December 14, 2005

Tipoff Weekend brings strong history to OCHS

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


Five defending state basketball champions will descend on Ocean City High School over the weekend for the eighth annual Tipoff Weekend, brought to the one-year old high school with the support of a new title sponsor, the Ocean City PBA.

Haddonfield’s boys, Atlantic City’s boys and the girls from Woodrow Wilson, Absegami and Sacred Heart all won state championships a year ago.

Players like Haddonfield’s 7-2 Brian Zoubek, Atlantic City guard Frank Turner, Dennis Horner of Holy Spirit, Lower Cape May’s Charles Johnson, Blake Wilson of Haddonfield, Rickie Crews of Deptford and Dave Beyel and the returning Ocean City players will highlight the boys games. They’ll be playing at places like Duke, NC State, Princeton and Monmouth next season.

Top girls players like Atlantic City’s Tasha Cannon, Krissy Rosario from Absegami, Jordan Sykes of Holy Spirit, Wildwood Catholic’s Jane O’Donnell, Lauren Howell of Sacred Heart, Tara Booker of Absegami, Holy Spirit’s Chelsi Johnson, Deree Fooks of Woodrow Wilson and the Ocean City inside duo of Danielle Brady and Michelle McKinley will demonstrate their talents.

They all have tough acts to follow.

In the first seven years of the Tipoff, there have been some great moments and great performances.

The first one was in 1998 when Triton’s Michele Matyasovsky, who went on to an all star career at Duke, had 26 points, 22 rebounds, two steals and nine blocked shots. But her team lost to Egg Harbor Township by a point when April Pashley nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The very next day, Jessica Guyrics and Alex Balcerski each scored six in overtime to provide wins for Absegami’s girls and Mainland’s boys, respectively. Sterling’s Jessica Copskey also scored 35 points to help Sterling win.

A year later, Cyndi Wilks of Bridgeton had 31 points, 18 rebounds and five assists in a losing effort. Atlantic City’s Tory Cavalieri scored 21 points, including 11 of 11 free throws, to beat a good Neptune team. And Middle Township’s Marcus McNeal scored 34 as the Panthers won a battle with Sterling, whose Ernest Turner scored 28.

In 2000, there were a quartet of great boys games in a row. Antwan Dozier had 24 points as Pleasantville beat Woodrow Wilson, 78-70. Nick Mimmo scored 19 as Holy Spirit beat defending Group 4 champion Highland, 55-47. Jose Gonzalez scored 28 points and Olu Babalola 22 as St. Augustine beat Paterson Catholic. And EHT placed four players in double figures in a 65-61 win over Pemberton.

The next year, Willingboro’s Crystal Langhorne, just voted USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year, scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a 74-69 win over Absegami. Scott Greenman scored 19 and Michael Haddix had 18 rebounds as St. Augustine beat Atlantic City, 73-59. And Monica Johnson scored 16 as Wildwood beat Gloucester Catholic, 51-46.

In 2002, the Tipoff moved from EHT to Holy Spirit. Bruce Davenport scored 19 to pace EHT past Pleasantville, 70-64. And Andrew Morrison scored 26 points and took 13 rebounds to lead Wildwood Catholic past Oakcrest, 68-61, in two overtimes. Terrence Woodson scored 30 for Oakcrest, including a three at the buzzer that sent the game into OT.

It was off to Ventnor City in 2003. Cedric Jackson scored 36 for Northern Burlington in a 64-58 win over Oakcrest, which got 26 from Matt Byrnes. And Chad Davis had 25 points and 18 boards to lead Sacred Heart over Ocean City, 69-68, in overtime. Phil Schaffer had 21 for the Raiders.

Last year, Atlantic City’s Ed Keyes scored 22 points, making 10 of 11 shots and grabbed 22 rebounds as the Vikings buried Willingboro. And the Absegami girls beat Woodrow Wilson, 47-43, with Connie James getting 15 points and 18 rebounds.

Ocean City’s Mike Rowell scored his 1,000th point in the Tipoff. Eight boys and three girls have scored 30 or more in a game. Players you are now reading about in college basketball performed in the event during the first weekend of the high school season.

The history of what is now called the Ocean City PBA Tipoff Weekend is filled with talented players, championship teams and exciting performances. Judging by the talent coming to Ocean City this weekend, there should be some more special moments on Saturday and Sunday.



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