Wed. Pa. boys’ roundup: Imhotep wins; Penn Wood falls

Imhotep Charter's scoring balance proved to be the difference in a 49-38 victory over Communications Tech in a PIAA Class AA state semifinal basketball game Wednesday night at Southern.

The Panthers (30-3) had eight players score, while the Phoenix (23-6) had only five.

"They played a lot tougher than they did in the regular-season game," Imhotep Charter coach Andre Noble said of Communications Tech. Imhotep won the previous meeting, 67-40, on Jan. 25.

Noble praised the Phoenix effort on the boards. Communications Tech was outrebounded by 26 in the first meeting but by only two in the second.

The biggest contribution for Imhotep Charter came from its tallest player, 6-foot-8 center Erik Copes. The George Washington University recruit scored only six points but had 11 rebounds.

Imhotep Charter will play Greensburg Central Catholic for the state title on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.

PIAA Class AAAA. In a semifinal played in Chambersburg, Mount Lebanon was able to slow the tempo and get Penn Wood starters Shawn Oakman and Aaron Brown in foul trouble, and the formula added up to a 52-48 overtime win.

The last time the teams met, in the state playoffs two years ago, Penn Wood ran to a 79-58 victory.

The Blue Devils (27-3) were better prepared this time and had a tough December schedule, playing in holiday tournaments in three states.

With two minutes left in the third, Oakman, a 6-foot-8 Penn State football recruit, had four fouls. In overtime, Brown, a West Virginia recruit, was called for his fifth foul with the Patriots down, 46-45.

Still, the Patriots (23-7) rallied from a 39-34 deficit to take a 42-39 lead. With 34 seconds left in regulation, sophomore guard Tyler Roth hit a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.