Jamie Ross, Vaux High School head basketball coach, knows what time of year it is. It’s playoff time in the Public League. When it comes to the playoffs, Ross has a lot of knowledge and experience.

In 1988, as a player, he helped to lead Frankford High to a 71-64 victory over West Philadelphia High in four overtimes. It was one of the league’s most exciting championship games.

“That was a great win for us,” said Ross, who played his college basketball at Eastern Kentucky. “We had Carlin and Jason Warley on that team. But we couldn’t have won it without Cori Lewis, Jeffrey Mack, Kevin Newton and all the other guys. It was a great experience.”

Ross, a second-year head coach at Vaux, is preparing his team for the league playoffs, which begin today. The Cougars won’t play until Thursday afternoon. They have a bye in the first round. Vaux will have a chance to wait and see who its opponent will be when they take the court in a couple days.

Vaux is one of the top teams in the Public League. Rysheed Jordan, a 6-foot-4 junior guard, is a terrific player. Jordan averages 16.5 points a game and is regarded as one of the best players in the city. Shawn Williams, a 6-foot senior guard, is capable of scoring from the backcourt. Williams is averaging 13.1 points a game. James Cole, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, is the Cougars second leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points a game.

“We won’t play in the first round,” Ross said. “We have to get ready for Thursday. I really like our team. Rysheed Jordan played very well. Rysheed is pulling up and taking his jumpshot now. He can take the ball to the basket. But I like the way he’s taking advantage of the open shot. He has a lot of talent. He had a real good summer at the Reebok Camp.

“Shawn Williams has done a nice job for our team. He’s had some big games. Shawn has been a big help. We’ve received contributions from a lot of different players. Kyseem Roberts (5-foot-10 guard) has been handing the ball for us. We had Synquel Cottman who came off the bench to score seven points in the last two minutes and hit the winning shot. The thing I like about our team is everybody contributes. The guys are very competitive. I really enjoy coaching them.”

A year ago, Vaux made a strong run in the postseason. Ross believes the success and experience could serve his team well this year.

“We lost in the Final Eight in the Public League playoffs,” Ross said. “We also made it to the Final Eight in the PIAA playoffs. We lost to Philadelphia Electric in the Public League playoffs. Then, we lost to Imhotep in the PIAA playoffs. I thought we played well last year. We went pretty far. We have some players back from that team. I think the playoffs should be really good. We have a lot of good teams in the league. We’re looking forward to the competition.”

NOTES: The preliminary round of the league playoffs begins today at 3:15 p.m. throughout the city.

Class A

Parkway at World Communications

Class AA

Philadelphia Academy at Communications Tech

Mastery North at Esperanza

Hope Charter at Prep Charter

Masterman at Strawberry Mansion

Sayre at Freire Charter

Class AAA

Dobbins at Bok

West Philadelphia at Roxborough

Class AAAA

Overbrook at Central

Southern at Northeast

Simon Gratz at Olney

Lincoln at Washington

Kensington at Frankford

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .