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Basketball: Fendrick's '3' lifts Eastern over Camden

By Phil Anastasia

The plan was to drive, get to the foul line, stop the clock and maybe tie the score.

Things didn't go according to plan for the Eastern High School basketball team.

They went way better.

Junior Keith Davis drove the baseline and kicked out a pass to senior Justin Fendrick, who buried a three-point jumper from the left corner with 0:03 on the clock to lift Eastern to a 51-50 upset of Camden on Monday afternoon.

"It feels great, the fans were excited," said Fendrick (pictured), who was mobbed by Eastern students who stormed the court after the Olympic Conference inter-division game.

Fendrick and fellow senior Logan Edwards scored 10 for Eastern (2-0), the No. 20 team in The Inquirer Top 20.

Junior Maliq Sanders added 12, all in the second half after sitting out much of the first half with two fouls.

Junior forward Jamal Holloway scored 17 with 14 rebounds for No. 2 Camden (0-1).

The Panthers played without two projected starters in junior guard Brad Hawkins and senior guard Will McCants, who were held out for separate disciplinary situations.

Senior guard Rasool Hinson scored 13 for Camden.

The foul-filled game was played at an uneven pace.

Camden freshman Myles Thompson made one of two free throws to give the Panthers a 50-48 lead with 0:32 on the clock.

Eastern called a timeout at 0:16.

"To be honest, they were calling it so close I just wanted our guys to drive," Eastern coach Kevin Crawford said.

Davis, who scored eight points, drove the right baseline and was under the basket when he threw a pass to Fendrick.

"Keith made a great kick-out," Fendrick said.

Fendrick said the shot "felt good" when he released it.

Crawford, in his first year at Eastern after leading PItman to the Group 1 state title last season, said the victory should be a confidence-booster for the Vikings.

"The game of basketball is all about confidence," Crawford said.

Camden 14 10 12 14 -- 50

Eastern 12 11 12 16 -- 51

C: Jamal Holloway 17, Sheron Johnson 5, Cory Whiting 7, Rasool Hinson 13, Myles Thompson 8.

E: Maliq Sanders 12, Logan Edwards 10, John Salicandro 2, Chase Finnegan 4, Justin Fendrick 10, Keith Davis 8, Darren Gibson 3, Justin Williams 2.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter