Constitution rolls to state title

Posted: March 23, 2012

STATE COLLEGE - Constitution put its troubles, which included issues with chemistry and having a team-first approach, behind it en route to capturing statewide glory.

"We all knew we had the talent," senior guard Daiquan Walker said. "Once we were able to sort things out and get everybody on the same page, we were fine."

All certainly looked well with the squad in Friday's PIAA Class A final vs. Lincoln Park Charter. With Walker and Savon Goodman combining for 49 points, the Public League champions raced past the overwhelmed Leopards, 68-49, at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center for their first state crown.

Constitution collected 27 offensive rebounds and pressured Lincoln Park into 29 turnovers, including 16 in the first half. Walker and fellow guard Tamir Bolger combined for 13 of the team's 20 steals.

"We've had exceptional guard play all year," Generals coach Rob Moore said. "Since they didn't have a true point guard, we wanted to go after them right away. It worked out well for us."

With Penn State coach Pat Chambers watching from behind Constitution's bench, Goodman, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, poured in 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds (all on offense), and blocked four shots.

"He's a beast," Leopards coach Mark Javens said. "He wanted the ball down low, and he got the ball down low. And he finished."

Goodman, receiving heavy Division I recruiting interest, shot 11 for 24 from the field and 5 for 12 from the line. Boosted by his 15 first-half points, the Generals (23-9) led by 33-22 at the break.

Goodman and company went right at Lincoln Park's Devontae Watson, a 6-10, 205-pound center and Temple recruit.

"We wanted to attack the middle, get him in foul trouble," Goodman said. "We got him into enough foul trouble where he wasn't biting on every shot."

In the third quarter, Goodman's slam provided a 39-27 cushion. Soon after, his reverse layup and a Bolger-to-Goodman-to-Walker connection made it 43-29. Bolger's three-pointer at the end of the quarter put the Leopards (26-5) in a 17-point hole.

In 31 minutes, Watson produced 14 rebounds (five on offense), nine points, and eight rejections. "That kid is a defensive stopper," Goodman said. "He's a heck of a player on offense and defense."

Late in the first quarter, Walker drained back-to-back treys to give the Generals, who went 13 for 28 from the foul line, a 20-11 advantage.

"We were fighting an uphill battle the whole game," Javens said.

Lincoln Park   11 11 11 16 – 49

Constitution   22 11 17 18 – 68

LP: Trey Hosack 14, Ryan Skovranko 15, Devontae Wilson 9, Jaylyn Cottrill 6, Antonio Kellem 5.

C: Tamir Bolger 3, Daiquan Walker 22, Craig Slade 4, Savon Goodman 27, Fajion Jones 2, Akeem King 5, Ahmad Gilbert 2, Kevin Dukes 2, Kamar Phinizy 1.


Contact Rick O'Brien at robrien@phillynews.com or @ozoneinq on Twitter.

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