Constitution High ousted in quarterfinals

ALLENTOWN - After getting hammered in its final game of one season, a basketball team with no seniors quickly looks forward to the next.

How quickly?

"I wish we could play them again right now . . . I wanted to win a state championship this year."

The kid who spoke those words was Floyd Preito, a 6-1, 175-pound junior wing guard who, truthfully, was the only Constitution High General to turn in a respectable performance Saturday afternoon at Parkland High in a PIAA Class AA state quarterfinal.

And even his outing needed to be accompanied by at least a hint of an asterisk, seeing as how he missed six of his first seven shots and posted many of his 28 points (15 in the final quarter) after his squad was deeply entrenched in Forgetitville.

ConHigh, as its known, was skunked by Holy Cross, of Dunmore (outside Scranton), 75-61. HC's star player, 6-6 Josh Kosin, shot 9-for-16 and 13-for-18 for 31 points and the other Crusaders combined to snipe 6-for-11 on three-pointers.

In the first half, the Generals did not help their cause by grabbing just four rebounds (none by the bigs) and allowing HC to shoot 17-for-28.

"We saw a lot of film on double zero," Preito said, referring to Kosin's uniform number. "He's really good at finishing around the basket and they have a lot of nice complementary pieces. We knew if they got to play the game they wanted to play, they'd be tough to beat.

"Coach Rob [Moore] told us the referees could dictate things, and that happened [the Generals' three big guys fouled out]."

A year ago, when the Generals captured the Class A state crown, the first six players were seniors. Preito (pray-toe), meanwhile, did not become part of this year's picture until the beginning of November, when he transferred from Westtown School, in Chester County.

He was in his third year there, as a boarder.

"I just didn't feel like myself there anymore," Preito said. "It was like I was on a vacation. I just wanted to be back in Philly with my family. We talked it over and my family put the decision in my hands.

"I do have a lot of friends there. And I have a great relationship with my coach, Seth Berger. Telling him I wanted to leave, especially since he's like a second father to me, that was a tearful experience. He helped me find a place where I would be happy and we still talk every week."

As for basketball . . .

Preito lives footsteps from Bustleton and Levick, in the Northeast, and long has been a playground regular. Before Westtown, he played his school ball for Greenfield, at 22nd and Chestnut.

"The adjustments? Well, in the Friends League, the crowds can't talk bad about anybody and in the Public League the fans can say anything they want, basically," Preito said, smiling. "There's the same amount of talent, but different coaching styles. The Friends League is more coach-oriented. The Pub is more physical. I'm used to city ball, so that hasn't been a problem."

Preito finished 8-for-18 from the floor (three treys) and 9-for-12 at the line. He added two apiece of rebounds and steals.

"I was taking whatever the defense gave me," he said. "I had a feeling no one could stick me, and I just wanted to get to my spots. Most teams play me at arm's distance. These guys were moving closer, so I did a lot of driving and got to the rim."

ConHigh's starting lineup also featured sophomores Ahmad Gilbert, Kimar Williams and Akeem King and junior Raheem Liggins.

Though its enrollment remained low enough that ConHigh could have spent this season in A, Moore chose to "play up" to AA. If his youngsters continue to blossom, he has said, the Generals could make an appearance in AAAA in 2014-15.

Preito will be in college by then, of course, but he just knows great things will happen next season.

"I want to be the best in the city, best in the state," he said. "We have a good group. Our chemistry allows us to play off each other."