By: Kyle Moylan
Playing two very different teams, the New Egypt High School boys’ basketball squad came away with two very different results in the opening week of play.
In a grinding defensive game, New Egypt was able to fight off Florence for a 32-28 win at home Friday night.
"This was kind of a football basketball game," New Egypt Coach Jon Corby noted. "This was the first time we’ve ever beat them. We had been 0-10 against Florence. And Florence is a team with a lot of starters back. We just have really good depth."
This was a close game throughout. It was tied 16-16 at the half. Florence took a 22-20 lead into the fourth quarter.
"Every possession was a battle," Corby said.
Steve Dey and Josh Howad (seven rebounds) scored seven points each for New Egypt. Kevin Janowski scored five points and pulled down nine rebounds. Stephen Panasuk scored five points, Dylan Rowley four points, and Davion Clanton (eight rebounds) and Dakota Havens put in two points each.
New Egypt played a Bordentown team that likes to run on Monday and had a hard time keeping up with them.
New Egypt led 13-12 after the first quarter, but the game got away during the second quarter as Bordentown went on a 19-9 run.
"We just had no rhythm," Corby noted. "We shot 13 for 47 and had 29 turnovers. A lot of those turnovers were unforced. That’s just not going to get us a lot of wins."
Bordentown’s John Kohler (21 points and eight rebounds) created some match-up problems.
New Egypt also ran into some foul trouble. In short, there will be better nights.
Howard recorded 10 points and six rebounds. Janowski scored nine points and had 17 rebounds. Panasuk pulled down nine rebounds and scored five points. Rowley scored three points and had five rebounds.
New Egypt is scheduled to play at Maple Shade 7 p.m. tonight. It will then be off until next Wednesday when it will try and defend the championship in its own Christmas Tournament. Last year was the first time New Egypt had won the event.
New Egypt will face St. Mary’s at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Keyport and Lindenwald will play at 3 p.m. in the other match-up. The championship game will be held Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. The consolation game will be held at 3 p.m. on the 28th.

