Players put on a show as East tops West

It was razzle-dazzle time at the Camden campus of Rutgers University yesterday as South Jersey's East met West in the 30th annual Al Carino senior all-star boys' basketball game.

As expected in competition of this type, little defense and a lot of scoring impressed the crowd as the players showed off their skills.

Behind-the-back dribbles, no-look passes, length-of-the-court passes, slam dunks and NBA-type three-point shots got the crowd involved. All that played right into the hands of Wildwood Catholic's Anthony Raffa, who is known for his on-court antics.

Raffa scored a game-high 19 points and dished eight assists, some behind his back, to lead the East to a 112-107 victory over the West. A 6-foot-1 guard and the leading area scorer with a 30.7 points-per-game average, Raffa was named the most valuable player for the East.

Eastern's Kenny Garrett, a 6-0 guard, scored 12 points and had five assists to take the MVP award for the West team.

"This [type of game] plays into my hands because I like the up-tempo. I like to dish the ball and take it to the basket," said Raffa, who is headed to the University at Albany in the fall. "I like to get the crowd involved. It boosts my energy. It's great to win the MVP award for me and my school. It shows that I'm respected."

The East led the West, 57-54, at intermission, during which Ocean City's Trey Severs kept the momentum going for his team by winning a three-point shooting contest. The 6-foot guard canned 16 threes.

He finished the game with 9 points, six of which were on a pair of threes in the second half of the game.

The West's Adam Braswell (11 points) of Burlington Township tied the score at 77-77 on the front end of a one-and-one about 5 minutes into the second half. Gloucester guard Liam James and Braswell expanded the advantage to 85-81 on back-to-back threes a few minutes later. The lead see-sawed briefly until the East's Chris Martin Jr., (11 points) son of Winslow Township coach Chris Martin Sr., scored to start an 8-point run that left the West playing catchup until the final 12.6 seconds of the game.

West coach Butch McLean called a timeout with his team trailing by 110-107. That was followed by Pennsauken's Dave Williams taking an NBA three-point shot that failed as Rancocas Valley's Amir Griffin took the rebound up the floor for an easy layup to end the game.

"After a certain point, it became a game, and that's when you go to guys who are better defenders and offensive players," said the elder Martin, who won his second Al Carino senior all-star game since 2004.

"There was a lot of talent on the floor, and you expect that [razzle-dazzle], which they weren't always able to show with their teams."

The Martins, father and son, both said they were honored to be involved in a cause that benefits others. The players received money for college expenses from the organizers of the game, and the admission money goes to local charities.

The younger Martin said he wants to play Division I basketball; however, like some of his teammates on the East squad, his plans to play in college had not materialized.

Garrett, while holding his MVP trophy, also said that his college-playing plans - as well as those of some of his West teammates - are still up in the air.

East57 55 - 112

West54 53 - 107

E: Tramar Beaman (Williamstown) 1, Brian Crilley (Holy Spirit) 6, Darnell Davis (Atlantic City) 6, Jay Donoghue (Seneca) 3, Clarence Dunn (Salem) 6, Chauncey Gilliam (LEAP) 10, Amir Griffin (Rancocas Valley) 6, Tyron Johnson (Millville) 11, Chris Martin Jr. (Winslow Twp.) 11, Tim Matchett (Pitman) 8, Anthony Raffa (Wildwood Catholic) 19, Trey Severs (Ocean City) 9, Terrence Thorne (Lindenwold) 3, Kenyatta Townsend (Highland) 13.

W: Adam Braswell (Burlington City) 11, Jason Brogsdale (Collingswood) 8, Ian Davis (Cherry Hill West) 4, Dan Fleming (Haddon Twp.) 1, Kenny Garrett (Eastern) 12, Clarence Jackson (Cherokee) 8, Liam James (Gloucester) 3, Kai Massaquoi (Haddon Heights) 12, Derrick Price (Burlington City) 4, Spencer Reed (Haddonfield) 10, Nick Schlosser (Bishop Eustace) 10, Karl Schmid (Holy Cross) 4, Nick Schoppy (Gloucester Catholic) 2, Tim Stewart (Camden) 7, Dave Williams (Pennsauken) 11.