Constitution High advances to Pub final
The Generals hold off a furious rally by PET and now play King in the Public League title game.
IF IT was beautiful basketball you were looking for last night when Constitution High met Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter in Public League semifinal action, you were in the wrong place.
However, that doesn't mean you didn't see a thrilling finish.
The Generals eventually held on, 69-65, at Southern High, but the Chargers stormed back from a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to make things interesting.
Senior guard Floyd Preito led ConHigh with 19 points on 8-for-16 shooting, two treys and a free throw before fouling out in the final frame. He had company, and on both sides. Three Generals, including Ahmad "J.R." Gilbert (15 points), were disqualified for fouls.
On the other side, two Chargers also fouled out, and that included top scorer Devante Truitt, a junior who exited with 22 points (10-for-13 free throws) and 10 boards.
In all, 53 hacks were called in the game. Constitution (22-4, 8-2) shot 16-for-33 from the foul line, while PET shot 24-for-32.
"It was a Public League semifinal game," Preito said. "It's for the [right to play at the] Liacouras Center. This is for all you want."
Preito had a great seat when his teammate, Haneef Vaughn, tracked down a ConHigh missed free throw along the right baseline with 9.9 seconds remaining and the Generals clinging to a 67-65 advantage.
"Man, he plays hard," Preito said of the junior guard. "I love him. I love all my teammates and he got it for us at the end of the game. We scored as many points as we could, but he got the final ball that helped us clinch the game."
Vaughn shuffled the ball to senior forward Raheem Liggins, who sank both freebies.
For the Chargers (16-9, 3-7), senior forward James Suber had 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Senior wing Anthony Harris helped lead the late charge with 15 points and three steals.
ConHigh has been flirting with disaster lately. It nearly lost a late lead to Del-Val Charter in the quarterfinals.
"Staying together and having confidence," Preito said of the key to his team's success. "Basketball is a game of runs and you have to be able to get punched in your face, withstand that and keep fighting."
Preito, who lives in the Northeast near Bustleton and Levick, transferred from Westown as a junior. He reports college interest from schools such as Maryland Eastern Shore and Quinnipiac, among others.
Now, he will lead his team in Sunday's 3 p.m. title game against Martin Luther King at the Liacouras.
"This is what I've worked for the last 2 years," he said. "I won a championship at Westown my sophomore year and I think the only way to go out is with a championship. All three: Pub, City and then States."
