Capturing state championship is difficult enough, but after claiming the PIAA's Class AAA title on Friday night at Hershey's Giant Center, Imhotep Charter now has four of them sitting in the school's trophy case.
And while the Panthers' latest title was their first at the Class AAA level, the other three came before Andre Noble bumped his Philadelphia-based Panthers up one healthy-sized notch prior to this school year.
No problem.
True, there were quite a few close encounters down the stretch for the powerful Panthers -- but Noble & Co. managed to side-step every challenge and hoist yet another trophy featuring yet another gold basketball.
For the third year in a row -- and the fourth time in five seasons.
Friday's 54-45 victory over Archbishop Carroll also locked Noble's Panthers (28-5) in at No. 1 in the final Class AAA rankings from PennLive.com/Patriot-News.
Final records are included with each team's capsule.
1. Imhotep Charter (28-5) -- last week: 1 -- With 6-7 Providence recruit Brandon Austin stuffing the stat sheet (25 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots, 1 steal), Andre Noble's Panthers churned out a 52-45 victory over Archbishop Carroll in Friday night's PIAA Class AAA championship game at Hershey's Giant Center. Friday's victory gave Imhotep its third state title -- the other two came at the Class AA level -- in three years and fourth in five seasons. Earlier in the week, in a state semifinal at Reading's historic Geigle Complex, Austin and Basil Thompson divided 28 points as Noble's Panthers held off a fast-closing Donegal side by a 56-54 count.
2. Donegal (29-3) -- last week: 2 -- Despite getting a combined 48 points from Martin Dietrich (22), Jason Dietrich (15) and Matt Foltz (11), Ryan Butt's Indians tumbled 56-54 to eventual champ Imhotep Charter in a state semi Tuesday at Reading's Geigle Complex. Imhotep led by 12 points with less than three minutes to play, but Butt's ballclub uncorked a furious rally to get within two at the end. Donegal was probing for a game-tying shot in the closing seconds, but Michael Banwell was unable to hoist an attempt.
3. Neumann-Goretti (23-6) -- last week: 5 -- Ended season on March 15 with 55-50 loss to Donegal in state quarterfinals.
4. Archbishop Carroll (23-7) -- last week: 4 -- Despite double-doubles from Ernest Aflakpui (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Derrick Jones (13 points, 11 boards), Paul Romanczuk's Patriots suffered a 52-45 loss to Imhotep Charter in the PIAA Class AAA championship game Friday night at Hershey's Giant Center. Binghamton recruit Yosef Yacob added 10 points for Carroll, which was tied 26-26 at the half with the eventual champs. Earlier in the week, at Chambersburg High School, Jones cranked out a double-double (21 points, 16 rebounds) and Aflakpui tacked on 15 points as the Patriots turned back Montour 50-45 in the state semifinals.
5. Montour (25-5) -- last week: 3 -- Reaching the state semifinals for the third season in a row, Adam Kaufman's gritty Spartans fell one victory short of a third straight appearance in a PIAA Class AAA championship game. Devin Wilson netted 15 points and Justin Hill added 10 for Montour -- the Spartans also were tied 45-all late -- but it wasn't enough to squeeze past an Archbishop Carroll side that prevailed 50-45.
6. Berks Catholic (26-4) -- last week: 9 -- Ended season on March 8 with 47-42 loss to Archbishop Carroll in state round of 32.
7. General McLane (22-6) -- last week: 6 -- Ended season on March 15 with 44-42 loss to Montour in state quarterfinals.
8. Abington Heights (27-3) -- last week: 8 -- Ended season on March 15 with 61-50 loss to Imhotep Charter in state quarterfinals.
9. Chartiers Valley (24-5) -- last week: 7 -- Ended season on March 15 with 49-46 loss to Archbishop Carroll in state quarterfinals.
10. Allentown Central Catholic (24-4) -- last week: 10 -- Ended season on March 12 with 66-57 loss to Donegal in state round of 16.
OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
From District 1: Pope John Paul II (16-11).
From District 2: Scranton Prep (19-9).
From District 3: Bishop McDevitt (19-8), Palmyra (19-9) and Susquehanna Twp. (25-5).
From District 7: Beaver Area (20-5) and Mars (21-5).
From District 10: Girard (21-6).
From District 12: Philadelphia Electrical (16-12).
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n