The two exchanged lockups and hand-checks late in the first half, causing Jefferson to motion for a foul.
"Play the game," the official answered.
"We got in his head a little bit," said Imhotep's Khyree Wooten. "Our bigs started talking to him a little bit."
Jefferson answered back and engaged himself down low. He initiated contact, went strong on layups, and backed down defenders.
"If the refs weren't going to call it, then you just have to play," said Jefferson. "If they're going to let two guys fight and bang, then you have to be able to do that."
With 2 minutes, 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Jefferson put the Phoenix ahead, 33-31, with an alley-oop layup from Karonn Davis.
The two have played together since they were 11 years old, and Jefferson said he always knows where Davis is on the court.
"When he gets out, I know he's going to run the floor," said Jefferson. "We get that eye contact and I can tell him high, low, bounce it."
On Imhotep's next possession, Jefferson snuffed a layup against the glass. A minute later, the 6-foot-8 senior picked up another key block to secure the lead.
"Sometimes it really is just waiting for Amile to take over a game," Polykoff said.
Jefferson finished with a game-high 14 points, three blocks, and eight rebounds.
"Amile's going to get his," said Imhotep head coach Andre Nobel. "You just have to try to make sure it's not 30 or 35 [points]."
Jefferson has yet to select a college, and denied a report that he was choosing between Duke and North Carolina State.
His athleticism and long frame allow Jefferson to play anywhere on the court. But it's his knowledge that Polykoff said is his best facet.
That was displayed late in the fourth after Jefferson grabbed an defensive rebound and motioned his teammates to slow down instead of rushing on a fastbreak.
"His understanding of the game, his leadership ability, the intangibles is what makes him so tough," Polykoff said.
Imhotep Charter 11 10 6 11 - 38
Friends' Central 14 5 10 11 - 40
IC: Greg Bennett 1, Nigel Grant 8, Tyheem Harmon 2, Kamani Jordan 7, Devin Liggeons 6, Jalil Myers 6, Khyree Wooten 8.
FC: Billy Cassidy 6, Conrad Chambers 5, Karonn Davis 11, Amile Jefferson 14, Jonathan Lawton 2, Michael Michnowicz 2.
