To watch David Hawkins get loose before a game is to see one of the great contemporary images of the Philadelphia Big 5.
It's quite a sight to follow him as he moves across the hardwood, bouncing around his half of the court before tip-off, uncoiling his 6-foot-5, 230-pound body -- broad and imposing like a young George Foreman. He's mostly serious, a picture of determination tempered by a look of detached amusement, like he's the only guy in on the joke.
Facing the Penn Quakers for the last time in his career, Hawkins and his Temple Owls provided their city a refreshing spell from its Eagles-induced melancholia, at least for a couple hours.
A crowd of 5,573 witnessed a vintage Palestra tilt last night -- the most exciting game so far in this year's city series. The bands were blaring and the stands were rocking. Rabid fans hung on every possession as two teams of immense character fought each other down the stretch, and proved a vivid reminder of what Big 5 basketball is all about.
As usual, the matchup offered a radical contrast in styles. In one corner, there was Hawkins, the Nintendo-type scorer who's represented a one-man offense this season on North Broad Street. In the other corner: the balanced, patient Red and Blue side -- the scoring by committee, the methodical clockwork offense.
It all played out like a chess match, pitting Fran Dunphy's thinking-man's offense against John Chaney's thinking-man's defense. When Temple's guards cheated outside to pressure Penn's high-post offense, the Quakers tried to keep the Owls honest by firing the ball inside.
But thanks to another superhuman effort by Hawkins, the Owls escaped from the Palestra with an exciting 73-69 victory.
Penn and Temple -- two of the nation's finest-coached teams -- went at each other like wild animals for 40 minutes, through 10 lead changes and a number of frenetic stretches.
Penn's Jeff Schiffner had his hands full in defending the thick Hawkins, who is easily the second-best player in the city. When Schiffner did succeed in denying Hawkins the ball, Mardy Collins was there to hit a jump shot or deposit a layup.
"Coach tries to stress with me that I can't win the game by myself," Hawkins said. "I got to put more passes on the ball and try to find my teammates more. Since he's such a smart guy, it worked."
Hawkins, like Schiffner, is a magical player in the twilight of his collegiate career. And, also like Schiffner, sometimes he's his team's only option.
His team-leading numbers resonate, to be sure -- 26 points, eight assists, five steals. But the moments he produces -- through his defensive tenacity, his sheer explosiveness, his palpable will -- is the stuff of Philadelphia basketball lore.
Penn weathered the storm throughout the second half, but Temple shot a blistering 52 percent from the field to gradually pull away.
In the end, it was Hawkins who sealed the victory for the Owls. The senior swiped a lazy Charlie Copp pass and took it all the way to put the Cherry and White ahead, 62-56. Penn would respond with one last surge, but wouldn't lead again.
"It really made me feel good that we could win a game like this, against a team with a great deal of basketball IQ," Chaney said. "Their savvy is just great. They play together, they pass the ball. They make you work on defense."
In their last non-conference game, the Quakers performed admirably against a more athletic opponent -- they simply could not overcome the relentless efforts of the Owls' indefatigable leader.
When Hawkins innocently alluded to the tougher competition as Temple's conference schedule came into play, Chaney interrupted his captain.
"You're not going to see anybody tougher than these guys," the old man insisted.
He may be right, but the Quakers are that much tougher -- as they prepare to defend their two Ivy League championships -- with one more city series barnburner under their belt.
