Imhotep Charter (7-0) jumped on Wheeler (5-2) early with an 11-2 run to start the game, led by as many 13 points in the second quarter and held on late for a 61-52 win, punching its ticket to the championship game of the most prestigious and competitive high school basketball holiday tournament in the country.
In Tuesday's first semifinal, No. 4
Columbus (Miami) knocked off No. 2
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 57-55 behind 17 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore star
Cameron Boozer. Wednesday's championship contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Rahmir Barno of Imhotep Charter drives to the hoop in Tuesday's semifinal against Wheeler. (Photo: Pete Wright)
Wheeler point guard Collier (headed to USC) is pegged as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023 by
247Sports while Imhotep's Edwards (Kentucky) is No. 3 on the same list.
Collier finished with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Edwards struggled from the field (3 of 12) but still posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Imhotep backcourt duo of junior
Ahmad Nowell and senior
Rahmir Barno stepped up with huge performances, combining for 35 points and 11 rebounds.
Wheeler was never able to fully recover from the slow start. Imhotep's largest lead was 30-17 in the middle of the second quarter but by halftime, the Wildcats had whittled down to a manageable eight-point deficit. The margin was even tighter at the end of three quarters as the Philadelphia school led 44-39.
Barno helped put things away as the game went under four minutes with a pair of free throws followed by a tough, driving bucket to make the score 52-46.
