Don't rap Sankofa star's music choice
LEBANON -- Here's the rap from Dache' Talbert on the subject of pregame music: He's not feelin' it.
Rap, that is.
Other members of Sankofa Freedom (charter) Academy's basketball team might prefer to hear rap and hip hop -- might? they do! -- come thumping through their iPods, but Talbert favors the old school stuff.
Marvin Gaye, for one. The Stylistics, for two. Along with other groups/individuals that can put him in the proper mood.
"I've been doing this since the seventh grade," said Talbert, a 5-9, 165-pound combo guard. "I always like the slow stuff. The mellow stuff. I get pretty excited about the games, so I need to hear music that's going to relax me.
"Some of the guys, like Anthony (Wright-Downing) and Tydeus (Ellison), like to kid me about it. They wonder why I don't listen to the hype-up stuff. They're cool with it, though, because they know this is me."
Sankofa, in year No. 3 of Public League membership, Friday night traveled to Lebanon High to make its initial appearance in a PIAA state tournament. The occasion was a Class A first-round game and Talbert enjoyed himself immensely, even though dead-eye wing shooting is usually his most prominent skill and things did not go well in that department.
In fact, Talbert went just 3-for-10 from the floor (1-for-7 on treys) while having to settle for seven points. But he also dealt four assists and was active in assorted zone defenses and -- HERE'S what's goin' on, as Marvin might say -- the Warriors wound up besting Lebanon Catholic, 54-41.
Talbert formerly played for the Pub's current hoops powerhouse, Imhotep Charter, so he was accustomed to taking journeys around the state for important games.
This, however, was his first time being part of a starting lineup.
"I was feeling confident riding the bus up here," he said, "but I was also nervous. You never can be sure what's going to happen. I had to get into my normal routine with the music and talk to my teammates about what it would take to win this."
Warmups? They went well. Talbert was hitting most of his shots in the brightly lit gym.
First quarter? Did you have to ask? He nailed his only regular field-goal attempt, but was 0-for-4 beyond the arc.
"Earlier in my career," he said, "I would have gotten angry about not hitting my shots. I always saw myself as a shooter. But now I can do more things and when my shot's not falling, it's REALLY time to step up the rest of my game.
"With good passes, I can make my teammates look better and that helps us all overall. I felt I did that tonight; like I was in the moment. The thought was always, 'Do things to get this win!' "
This game was replete with runs. Though LC bolted to a 10-2 lead, the Warriors stormed to 13 of the next 15 points. Later, Sankofa would set the tone with six points here, eight points there, only to experience the frustration of allowing LC to scramble back.
Talbert's best moments likely came in the final 2 1/2 minutes, which began with 'Kofa holding a 47-41 lead. Coach Isaiah Thomas ordered his squad to spread the floor and this version of keep-away was terrific. Then, zip, Talbert whipped a pass to Shyheim "Smoke" Ladson, who was standing alone on the left block. He deposited the layup to provide an eight-point pad.
Thereafter, Wright-Downing wolfed down a pair of dunks en route to finalizing his point total at 20. He also bagged 15 rebounds, three apiece of assists/steals and two blocked shots. Ladson added nine points, James Jefferson claimed seven boards and Ellison packed seven of his nine points and all five of his rebounds into the 15-8 fourth quarter.
Talbert, who lives on East Gorgas Lane, footsteps from Germantown High's football stadium, decided to transfer from Imhotep when he realized it wasn't serving as his best possible fit.
He opted for Sankofa, in part, because he had a good relationship, dating back to Sixers Camp days, with assistant Preston Tilghman.
Talbert does more than bounce basketballs, too. He figures he's right on the doorstep of a 3.0 GPA and biology could be his college major.
On this night, however, after putting himself in the proper mood, you can Betcha By Golly, Wow that Dache' Talbert's first priority was perfect chemistry.
Also at Lebanon High
Philadelphia Electrical & Technology Charter made it a sweep for District 12 by edging Palmyra, 48-44, in a Class AAA first-rounder. Austin Hawkins, known primarily for sticky defense, totaled 14 points while Dyshon Pack (12), Hakeem Baxter and Steven Griffin (10 apiece) also scored in double figures. Griffin added 10 rebounds and six assists while Pack and Baxter halved 18 boards.
