With Jackson out, Florence boys’ basketball team coasts

Jackson’s ankle still ailing.

By:Sean Moylan
   The Florence Township Memorial High School boys’ varsity basketball team, a team which has won two Group I State titles in the last three years, had the ultimate match-up scheduled versus Cedric Jackson and the Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity basketball team at NBC this past Thursday.
   The only problem was Jackson’s ankle was still ailing so he wasn’t available for the contest.
   Consequently, the Flashes did what they do best. They took a modest lead (five points) into the fourth quarter and then they poured it on to win and grab a 61-39 decision.
   "It wasn’t really that easy (the victory). We just kept on playing hard and everything fell into place," said Florence star Jorron Jenkins, who led the scorers with 16 points.
   "We just came out (in the fourth quarter) and played hard defense."
   With Florence everything always starts with the defense.
   Florence outscored NBC, 26-9, in the final stanza with Jenkins and Talbert Woodall combining for 15 fourth-quarter points. Woodall had 15 points for the game.
   "Talbert – he’s the workhorse of the team. He does all the little things (11 rebounds) that no one notices. Him and Steve Ordog (six points) do all the little things," said Jenkins, who is very appreciative of the way his teammates set him up for scores.
   Meanwhile Matt Ordog, a great shooter, canned a pair of three-pointers on his way to scoring 10 points for the victors. Tommy Giambrone (seven points), Dave Tardiff (six points) and Ryan Shafer (one point) all got into the Flashes scoring mix too.
   NBC had a good third quarter (9-8) before slipping in the final stanza. Even so, Joel Campbell continued his fine play of late with 13 points and Nick "Bibby" Nelson chipped in with a pair of treys and nine points. Joe Loftus (seven points), Darnell Smith (three points), Luckner Paul (two points), Durell Whitmore (one point), John Mitchel (one point) and Eric Milanowicz (three points) all tallied for the Greyhounds too.
   Florence started out slow (10-10 after a quarter), but it more than made up for it in the middle quarters (a 52-13 run) to post a decisive 80-34 victory at New Egypt on Tuesday night. Jorron Jenkins was the game’s leading scorer with 21 points, including 17 in Florence’s 27-7 second quarter. Laron Thomas had seven field goals for 14 points, while Talbert Woodall pitched in with 10 points. Tommy Giambrone, who has been playing very well as of late, scored nine points, Dave Tardiff and Maurice Calhoun each scored seven points. Moreover, Ryan Shafer connected on a pair of three-pointers and Steve Ordog also hit a three-pointer. And Dan Miller picked up three points from the foul line.
   Florence (9-2) is scheduled to host Riverside on Thursday. Then it is scheduled at Burlington City next Tuesday. NBC (5-5) is scheduled at Holy Cross on Friday and at Delran on Tuesday.
BRHS

   Even when it loses, the Bordentown Regional High School boys’ varsity basketball team plays so hard and so well, it impresses people nonetheless.
   A good case in point was Saturday afternoon’s heartbreaking 74-67 overtime home loss to Palmyra in the Hall of Fame game. Bordentown senior point guard Steve DiLemme scored a career-high 32 points and he knocked down eight three-pointers, including five treys in the third quarter.
   "It (DeLemme’s performance) was fantastic," said Bordentown head coach Mark Drew.
   DiLemme’s great shooting temporarily enabled Bordentown to get out of a nine-point second-half hole. Unfortunately, Palmyra outscored Bordentown, 11-4, in the overtime session.
   Rob Higgins and Danny Sasso each scored a dozen points for the Scotties while Tom Gutowski chipped in with six points, Mike Malone scored four points and Bobby Burns hit a free throw. It was just another Scotties’ game, which went down to the wire.
   Then on Tuesday, Cinnaminson defeated Bordentown, 59-46, in a competitive game.
   "We had it within two points and we couldn’t get any closer," said Coach Drew, whose squad had a little trouble with its rebounding and foul shooting down the stretch. With 11 points, Danny Sasso was the only Scottie player to reach double figures. However, Thomas Knapp had an excellent all-around game and scored six points. Rob Higgins and Tom Gutowski netted eight points apiece and Steve DiLemme and Bobby Burns scored four points apiece. Johnny Dean had three points and Mike Malone canned a pair of foul shots.
   In an earlier game played last Thursday, Willingboro topped Bordentown, 78-60, despite 18 points by Steve DiLemme, 12 of which came on three-pointers. That contest was played at Bordentown. Willingboro, of course, is a very good Group III team.
   At 5-7, Bordentown is still very much in the playoff race because it gives every team, regardless of its record, a good game. Bordentown just needs to get a few more breaks in these contests. Bordentown is scheduled to host Westampton Tech today and it is scheduled at Holy Cross on Tuesday.
LCA

   "All around, in every category, this is the best team we’ve ever had," said Life Center Academy boy’s basketball Coach Darryl Gladden.
   "These guys are hungry. We’re real versatile. We have a 6-9 and 6-10 guy – and both are good. We have the skill guys like Arnaud (Dahi) and Da Silva (Raphael) and my son (Darryl Gladden) at the point."
   Life Center may be the best team in the state. It has already beaten the top two ranked teams, St. Patrick’s and St. Anthony’s, this year, And almost all of LCA’s losses (it is 17-5) have come in huge tournaments against some of the tri-state area’s best clubs. Most recently, on Tuesday afternoon, LCA pummeled St. Mary’s Hall, 85-18.
   As the final score would indicate, Coach Gladden said his team had "no problem" picking up the "W." Raphael DaSilva actually outscored St. Mary’s himself with 19 points. While Mark Chol netted 18 points, including 12 in the final quarter. Aaron Gray and Andrew Tran each netted a dozen points, Gussaud Dahi scored 10, Darryl Gladden had 8 points and Quentin Logan hit a 3-pointer. The game was played at Florence.
   Last year Ben Franklin put up a tough fight against LCA before falling. This season, LCA took a seven-point lead into the half (40-33) and extended it to 16 points by the end of the contest (97-81). With 26 points, Raphael DaSilva was LCA’s leading scorer, but Arnaud Dahi was right behind him with 20 points. Mbainai Narmbaye and Darryl Gladden tallied 18 points apiece, while Gussaud Dahi (five points) and Moussa Mbaye (six points) also played well. Mark Chol and Quentin Logan each had a field goal.
   LCA is scheduled to host Pine Forge on Thursday, Pilgrim Academy on Friday, Our Savior on Saturday and City Center on Tuesday. Our Savior is the big game, however, because it has already beaten LCA twice in close games.