Camden holds off Highland in basketball playoffs

After Camden High's 14-point fourth-quarter lead had dwindled to four points with about two minutes left yesterday, the Panthers turned to baby-faced Germir Pitts to preserve their South Jersey Group 3 playoff victory.

"Our senior guard came in and settled us down," junior swingman Aaron Walton said after host Camden outlasted gritty Highland, 77-65, in a first-round game.

The left-shooting Pitts, the only senior in Camden's starting lineup, went 6 for 6 at the foul line in the final 1 minute, 33 seconds, securing the hard-earned victory and sending the seventh-seeded Panthers (14-8) into tomorrow's 7 p.m. quarterfinals at second-seeded Shawnee, the defending state champion.

"We went back to basics today," said Camden interim coach Mike Stargell, whose team had been routed in its final three regular-season games. "I thought we came out with a lot of energy."

Camden, using a full-court press that caused three turnovers that led to field goals, scored the game's first 13 points and looked as if it would coast.

Tenth-seeded Highland (13-12) had other ideas.

The Tartans regrouped. Behind the shooting of senior Dwayne Gland (game-high 26 points), Highland went on a 12-2 run to close to within 15-12.

Walton, who shot 10 for 20 and finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, scored seven second-quarter points to help Camden's 20-15 lead grow to 38-27 at the half.

When Gland and point guard Marquis Alford each picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, Highland seemed doomed.

Again, the Tartans climbed out of the hole.

Highland cut an 18-point deficit to 55-43 at the end of the third quarter. The Tartans trailed by 66-52 when they went on a 10-0 run - including a left-wing three-pointer by Tim Looby - to get within 66-62 with 2 minutes, 47 seconds left.

But Pitts' foul shooting and some key hoops by freshman Takwan Bailey (13 points) helped lock up the win.

"We talked all week that this wasn't the Camden of old," first-year Highland coach Andy Theis said, "and then it's 13-0 before I could even think. To our credit, we battled back. We could have rolled over, but we never quit, and I'm very proud of my guys."

Especially Gland, whose father was ejected at halftime, causing the second half to be delayed for a few minutes. The younger Gland didn't let it affect him, scoring 11 fourth-quarter points to trigger the comeback.

Notes.

Camden was 27 for 57 from the floor, 2 for 9 from three-point range, and 21 for 32 from the foul line. Highland was 23 for 62 (floor), 9 for 30 (threes) and just 10 for 23 (foul line). ...Camden sophomore Vincent Walls scored nine of his 13 points in the first quarter. ...Camden committed 14 turnovers - two more than Highland, which outscored the Panthers, 17-13, on points after miscues.

Highland 15 12 16 22 - 65

Camden 20 18 17 22 - 77

H: Dwayne Gland 26, DeLeon Floyd 11, Marquise Alford 9, Chris Mims 4, Sean Daniels 3, Tim Looby 4, Devin Greer 6, Tedd Teschner 2.

C: Aaron Walton 24, Germir Pitts 8, Charles Watkins 8, Terrell Harper 6, Takwan Bailey 13, Hubert Simmons 5, Vincent Walls 13.