PENNSAUKENFor those not familiar with the squad, the Highland Park boys’ basketball team won the Central Jersey Group I championship this season, thanks in large part to the offensive talents of Terrance Highsmith.
By:Kyle Moylan
This information is offered now because it was not readily available last Thursday night at Pennsauken High School. Anyone was didn’t know about the exploits of Highland Park before the game were kept in the dark during Florence’s 60-39 Group I state semifinal contest.
"One of the keys to the game was our defense never allowed Highsmith to touch the basketball," Florence coach Art Bobik noted. "He had 33 points (March 7 in the Central Jersey Group I title game). I knew if we could shut down Highsmith, I felt we could win this game."
Actually, "shut down" was a bit of an understatement. The production line for Vanilla Ice CDs and 8-track players have been "shut down." Florence made Highsmith disappear. There were more Elvis and Big Foot signings at Pennsauken than of Terrance Highsmith.
While it was building a 37-15 halftime lead, Florence held Highsmith scoreless. For the game, Highsmith was held to just 2 points.
What Florence did to Highsmith and the rest of the Highland park players every opponent it faced this season, for that matter - was take away the easy offense.
With David Keeley and Jeff Dankanich down low at about 6-foot-9 each, it’s hard for anyone to drive to the basket against Florence. Shots are blocked and passes are routinely tipped away. And with Keeley and Dankanich pulling down just about every rebound, Florence rarely has to worry about its opponent scoring off any easy putbacks.
To its credit, Highland Park tried. It tried to drive to the basket. It tried to shoot from the outside, but Jorron Jenkins, Warren Miller and Stephen Ordog were also playing great defense.
There are no easy baskets against Florence. If a team wants to be successful, it better be able to pass like Princeton University and/or shoot from the outside like Larry Bird.
"I think we intimidated them," Keeley said.
Florence also frustrated Highland park, which began to force up awkward shot after awkward shot. Highland Park finished the first half shooting only 6-for-32 from the field.
With its shots not falling, the frustration continued to build for Highland Park in the second half. A few balls were slammed to the ground. And, at one point, a Highland Park player turned around and shoved Keeley. Realizing he had about a foot on the guy and could probably knock him out faster than Mike Tyson did Michael Spinks, Keeley just shook his head and walked away.
Keeley took this foul for the team. He also took a lot of shots for Florence. He started off hitting outside shots. As the game went on, Keeley came inside more, collecting passes or pulling down rebounds and putting in easy lay-ups. Keeley scored 10 points in each of the first two quarters and finished with 32 points for the game.
"There’s just no substitute for height," Bobik noted. "If you get in trouble, just throw the ball up. What an advantage having height. That’s something we never had in the past."
Well, on the way to a Group I title last season, Dankanich was a big part of the team. A year ago Dankanich was someone still trying to adjust to his growth spurt, though.
"It takes a while," Dankanich noted. "I’m more coordinated now."
The biggest improvement in Dankanich’s game is probably in his ability to catch and distribute passes. For someone 6-foot-9, Dankanich was also remarkably smooth from the foul line, making all 7 of his free throws as he finished the game with 11 points.
Although a senior now, Keeley wasn’t even playing basketball last season. After transferring to Florence during the season, Keeley was ineligible.
"I wasn’t anywhere last season," Keeley said. Thanks to the defense of Keeley, Dankanich and the other Florence players, the same could be said of Highsmith and the other Highland Park players last Thursday night. Make no mistake about it, Highsmith is a great player and Highland Park is a championship team. Keeley and Florence are just better.
