Constitution sinks teeth into PL title

THIS IS A basketball accomplishment Craig "Poppy" Slade can sink his teeth into.

Yes, all of them.

That revelation might surprise the folks who saw Constitution, which now boasts a championship in only its third Public League season, battle Math, Civics and Sciences Charter in a quarterfinal back on Feb. 18.

Two minutes before halftime, Slade planted himself in the lane at the north end of Southern High's gym and took a violent-contact, elbow-first charge from Quadir Welton . . . And there went an upper front tooth, bouncing along the baseline.

Craig's father, Scott, immediately zipped him to Children's Hospital, so he missed the rest of that game. Ditto for the semifinal triumph over John Bartram . . . doctor's orders.

But Slade suited up and made important contributions Saturday, before a nearly full house at the Community College of Philadelphia, as the Generals thrashed Boys' Latin Charter, 85-60, and then all pearly whites were visible during the unabashed, oncourt celebration.

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