Imhotep Charter basketball advances to state championship game

The Imhotep Institute Charter High School Panthers basketball team proved its mettle and desire to win a third PIAA Class AA State Championship in four years Wednesday night, defeating Holy Cross in a defensive battle, 37-35, to advance to Saturday’s state championship game.

Kamani Jordan hit a three-pointer with 3:42 left in the game to put the Panthers up 36-34. After free throws by both sides, Holy Cross held the ball for what would be the final possession.

With eight seconds left, sophomore PG Connor Callejas, son of head coach Al Callejas, drove to the basket for a game-tying lay-up, only to have it blocked as time expired by reserve sophomore Deion Evans sending Imhotep to the championship game once again, according to reports from the game.

Imhotep will face Beaver Falls Saturday at 2 p.m. in Happy Valley.

Beaver Falls defeated Quaker Valley 55-45, having trailed most of the game, and were down by as many as eight late in the third quarter.

Beaver Falls will be making its fifth trip to the state-championship game, taking the title most recently in 2005.