Kehler on Hoops: IMHOTEP CHARTER DEFEATS MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH 82-66
Written by: Dell Jackson on December 19, 2021
IMHOTEP CHARTER DEFEATS MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH 82-66
Imhotep Charter have firmly established themselves as the favorite to win the Pennsylvania PIAA Class 5A state championship this season. In 2020-21, Imhotep won the Philadelphia Public League championship, but the team did not participate in the PIAA tournament. This season, Imhotep, deserving of national ranking, once again is playing a championship schedule. On Saturday evening, they defeated previously unbeaten Baltimore Catholic League power Mount Saint Joseph 82-66 in an uptempo game in the Diane Mosco Foundation Shootout at Archbishop Wood.
Mount Saint Joseph is an outstanding team, and this very high level game was close well into the third quarter. Through three frames, there were eight ties and six lead changes. The final tie of the game was at 43, and Imhotep surged ahead for good on a jump shot by 6′ junior Rahmir Barno followed by a 3 pointer by 6′ 7″ junior Justin Edwards. Both players had superb games in this contest. Barno is a terrific ball handler who is explosive going to the basket, and Edwards is a fabulous leaper and spectacular dunker who also shoots well from the perimeter.
As a team, Imhotep is tall, deep, and quick. Their fast break is terrific, and they have outstanding spacing and ball movement in half court sets. The players are unselfish, and Imhotep rarely commits turnovers. Imhotep’s base defense is man-to-man, and they closely guard the opponent. Imhotep is coached by Andre Noble, one of the top high school basketball coaches in Pennsylvania.
Imhotep and Mount Saint Joseph both looked for fast break opportunities on almost every possession. In 6′ 8″ junior Amani Hansbury and 6′ 7″ sophomore Bryson Tucker, Mount Saint Joseph have two skilled big guys who can shoot and rebound, and both of these highly regarded players were outstanding versus Imhotep, scoring in double figures and hitting the boards. Their teammates Ace Valentine, Aidan Mess, and Austin Abrams also played well in this high octane game. Eight Imhotep Charter players scored, and five of them made at least one 3 pointer in the game. Very highly touted Imhotep sophomore Ahmad Nowell played superbly in this game, and the back court player made four 3 pointers. 6′ 4″ senior Mo Abdullah was also impressive. He’s an explosive slasher who also scored from behind the arc.
Imhotep had a 32 to 28 advantage on the boards, and they committed eight turnovers to 15 for Mount Saint Joseph. Imhotep was 13 for 17 from the stripe, and Mount Saint Joseph was 6 for 8. Imhotep made eight 3 pointers, and Mount Saint Joseph made six.
Imhotep Charter scoring: Justin Edwards 20, Ahmad Nowell 19, Rahmir Barno 14, Chad Anglin 8, Mo Abdullah 7, Makye Taylor 6, Ronny Raphael 5, and Yamir Satterfield 3. Hansberry led Mount Saint Joseph with 21 points, and Tucker added 14.
Mount Saint Joseph 14 19 13 20-66
Imhotep Charter 16 18 23 25-82
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