Salem is sailing toward the playoffs

Salem has not won an NJSIAA South Jersey boys' basketball title since 1986, when rookie coach Justin McCarthy directed the Rams to a 25-3 record.

Based on the first six weeks of the season, that drought is expected to end.

Salem, led by Derrick Parsley and A.J. Saunders, is 14-1 and will be the favorite when the South Jersey Group 1 tournament begins next month. The Rams, who were in Group 2 when they won the '86 sectional crown - two wins later, they were state champs - have two of the area's best players and are about to get even stronger. On Thursday, Shamaar Gilbert will become academically eligible and will be inserted into the starting lineup.

"He's our hardest-working player and he may be the best player I've ever coached," fifth-year Salem coach Brad Spicer said.

When you consider the talent of Parsley and Saunders, that's a strong statement.

Parsley, a rugged 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior center, averages 17.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Saunders, a speedy 5-10 senior guard, leads the Rams with 23.3 points per game and scores a lot of his points on transition baskets and three-point shots.

The Rams also have a multitalented 6-4 junior point guard, Quayshun Morris, who is averaging 15.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

Gilbert, who is Saunders' cousin, was a starter as a freshman and sophomore but was academically ineligible last season. He is expected to play point guard.

"He'll be a big plus," Parsley said. "He'll make it even tougher for teams because they won't know who to key on. He gives us another tall guard [6-1] and it'll make it easier to pass over [defenders] and move the ball around."

"He can jump out of the building," said Spicer, whose team has also received key contributions from 6-foot junior guard Lamont Johnson (team-high 56 steals) and 6-1 senior forward Brian Northrop (6.3 ppg.)

Last year, Salem was top-seeded in Group 1 but suffered a first-round loss to Lindenwold.

That defeat has served as a motivator this season.

"We're trying to make amends for what happened last year," Spicer said, "and so far, so good."

"We realize we can't come out flat in any game," Saunders said.

"Now we know you really can't look at the regular season," Parsley said. "You have to keep progressing and step up in the playoffs."

Salem appears on target to do just that.

Tourney cutoff.

Teams need to have at least a .500 record at Saturday's cutoff to earn an NJSIAA playoff berth.

That means this is a critical week as teams try to qualify and jockey for higher seedings.

Spirit's challenge.

Holy Spirit (15-0) figures to be tested twice this week as it strives to remain unbeaten.

The Spartans travel to Middle Township (9-7) tonight to play the dangerous Panthers. Expect a closer game than the first meeting, when Holy Spirit prevailed, 56-39.

After playing host to Cape May Tech (7-8) on Thursday, Holy Spirit plays at streaking Atlantic City (8-6) Friday in the Battle of the Bay.

After a 3-6 start, Atlantic City's young team has regrouped and won five straight. The Vikings need to win one of their three games this week - they face Vineland, Absegami and Holy Spirit - to earn a South Jersey Group 4 playoff berth.

RV's (impossible?) mission.

Rancocas Valley will meet unbeaten St. Anthony, No. 1 in USA Today's national rankings and the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions favorite, at Villanova Saturday at 3:30 p.m. as part of the Kobe Bryant Classic.

Braves shine.

Williamstown forced 17 turnovers and took control of the Tri-County Royal race with a 57-45 win over Deptford on Friday. It was the Braves' second win over Deptford this season and it gave them a two-game lead over the Spartans.

"It was the same story the first time we played them," Deptford coach Bill Hoskins said, referring to the Spartans' 65-63 double-overtime loss to Williamstown on Dec. 18. "We had 25 turnovers the first game and you can't give these guys extra possessions."

Williamstown was especially effective in the second half, committing just two turnovers.

"We were very patient with our offense," Williamstown coach Bill Hunt said. "We didn't force many shots, where earlier in the year we did."

Williamstown or Deptford have won or shared the last nine Royal titles. That streak is about to be extended to 10.

Games of the week.

Here are some of the week's best matchups:

Today:

Wildwood Catholic at Pleasantville, 7; Holy Spirit at Middle Township, 7.

Tomorrow:

Mainland at Absegami, 7; St. Augustine at St. Joseph, 7; Woodbury at Haddonfield, 7; Winslow Township at Timber Creek, 3:45; Seneca at Shawnee, 7; Cherokee at Pennsauken, 7; Pitman at Clayton, 5:30; Williamstown at Clearview, 7.

Thursday:

Holy Cross at Cinnaminson, 6:15; St. Augustine at Pleasantville, 7; Collingswood at Sterling, 7; Pennsauken at Camden, 3:45; Eastern at Paul VI, 7; Washington Township at Camden Catholic, 7.

Friday:

Medford Tech at Cinnaminson, 6:15; Holy Spirit at Atlantic City, 7.

Saturday:

Riverside at Bordentown, 1; Collingswood at Haddonfield, 1; Rancocas Valley vs. St. Anthony of Jersey City at Villanova, 3:30; Deptford at Washington Township, 1; St. Joseph at Holy Cross, 1; Camden Catholic at Malvern Prep, 7:30.

Team Record

Records through Sunday. Last week's ranking is in parentheses.

1.

Holy Spirit (1) 15-0

2.

Paul VI (2) 14-1

3.

Cinnaminson (3) 13-1

4.

Rancocas Valley (4) 13-2

5.

Shawnee (5) 12-4

6.

Winslow Twp. (7) 11-3

7.

Collingswood (8) 13-2

8.

Camden (6) 10-3

9.

Camden Catholic (9) 10-3

10.

St. Augustine (NR) 12-2

Under consideration (listed alphabetically):

Holy Cross (13-3), Pemberton (10-4), Salem (14-1), Williamstown (11-4).

- Sam Carchidi