth quarter, opening the scoring with a 3-pointer by 5’ 8” sophomore R.J. Smith and a putback by 6’ 6” senior Jeremiah White. Imhotep’s defense got back to its normal tenaciousness. With 3:54 left in the game, Abington Heights’ Fedor made two free throws to cut the Imhotep lead to 45 to 40. Imhotep countered with a 7 to 0 run that sealed the win, on a 3-pointer by Nowell, a fast break layup by 6’ 7” senior Ma’Kye Taylor, and a fast break layup by Nowell. That surge gave Imhotep a 52 to 40 lead, and Abington Heights, which committed five turnovers in the last period, couldn’t recover.

The game underscored the importance of flow and momentum in high school basketball. At various points in the game, each team surged, and those surges were the most significant segments of the game.

Imhotep advances to the semifinals of the PIAA Class 5A state championship tournament, where they will face Archbishop Ryan on Monday at a place and time to be determined. Imhotep defeated Ryan 62 to 47 for the PIAA District 12 Class 5A championship on March 2. Abington Heights had a spectacular season which concludes with a 26-1 record.

For the game, Imhotep out-rebounded Abington Heights 31 to 26. Imhotep committed eight turnovers to 15 by Abington Heights. Imhotep was nine of 15 from the free throw line, and Abington Heights was five of eight from the stripe. Imhotep scored nine time from beyond the arc, while Abington Heights made seven 3-pointers. Every Abington Heights starter made at least one 3-pointer. Imhotep played 10 players, while six members of the Abington Heights squad saw the court.

Imhotep Charter scoring: Ahmad Nowell 26, Zaahir Muhammad-Gray 9, Ma’Kye Taylor 8, Jeremiah White 4, R.J. Smith 3, Carnell Henderson 3, and Latif Lorenzo-White 3.

Abington Heights scoring: Will Marion 14, Mason Fedor 12, Robbie Lucas 12, Ryan Nealon 5, and Jordan Shaffer 3.

Imhotep Charter      17    17    6    16 – 56
Abington Heights     7      6    24    9 – 46

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