Imhotep Charter Retains PIAA Class 5A State Championship with Win Over Franklin Regional: Kehler on Hoops

Written by: Dell Jackson on March 23, 2024

Imhotep Charter Retains PIAA Class 5A State Championship with Win Over Franklin Regional: Kehler on Hoops
Article by David Kehler

Two time defending PIAA Class 5A state champion Imhotep Charter retained their title on Friday night with a 59 to 48 highly contested win over Franklin Regional in a game played at Hershey. Franklin Regional, located in a Pittsburgh suburb, was in contention until the final four minutes of the game vs. the Philadelphia Public League champion, PIAA District 12 champion, and ultra-talented Imhotep. The game was the best thus far of the boys PIAA state championship tilts this week.

Imhotep was taller and quicker than Franklin Regional, but the guys from western Pennsylvania were tough, determined, and constantly in an attack mode. Both squads are exceptionally well-coached, and the game was absorbing from the outset.

Imhotep got off to a great start, scoring the first eight points on a 3-pointer by 6’ 2” senior and Connecticut recruit Ahmad Nowell, a 3-pointer by 6’ 4” sophomore Latief Lorenzano-White, and a putback by 6’ 6” senior Jeremiah White. Franklin Regional didn’t flinch in the face of this blitz by the quick and powerful defending champs, and they got on the board with a 3-pointer by 6’ 1” senior Colin Masten. Imhotep’s Nowell hit another 3-pointer to put his side up 11 to 3. Gritty, fearless Franklin Regional clawed back into the game, not hesitating to attack the rim vs. the taller Imhotep. Late in the first quarter, a drive by Franklin Regional’s Cooper Rankin, a 6’ senior, cut Imhotep’s lead to 15 to 13. Rankin played a hard-nosed game and was clearly an inspiration to his teammates. Although he didn’t fill the stat sheet, Rankin had a great game and was a rugged rim protector.

Imhotep led 17 to 13 at the end of the first quarter, but Franklin Regional kept coming at them, scoring first in the second frame. Following a hoop inside by 6’ 7” Imhotep senior Ma’Kye Taylor, Franklin Regional tied the game at 19 on a pull-up jumper by Rankin, with 5:31 left in the second quarter. That would prove to be the game’s only tie and the only point in the contest in which Imhotep didn’t have the lead. Breaking the 17 to 17 tie, Imhotep launched an 11-0 run, and, ultimately, it was the deciding sequence in the game. It started with a follow by Taylor and continued with a fast break layup by 5’ 9” sophomore R.J. Smith, a putback by Taylor, another follow by Taylor, a fast break layup by Nowell, and a free throw by 6’ 3” junior Carnell Henderson. While this was going on, Franklin Regional had two shots blocked, missed five shots, and committed a turnover. Imhotep’s run gave them a 30 to 19 lead, and they were up 33 to 21 at halftime.

A lesser team might have folded at that point, but not Franklin Regional. Even though Imhotep opened the second half scoring with a hoop inside by Lorenzano-White to lead 35 to 21, Franklin Regional prepared for a comeback by increasing the spacing in their half court sets. Midway through the third quarter, Imhotep forged their biggest lead of the game, 39 to 24, on a hoop inside by Taylor, who was unstoppable in this contest. Then, Franklin Regional unleashed a 14 to 2 run on a pivot play by 6’ 1” junior Drew Devola (a rugged player who was superb off of the bench), a power move by 6’ 5” senior and 1000+ points career scorer Cameron Rowell, a 3-pointer by 6’ senior Finan Hutchison, a breakaway dunk by Rowell, and another 3-pointer by Hutchison. That was Franklin Regional’s most sustained offensive surge, and Imhotep Charter’s lead was down to 41 to 38 with 5:33 left in the game. Franklin Regional had the momentum, but then Imhotep took charge.

At that point, Imhotep’s Nowell took over, scoring on a floater plus a free throw to make it 44 to 38, Imhotep. Franklin Regional responded with the most spectacular play of the game, an acrobatic hoop inside by Rowell. Then, Imhotep sealed the win with a fast break layup by Nowell followed by a very long Nowell 3-pointer to give Imhotep a 49 to 40 lead with 3:54 left in the game. That margin was more than the determined Franklin Regional could overcome, and Imhotep closed out the win, their third consecutive PIAA Class 5A state championship.

According to the official statistics, Imhotep had a 36 to 22 rebounding advantage. A key element in Imhotep’s success over the years is aggressive offensive rebounding. In this game, Imhotep had 17 offensive rebounds to Franklin Regional’s 18 defensive rebounds. Imhotep had seven turnovers, while Franklin Regional had 10 miscues. Imhotep was seven of 17 from the free throw line, and Franklin Regional was seven of 11 from the stripe. Imhotep made four 3-pointers, and Franklin Regional scored three times from beyond the arc. Both squads had effective perimeter defense. Franklin Regional had 12 assists to 19 made field goals, a superb ratio.

Imhotep Charter scoring: Ahmad Nowell 20, Ma’Kye Taylor 14, R.J. Smith 8, Latief Lorenzano-White 7, Jeremiah White 4, Zaahir Muhammad-Gray 3, Zion Green 2, and Carnell Henderson 1.

Franklin Regional scoring: Cameron Rowell 15, Finian Hutchison 9, Colin Masten 8, Cooper Rankin 6, Connor Crossey 4, Drew Devola 2, Jack Spagnol 2, and Josh Hudak 2.

Imhotep Charter 17 16 8 18 – 59
Franklin Regional 13 8 12 15 – 48