Tacony Charter senior guard Joe Purnell (left) scored eight points in the team’s 66–62 opening-round playoff win over World Communications Charter, including the clinching free throw. TIMES FILE PHOTO
In its first season of boys varsity basketball, Tacony Charter has wasted no time in introducing themselves to the rest of the Public League.
The Lions went 11–2 in their first year in the league’s Division E, a run that included nine straight division victories to close out the season. Nobody expected them to be here — except for maybe themselves — and following a dramatic, wire-to-wire 66–62 win over World Communications Charter in the preliminary round of the Class AA playoffs, Tacony is still here.
And the Lions don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.
“Oh my goodness, this is so surreal right now,” first-year head coach Sean Riley said following Thursday night’s home win. “I’m so proud of these gentlemen. I wouldn’t have thought in a million years I’d be here this time last year; I’m so happy that I’m stumbling on my words to even describe it. I love these kids and this school.”
In the first postseason basketball game in school history, the Lions treated a noisy, electric crowd to a game that was excitedly tight from start to finish. What made the triumph that much sweeter was that it came despite some of the team’s headliners having off nights.
Senior guard Justin Johnson, who came in averaging close to 19 points a game, managed just 10, and he was so off his game that Riley kept him on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. Sharpshooter Jeremiah Alston, who knocked down eight three-pointers in a game earlier this season, was just 2-for-12 for six points. Senior big man Tyler Taliaferro, after a strong 11-point effort down low, was ejected from the game in the fourth quarter following an on-court skirmish with an opposing player.
But the Lions chose their spots wisely. Johnson, despite being uncharacteristically off, lifted the team and kept the wheels turning during a brief third-quarter surge. Alston drained a huge three-pointer to turn a late two-point lead into five, while also dishing out seven assists. Senior point guard Joe Purnell, whose leadership Riley gushed about afterward, scored eight points, none bigger than a free throw with 11 seconds to play that put the game out of reach. Forward Justin Steers, only a sophomore, played well beyond his age with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“It feels better than I thought it would,” Purnell said. “I knew this was my last year and all I wanted for this team and this school was to make the playoffs. Nobody thought we would get here or win this game, but now we’re here and it feels better than ever. The last few years have all been stepping stones getting this program started, and today was just a roller coaster. After I made that last free throw, I just felt relief. I knew we had made it to the next step with another game to play.”
Next up for Tacony will be a Monday first-round Class AA contest against Freire Charter of Division B. While the Lions will certainly be underdogs, they don’t really care. The way they see it, Class AA is the most up-for-grabs of the city’s four classifications, with no clear favorite as well as no mighty teams from Division A standing in the way. In fact, it’s not entirely far-fetched to believe Tacony could win a few more games, and put themselves in a position to compete for a spot in the league’s ultimate final four (the winners from Class A, AA, AAA and AAAA go head-to-head to decide the league champion).
Not too shabby for a school many hadn’t heard of a year ago.
“At this point, we’ve got nothing to lose,” Alston said. “We know AA is wide open, and we think we have what it takes to get to that final four, even if nobody else believes we do. As long as we continue to play as hard as we did tonight, anything is possible.”
As sweet as the playoff win was for the players, it may have been doubly enjoyable for Riley. Almost a year ago to the day, he was laid off from his job and left with nothing. With nowhere to turn, serendipity landed him an interview with Tacony athletic director Ryan Nase, who was looking for a head varsity basketball coach. Liking the young Riley’s motivational style, Nase took a chance and gave him the job.
“He’s the best leader and coach I’ve ever played for,” Purnell said. “Whatever he says, I’m with him. He’s taught us how to sacrifice for one another, and given us lessons that go beyond the basketball court. He’s prepared us better for life after high school than anyone I’ve ever met. And as someone who doesn’t have a father, he’s been that figure for me. He’s taught me everything.”
Added Alston: “He’s been an older brother and mentor for us. He’s a great leader, and hearing about his struggles and what he had to go through to get here, it just motivates us to do better. By whatever twist of fate, he’s here now, and we want to keep giving him the opportunity to step up and show everyone how good of a coach he is.”
At this point, Tacony is playing with house money. If they can win a playoff game when their best players have an off night, there’s no telling what might happen if they all put it together at the same time.
“When I first came here, we didn’t even have a court,” Purnell said. “We were practicing on backyard hoops. We used to get blown out every game, but each year we’ve made progress. It might be my last year ever playing basketball, so I’m trying to make it last as long as it can.”
“All along, I’ve looked at this as a challenge, and I love challenges,” Alston added. “I like to step up to the occasion. And even though I didn’t play my best, we still stepped up and got the ‘W.’ That was huge for us, for Tacony history. It’s special. If we keep playing for the man next to us, we’ll come out victorious, whether we win the game or not. As long as we’re together, we’ll be good.”
