Drew’s boys top NBC in local rivalry

By: Sean Moylan
   Even before the Bordentown and the Northern Burlington girls’ varsity basketball teams had dressed for their mid afternoon game on Saturday, Sam McDuffie could be found in the Bordentown gymnasium.
   Although the Scotties’ junior superstar varsity basketball player’s game wasn’t scheduled at the school until 2 p.m., he had been at the school since early morning. He had come to study the Scotties and Greyhounds’ junior varsity boys’ basketball game. He had come to plan out his method of attack.
   "We knew the were going to press. We stayed here watching the jayvee play and we watched how they pressed. We watched them play a 3-2 zone and we practiced against a 3-2 zone yesterday (Friday) and it helped us," said McDuffie.
   A little after 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, the basketball student became the teacher as McDuffie erupted for 31 points, 20 of which came in the first half, in the Scotties’ impressive 75-59 victory over a vastly under-rated Greyhounds’ squad.
   Down 14-9 after the first eight minutes, the Scotties began breaking down the Greyhounds’ defense off of fast break buckets following defensive rebounds or steals.
   John Kohler’s outlet passes to a blazing McDuffie on the left-hand side were so quick and so accurate they were virtually unguardable.
   "When we don’t have fun and we worry about winning that’s when we have a hard time. But we had fun today (Saturday) so we came out successful," remarked McDuffie.
   As great as McDuffie was Kohler (21 points) was every bit as good. It was his foul shot at 6:39 of the second quarter that knotted the game at 14-14. Seconds later, he unleashed a 3-pointer that put the Scotties up for good, 17-14. Every time NBC tried to climb back in the contest, he either hit a 3-pointer (he had five in all) or delivered a strike to McDuffie for an easy lay-up.
   In fact, his trey with 48 seconds left in the first half not only put Bordentown up 33-24, it also gave his club a huge psychological lift.
   "We’ve been working all year on transition buckets and getting a good look at the basket off of transition with the speed of Sammy and the guard play of Kohler. Today we did it and it worked for the best," said Bordentown head coach mark Drew.
   Even so, NBC had a great first quarter, which featured some excellent play by Jerry Howell (17 points) and Danny Zimplemann (10 points) at the point.
   Howell bravely came inside against much taller players to score several buckets and grab several rebounds.
   In the third quarter, NBC came blazing back to cut Bordentown’s lead to just two points when Keith Jones (19 points) made two foul shots, following a Shaun Jackman (six points) rebound.
   However, a subsequent technical foul against NBC and two clutch free throws by Kohler put Bodentown back up 43-39.
   "I thought the game was lost in the second quarter. We gave them 28 second-quarter points with McDuffie scoring 16," noted NBC head coach Herman Johnson, whose club has played very well as of late.
   When a good team has a double digit lead (37-26) it usually wins. When it gets great games from role players like Matt Rodenbaugh, who played great "D" and scored four points, James Brotherton (eight points) and Mike Pracko (six points) it almost always wins.
   Furthermore, Justin Gaines (three points) was given more minutes and he came through with a tremendous all-around effort.
   "I feel great because early on I wasn’t getting much playing time," said Gaines.
   "But now that I’m playing with the guys we’re having fun."
   Fun and turnover-free are a big part of a successful fast break team.
   So is McDuffie’s mighty left hand and Kohler’s jumper.
   "When we limit our mistakes, we’re a pretty good basketball team," said Mark Drew, a Bordentown Hall-of-Famer whose team played a game worthy of a Hall of Fame day on Saturday.
   NBC



   There was no defense that could stop the extraordinary defense the Florence Township Memorial High School threw at the Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity basketball team in a 64-37 victory in the second game of a double-header at the new NBC middle school on Tuesday night.
   "We had so many steals (11) and we made only six turnovers the whole game," said Florence team manager Scott Rein.
   Florence head coach Art Bobik put Abree Jones on one of NBC’s best offensive players, Jerry Howell, and Jones held him scoreless. Meanwhile Jones tallied 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished off seven assists.
   Although the Greyhounds have a losing record, they’ve been able "to hang" with almost every team they’ve played against this year.
   However, when Matt Ordog (eight points) buried a couple of treys to put the Flashes up 6-0, there was a sense that Tuesday’s contest would be an uphill struggle for the never-say-die Greyhounds.
   Florence’s Maurice "Mo" Calhoun led all scorers with 18 points and he also made four steals.
   "Mo (Calhoun) had some unbelievable drives," added Rein.
   Jeff Erlston (15 points, eight rebounds), Francis Ugowe (four points), Shaquan Virgil (three points), Chris Giambrone (three points) and Steve Giambrone (two points) scored for the victors. Darius Newton led the Greyhounds in scoring with nine points, including two treys.
   Ryan Gause (eight points), Keith Jones (seven points) and Paul Urbish (six points) had strong games in defeat. Anthony Wilkerson (four points) and Danny Zimplemann (three points) also scored.
   Although the final score was only 55-43, Florence was never in danger of losing its lead in last Thursday’s home victory over Medford Tech.
   The Flashes grabbed an early 16-3 advantage and simply coasted to victory.
   Ordog was the big hero with 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Erlston (11 points), C. Giambrone (10 points), Jones (seven points), Virgil (five points), Malcolm Jenkins (four points) and Ugowe (a point) spread the wealth around on the offensive end.
   Florence (14-6) is scheduled to host Create Charter (12) in a NJSIAA Group I Central Jersey playoff game on March 1.
   Florence is scheduled at Moorestown today (Thursday). Then on Tuesday it is scheduled to host Pemberton.
   NBC, meanwhile, will play at McCorristin today (Thursday). Then on Tuesday it is scheduled to host Burlington Township.
   BRHS



   Fresh off Saturday’s big win over Northern Burlington, the Bordentown Regional High School boys’ varsity basketball team enjoyed an easy 75-53 victory over a Medford Tech club, which has improved by leaps and bounds in recent weeks, on Monday night.
   "We came out of the shoot and played well and had a 24-point lead at halftime," said Bordentown head coach Mark Drew, who had a big heart on Valentine’s Day and played his subs most of the second half.
   Even so, Sam McDuffie had more than enough time to pour in a game-high 34 points and Mike Pracko (10 points), Justin Gaines (eight points), Jon Kohler (seven points) and Thomas Knapp (six points) also put up solid numbers.
   It was a different story last Wednesday, though, when Palmyra slipped by Bordentown, 81-72.
   "Palmyra took it to us but we did play well in stretches," said Drew about the home loss.
   The Scotties’ lone bright spot was McDuffie who tallied a career-high 37 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter.
   Overall, it was a wonderful week for the Scotties, who learned they received a first-round NJSIAA playoff bye. Bordentown (6) is scheduled to play a tournament game at Burlington Township (3) on March 2.
   Bordentown (13-9) is scheduled at Burlington City today (Thursday). It is scheduled to host Burlington Township on Friday in a playoff preview.