WINNING WEEK FOR DELSEA BASKETBALL!
Winning Week for Delsea Basketball!
By Sentinel of GC Sports Writer Jacob Keppen
To close out 2016, both Delsea Boys and Girls Basketball participated in tournaments. The boys basketball team played in the Butch Mclean Memorial Tournament at Haddon Heights. In their first game the boys played Gloucester Catholic. Gloucester Catholic entered the game 3-0, defeating 2-4 Pennsville, 0-5 Salem, and 1-4 Deptford. Delsea entered the game at 2-2, with wins over 0-6 Gloucester Tech and 0-7 Penns grove. Delsea had lost to 3-2 Triton and 5-1 Woodstown (whose only loss came to Camden). With Delsea yet to win a game over a team with a win, Delsea entered the game as an underdog. Delsea was also without coach Tom Freeman for the game due to illness.
The game was a close one. Delsea lead by one, 42-41, entering the 4th quarter. Delsea would pull away from Rams, scoring 19 in the 4th quarter on a good defensive Rams team. Delsea would clamp down on defense in the final quarter as well, only allowing 11 points.
Brice Parks lead the charge on offense for the Crusaders. Parks scored 20 points for Delsea. He also provided solid defense with 2 blocks and 4 steals. Javon Gordon scored 15 points and had 5 rebounds. Kamel Morton had 13 points and 6 rebounds.
Delsea played hosts Haddon Heights in their next game. Haddon Heights entered the game 3-1, with their first loss of the season coming from the previous game against Rancocas Valley 53-50. Delsea would once again be underdogs, playing another tough team. Delsea defeated the host Garnets 64-1. Javon Gordon lead the Crusaders to victory with 20 points and 7 assists. He also had 6 steals and 4 rebounds. Brice Parks had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Kamel Morton had 12 points, and Kolby Braxton 9 points.
Delsea needed this week very much to get a win over a solid team. They rebounded well after a tough loss to Triton, a game they could have won. Now Delsea is 4-2 and could put themselves in a good position. Delsea will start the New Year hosting Schalick on the 3rd. Schalick was a solid team that gave Delsea problems last year. Schalick got hit at graduation, losing top players in Taylor Clarke and Tyler Lunsford. Now Schalick is 1-6. Delsea will also host 3-3 Hammonton on the 5th. The big game will be on the 12th when Delsea plays 4-1 Glassboro.
The girls basketball team played in the Boardwalk Classic in the Jay Craven Bracket in Wildwood. Delsea played Merion Mercy from Pennsylvania first. Delsea defeated Merion Mercy in a thrilling 42-41 victory. Delsea was shut down in the second quarter, only scoring three points. Merion Mercy went into the second half up 23-15. A big third quarter in which Delsea scored 15 and limited Merion Mercy to 8 points was instrumental in the Crusaders’ comeback victory.
Wykira Johnson led the Crusaders to victory with 23 points. Shannon Carroll lead Merion Mercy with 15 points, and Jada Smith added 11 points.
Delsea played Lower Cape May in the finals of the Jay Craven Bracket in the Boardwalk Classic at Wildwood. It was a tight defensive matchup that went down to the very end. Delsea led 26-19 and watched their large lead evaporate. They held on in the final minutes to win 29-28. Wykira Johnson lead her Crusaders to victory, scoring 8 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She also had 4 steals. Glory Morton had six points as did Cara McCoy.
Delsea won the Jay Craven Bracket and congratulations! 5-0 Delsea will start of 2017 by traveling to 1-6 Schalick on the 3rd. On the 5th Delsea will travel to 3-2 Kingsway. Finally Delsea will end their week by hosting 0-3 Cedar Creek. The big matchup will be on the 10th when Delsea hosts 2-3 Gloucester Catholic.