FLORENCE: Up-tempo style a fit for Florence

By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
   The Florence High boys basketball team hasn’t been on the losing end of the score often this season.
   But for each loss suffered by the Flashes, a lesson can be learned.
   ”We had a tough loss to Rancocas Valley, but I think we have to look at it for what it was, which was a chance to play against a real good team,” said senior forward Kevin Allison, whose team took a 13-2 record into Tuesday’s scheduled game with Medford Tech.
   ”If we had not lost that game we probably would have been the No. 1 seed (in Central Jersey Group I). We should still be a 2 or a 3 seed. It was a tough loss, but you learn from it because it was a big test against a good team. We are going to be playing against some good, up-tempo teams like Medford Tech, Northern Burlington and Penns Grove. So it will help us to play against a team like RV.”
   The Fl;ashes have been doing plenty of scoring this season with their own up-temp style. It has made it a fun season for the players, who love being part of a deep, athletic roster.
   ”We have had our ups and downs this year, but at the end of the day we’re still a team,” said Allison, who had 14 points in the 72-52 loss to Rancocas Valley. “Most of us have played together since middle school. It’s a great group of guys and we have a lot of fun.
   ”I would have to say that in my four years here, this is the most athletic team we have had. We have some many people that can come off the bench and are interchangeable and not miss a beat. The last three years we were more of a slow it down team. But this year has been a lot different.”
   The Flashes came into the week needing just one more win in their final two league games to capture at least a share of the Burlington County Freedom Division title. One of those games will offer a chance to redeem themselves for their other loss this season.
   ”I think Palmyra snuck up on us,” Allison said. “We had been playing well and they gave us our first loss. Hopefully the result will be different this time. We have Palmyra at home and (Burlington) City at City. You never know what can happen but hopefully we’ll do well and win those games so we can win the league title.”
   Florence has been winning this year thanks to a roster that goes nine or 10 players deep and on any given night could have one of five or six different players lead the team in scoring. In the loss to RV, Quintin Harris had 16 points, Allison 14 and Cornell Miller added 10. That kind of balance is there every night.
   ”We have a lot of guys who are pretty even with scoring,” Florence coach Cesar Perada said. “Kevin has been our top scorer but Cornell has been a dependable guy. A lot of teams mark Kevin and that has opened it up for some of the other guys.”
   The Flashes reached the cutoff for the state tournament with a 13-2 record. They’ll be one of the top seeds once the sectionals begin. But for now, they have other business to take care of.
   ”First we have to try to take care of City and Palmyra and win the division,” Perada said. “Then we’ll go into the playoffs and see what we can do there.”