"Out on the court today, Jay was saying, 'Nobody on your whole team's as good as me!' Over and over . . . So I finally said, 'Oh, yeah? What's Paul Cannon doin' to you?' "
Immediately after Parkway completed a 67-65 win, thus reaching the semifinals - Saturday, 1 p.m., vs. Franklin Learning Center at the Civic Center - for the first time in its 11-season league history, Cannon tackled Johnson and the twosome wound up on the floor.
The Hoyas' fans soon joined in for hugs, high fives, kisses and dancing. Then, Cannon broke free and made his way to Southern's bench, where Myers sat slumped against a wall, with the bottom part of his jersey pulled up over his head.
Cannon knelt, hugged Myers and spoke softly.
"Jay's my friend. We play for the same team, Point Breeze, in the Total Response League," Cannon said. "I wanted him to know there was nothing bad (in terms of feelings). I justed wanted to play."
Cannon, a 5-11 senior, finished with 26 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. He shot 10-for-20 from the floor, including 3-for-5 on three-pointers, and scored nine consecutive points as Parkway broke free from a 44-44 tie late in the third quarter.
Myers, a 6-1 senior, collected 22 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Temple coach John Chaney was present to make an evaluation, at least for a half.
"Everybody puts Jay as No. 1 and me as No. 2," said Cannon, who has been contacted by Drexel, Coppin State and East Stroudsburg. "If we met Southern, I knew people would be comparing us. I didn't want Jay taking advantage of me. I wanted to come out on top."
And?
"I did OK," Cannon said. "So long as we got the 'W.' "
