February 22, 2006
CAL to hold its 15th basketball championship games
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Holy Spirit will bring its boys and girls basketball teams to Richard Stockton
College on Saturday for the 15th annual Cape-Atlantic League Championship
Doubleheader. It will mark the first time since 1994 that one school will have
its teams in both games.
The CAL playoffs began in 1992 at Holy Spirit's gym with Middle Township facing
Egg Harbor Township in the girls games and Middle meeting Atlantic City in the
boys championship. The Middle girls, led by Dinean McBride, and the Atlantic City
boys, sparked by Romaine Haywood, were the winners that first year.
Holy Spirit was the site of the playoff doubleheader the next two years and
Middle sent both of its teams to both of those championships, as well. But they
didn't win. Atlantic City beat the Middle boys twice in 1993 and 1994. And the
Panther girls lost to Egg Harbor Township in 1993 and Millville in 1994.
No school has ever won both championships in the same year. In fact, Middle is
the only school to win both the boys and girls titles in the entire 14 years of
championship doubleheaders. The Panthers won girls titles in 1995 and 1996 while
the boys won in 1998.
There have been three 30-point games in the 14 years, all by girls. Wildwood's
Monica Johnson had two of them, 38 points as a sophomore in 2000 and 37 in 2002.
Millville's Jen Denby scored 34 in 1994. The most points scored by a boy in the
game is 29 by Middle's LaMarr Greer in 1994 and equaled by Atlantic City's Kevin
Wilkins in 1996.
Only one team placed five players in double figures, Joe Fussner's Atlantic City
team in 1994. Jomo Lyles-Belton scored 18, Alex Smith 14, Larry Johnson 13, Abel
Barnard 12 and David Braithwaite 10. Only one game went into overtime - the 1998
girls final at Atlantic City High School when Vineland beat Bridgeton, 47-45.
This will be the first appearance in the championship game by Holy Spirit's boys.
The Spartan girls have played twice before, losing to Absegami in 2003 and 2005.
But their opponents on Saturday almost consider the game part of their regular
schedule.
The Atlantic City boys will be playing in their 14th championship game. The only
one they missed was in 2001. Fussner was 3-1 in the championship games, Mo
Griffin was 2-5 and Gene Allen is 1-1.
Absegami's girls are playing in their eighth straight title contest, having won
the last three and five times overall. Greg Goodwin was the coach in all of those
appearances.
Only four coaches who have been in the CAL playoffs more than once have winning
records. The best is Goodwin s 5-2. Next is The Prep's Paul Rodio at 6-3, Fussner
at 3-1 and former EHT girls coach Sam Botta at 2-1.
Overall, the National Conference champion leads in the boys game, 8-6, and
Atlantic City ended a four-year National win streak last year. The American teams
lead in the girls game, 9-5, with a three-year win streak.
On Saturday, based on what has happened so far this season, Absegami is probably
a favorite in the 12 noon girls game and Holy Spirit is slightly favored to win
the boys game. But that kind of stuff means very little once these teams get on
the court.
Tickets ($6.00 each, no passes) went on sale at the three schools on Tuesday and
will continue to be offered until Friday. Those that remain will be sold at the
door on Saturday.
In 14 years, no school has ever won both CAL basketball titles. The odds are it
will probably not happen in year 15.
But you never know!
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Tom Williams' columns