Congratulating the Community College of Philadelphia Men's Basketball Team.

WHEREAS, In a bid to regain the Pennsylvania State Junior College championship it had won in 2000, Community College of Philadelphia (the Colonials) faced its old nemesis, Community College of Beaver County, (the Titans) once again on February 24, 2002; and

WHEREAS, The Titans had denied the Colonials the title in three consecutive years in the late ‘90’s, and the Philadelphia Colonials were determined not to let this one slip away. With Jazz Black and fellow forwards Matt Kauderer (19 points) and Eric Houston providing much of the offense, Philadelphia matched the Titans’ up-and-down style. The trio combined for 27 points, with guards Isiah Thomas and Jamar Butts doing a good job of getting the ball; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia had a 41-40 edge at intermission after forward Jazz Black made a free throw with 18 seconds remaining; and

WHEREAS, Reserve guard Bob Black scored 11 points in the first eight minutes of the second half and the game stood tied at 61 points. Guard Tyreece Brown came off the bench and scored two consecutive baskets and Black dropped in a jumper to put the Colonials ahead 71-65. Beaver County tied the score at 77 with less than four minutes left to play. You could feel the tension all around as the Colonials went into high gear and scored unanswered baskets to finish the game with a 90-77 win that prompted fans to storm the home court in celebration of the magnificently focused Junior College Championship game; now, therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we honor and congratulate the Community College of Philadelphia Men’s Basketball Team in claiming, without any dispute, the Pennsylvania State Junior College championship. They won the title the old fashioned way; they worked hard for it and they played with a concerted team effort that likened it to a Super Bowl for every member of the team.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That Engrossed copies of the resolution be presented to the State Junior College Champions, Community College of Philadelphia Men’s Basketball Team, and to Coach Dondi DeShields, who was named “Coach of the Year”, by the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association. We present these documents as evidence of the high commendation and wholehearted congratulations of this legislative body.

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