March 3, 2010
Crafty Chris Curran constructs CAL championship
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Ocean City High School senior Chris Curran wrote his name into another record book
last Saturday when he scored 33 points in the Cape-Atlantic League Championship Game
at Egg Harbor Township.
Curran made eight of 21 shots, including a trio of three-pointers, and 14 of 18 free
throws to break the championship game scoring record of 29 points set by Middle
Township's LaMarr Greer in 1994 and equaled by Atlantic City's Kevin Wilkins in 1996.
And, to complete the Hollywood-like story of his championship game efforts, one of
Curran's trio of three-pointers came with 15 seconds left in the second overtime,
broke the 60-60 tie and became the winning points.
Curran, who will play his college football at Ursinus College, made fade-away jumpers,
twisting layups and power moves in the game. His 33 points was the first 30-point
game by an Ocean City player since Trey Severs scored 33 at Oakcrest in December of
2006.
John Bruno was asked what Curran meant to his team.
"I can't answer that," he said. "I can't adequately put it into words. It is hard to
explain what he means to this team. We're talking about a kid who is a football player,
and a damn good football player. But, all things considered, he's probably as good a
basketball player as there is in this league. He comes to play every single night. He
plays hard and he is incredibly strong in the clutch. You can single out one play - like
the steal at halfcourt or the three-pointer at the end - but he is more than just those
plays. He is a leader for all 32 minutes."
Or, in this case, 40 minutes. Because Curran never left the court in a hard-fought, physical
championship game where 50 personal fouls were called.
This is the same guy who wrote his name into the OCHS football record books as a passer
and a kicker last fall. And, like many of his teammates, Curran is also a highly successful
student. A lot of people have wondered what makes this Ocean City team so successful.
There are talented, unselfish athletes on the team but none of the high-scoring, go-to
players that you frequently see on championship teams.
One of the reasons this team has been so successful might be its intelligence, as seen on
the most recent OCHS honor roll. Curran received distinguished honors. All five of Bruno s
starters are on the honor roll, four receiving distinguished honors. And four players on
the bench are also on the honor roll, three receiving distinguished honors.
"Chris is a smart player," said Bruno, "and that makes him tough. Because he is also one
of the greatest competitors we've had."
On Saturday in a championship setting, Chris Curran showed that competitive spirit by not
letting his team lose. Lets leave the final words about his performance to the coach on
the other bench.
"I give Curran a lot of credit," said Lower Cape May coach Pat Holden. "We couldn't stop him.
I don't remember any player scoring against us the way that kid did in a long time. He had
a spectacular game. He won the game for them in a variety of ways. He wanted the ball in his
hands and he wanted to make every play."
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