March 31, 2010
Filing another high school basketball season into history
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
High school basketball in New Jersey ended last week with a doubleheader in the Meadowlands,
followed by a series of all star games. No Cape-Atlantic League team won a South Jersey
championship, ending the CAL's incredible streak at 39 years with at least one South Jersey champ.
Three of the four teams in the CAL championship doubleheader this year had not been there
before and the two champions - Atlantic City's girls and Ocean City's boys - won their titles
in overtime thrillers.
There is a final list of CAL stat leaders online here.
But, before we put this CAL season into the books, it is time for our basketball buffet,
a list of the best of the just completed season from one point of view.
All Cape-Atlantic Boys: Chris Curran, Ocean City; Aaron Freeman, Cape May Tech; Jaymere Hadden, Millville;
Tom McKeefrey, Lower Cape May; Isaiah Morton, St. Augustine.
All Cape-Atlantic Girls: Tiana Cannon, Atlantic City; Alicia Cox, Vineland; Jade Howard, St. Joseph;
Tenisha Mobley, Holy Spirit; Joanna Persiano, Holy Spirit.
Players of the Year: Tom McKeefrey and Tiana Cannon.
The Early 2011-12 Boys All Star Team: Ken Armstead, Vineland; Matt Bosch, Ocean City;
T. John Casiello, Wildwood Catholic; Larry Jones, Holy Spirit; Keyshawn Reynolds, Atlantic City.
The Early 2011-12 Girls All Star Team: Emily Duggan, Ocean City; Julia Duggan, Ocean City;
Sahara Lopez, Atlantic City; Kristine Miller, Oakcrest; Selena Santiago, Egg Harbor Township.
CAL Boys Coaches of the Year: There are no ties in basketball. But this is a tough one.
How do you decide between Ocean City's John Bruno and Pat Holden of Lower Cape May. Both had
experienced teams returning, yet their conferences were almost always controlled by the Atlantic
Citys, St. Augustines, Holy Spirits and Middle Townships. This year, their precision offenses and
emphasis on defense paid off, each winning a series of close games and conference titles. Then it
took two overtimes to decide the CAL championship. The only thing that could have made this season
better would have been a rematch between the two in Erma for the South Jersey Group 3 title. Bruno
and Holden both deserve the honor of Coach of the Year so lets give it to both of them. Special
mention to Dale Moore, who won a division title in Millville, ending Atlantic City's streak of 19
straight years.
CAL Girls Coach of the Year: Laurie Carter was a determined player for Joe Fussner in her playing
days at Atlantic City. She has worked equally hard to develop the program at her alma mater.
This year her hard work culminated with the school's first CAL girls championship in a thrilling
overtime win over Holy Spirit. She is clearly the Coach of the Year.
Best Newcomer-Part One: The new gymnasium at Egg Harbor Township. The designers gutted the old
facility and created one of the league's best basketball courts. In its first year, it hosted the
CAL championship doubleheader and an NJSIAA state semifinal. It is a welcome addition to the
Cape-Atlantic League.
Home Court Advantage: There were 26 teams that had better records at home than they did on the road
this season. But no gap was bigger this year than Egg Harbor Township's boys in that new gym. George
McNally's Eagles were 8-4 at home and 4-10 on the road. On the other side, St. Augustine was 9-5 at
home but 13-1 on the road.
Biggest Improvement: A total of 17 teams won more games this year than in 2008-09. But the biggest
jump was by Ocean City, which won 11 more games this season than last, best among boys teams. Egg
Harbor Township, Buena and Wildwood Catholic were second with six. Among girls teams, Atlantic City
improved its win total by seven, Our Lady of Mercy and Vineland by three each.
Comeback of the Year: Wildwood Catholic High School.
Injury of the Year: Middle Township's Shai Henry went down with a knee injury in December, dealing
the Panthers a difficult loss. He was first team, all-conference in 2008-09 and figured to be one of
the league's very best players.
Best Newcomer-Part Two: There are a few basketball cheering sections in the CAL - the Richland Rowdies
at St. Augustine, the Corral Crazies at Mainland, the Sixth Man at Lower Cape May, etc. They're all
good and enthusiastic. But this year they were all battling for second place. Because Raider Nation
took over the CAL. Created by Frank Unger, Tank Bryce and Alex Wallace, this group of Ocean City
students not only entertained at the games, their spirit even got the fans of the opposing teams more
involved. And they also helped raise more than $1,200 for charity. Lets hope Raider Nation is here to
stay and their enthusiasm inspires similar groups at other CAL schools.
Boys Shot of the Year: This was probably already decided by ESPN SportsCenter. Ryan Herman hit two
three-pointers in the final 11 seconds on Jan. 6, including one from 30 feet just before the final
buzzer, to lead Lower Cape May to a remarkable 48-45 win over Middle Township. The excitement of the
finish caused ESPN and other media sources to include the video in its highlights. But, in retrospect,
it was even bigger. Without Herman's heroics, Middle would not only have won the game but the division
and the conference, as well.
Girls Shot of the Year: Not Middle Township, again! It's Jan. 22 and the Panthers are trying to protect
a lead against Holy Spirit in the final seconds. A free throw gets Spirit within two, then Sarah Marakos
drills a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 37-36 win. It took the Panthers a game or two to shake it off.
Performance of the Year: It's pretty hard to overlook a player that had his best game in the league
championship game, scoring 33 points (a record for the game) and grabbing 10 rebounds. He made 14 of 18
free throws and three from three-point range, including the game-winner with 15 seconds left. And he
never left the court, playing all 40 minutes. No doubt about it, Ocean City's Chris Curran definitely
turned in the season's top single-game performance against Lower Cape May.
Games of the Year: How can you top the two most important Cape-Atlantic League games of the year - the
championship doubleheader at EHT. Tiana Cannon led a remarkable Atlantic City comeback and overtime
win, then Chris Curran sparked Ocean City to a double overtime victory. CAL fans could not have asked
for a more exciting climax to the regular season.
The Cape-Atlantic League was extra exciting in the 2009-10 season. There are many young players returning,
so things figure to be just as good next year. And it all starts in less than 39 weeks.
Read more of
Tom Williams' columns