The Daily News included a nice little profile of West Philadelphia High School forward Lemeir Mitchell in its report of West’s drubbing of Horace Furness yesterday 76-60.

In addition to being a basketball player, Mitchell, who lives at 52nd and Hazel, is also an artist and, for now, he is specializing in tattoo art. He has even given himself a couple, including one that runs from elbow to his wrist.

Here is the full story.

High school basketball teams from New York City swept Philadelphia teams in a top-shelf tournament at the Palestra on Sunday. The 4th annual Villa Holiday Classic featured some tight match-ups in every sense of the word, but finished with 4 NYC wins.

Here are the results (From Dylan Butler’s blog at the NY Post):

Bishop Loughlin (NYC) 63, Dobbins Tech (Philly) 54

Boys and Girls (NYC) 62, Imhotep (Philly) 61 in a heartbreaker

Rice (NYC) 69, Penn Wood (Philly) 54

Christ the King 69, Neumann Goretti 66 in overtime

Philly and New York are going head to head all day today at the Palestra (235 South 33rd St.). The 4th annual Villa Holiday Classic high school basketball tournament, which pits four teams from Philly against four from New York, tips off at noon today. Tickets are $12-$25.

At 1:45 defending Philadelphia Public League champs Imhotep willl take on New York Public League champs Boys and Girls. Both teams are nationally ranked. The line-up also includes defending Philadelphia Catholic League champs Neumann Goretti against New York’s nationally ranked Christ the King in the 5:30 finale.

The Palestra box office can be reached at 215-898-6151.

It turned out to be easier than West Catholic players ever could have imagined. West Catholic won the PIAA Class AA state title today with a 50-14 defeat of South Fayette at Hersheypark Stadium.

West Catholic dominated on the ground, rushing for 406 yards on 48 carries. West’s David Williams led the ground attack with 183 yards on 14 carries. The win will help West fans and players forget the 35-34 double overtime loss in the title game against Wilmington Area two years ago.

A few bus ride/game  tickets remain for the West Catholic football state title Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults and include bus transportation from West Catholic (4501 Chestnut St.) for the noon game against South Fayette, an undefeated team from the Pittsburgh suburb of McDonald. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Tickets must be purchased by 9 a.m. on Friday. Call the school at 215-386-2244.

A pep rally will be held at the school tomorrow at noon for students and alumni.

West Catholic will get another chance at a state title. The Burrs defeated Lewisburg 21-7 at Hersheypark Stadium on Friday in the PIAA Class AA football semifinals. West running back Brandon Hollomon gained 206 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run to seal the win.

West will take on undefeated South Fayette, who defeated Forest Hills 49-12 in the other semifinal. The championship game will be Saturday at Noon at Hersheypark Stadium.

Here are some highlights compliments of Easternpafootball.com.