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Imhotep, Reynolds down Cheltenham

Three quick passes and an effortless three-pointer. That is all it took for Imhotep Charter on Friday afternoon to seal a 53-41 girls' basketball win over Cheltenham.

Three quick passes and an effortless three-pointer.

That is all it took for Imhotep Charter on Friday afternoon to seal a 53-41 girls' basketball win over Cheltenham.

Mayah Kitchen inbounded the ball to Taylor Scruggs, who rapidly tossed it to Lorna Caesar at midcourt. From there, Caesar found Deja Reynolds in the corner.

In her stance and ready to shoot, Reynolds nonchalantly swished the basketball through the net.

It handed Imhotep a six-point lead with just more than three minutes left in the third quarter. The tide had turned in Imhotep's win at Girard College's Brawl Behind The Wall Tournament.

"It gave us a little leeway," Reynolds said of the big shot. "After that it was like 'All right, we got this.' "

Before the three-pointer, Imhotep (7-1) and Cheltenham (5-2) were stuck in a close game. Imhotep led, 26-23, at halftime, and the game had a back-and-forth feel.

"We just played team ball in the second half," Reynolds said. "We were moving the ball around instead of just trying to drive to the basket like we did in the first."

The combination of Reynolds and Bionca Dunham led Imhotep. The pair combined for 35 points, 18 of which were scored in the second half. Reynolds finished with 18, while Dunham added 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Imhotep was just as impressive on the defensive end. The Panthers had to contain Cheltenham's dynamic guard Ashley Jones. The sophomore hit four first-half threes. But Imhotep held her to just one in the second half. She finished with 19 points.

"We didn't give Ashley the three," Dunham said of Imhotep team's second-half approach. "We came out harder on defense, we talked more and we boxed out."

Imhotep's tough zone defense frustrated Cheltenham, as the Panthers were unable to get off as many open and good shots as they did in the first half.

"Every time we get a nonleague game it's a challenge. It's a wake-up call," Reynolds said.

Cheltenham 9 14 6 12 - 41

Imhotep Charter 15 11 15 12 - 53

C: Ashley Jones 19, Amarri Trueheart 12, Gabrielle Wright 5, Monet McGorda 4, Nashira Brown 1.

IC: Deja Reynolds 18, Bionca Dunham 17, Brittany Hinton 4, Mayah Kitchen 4, Allissia Green 3, Taylor Scruggs 3, Lorna Caesar 2, Etreece Adams 2.