Big winners from holiday hoops tourneys

The holiday tournaments are over, and for the next seven weeks most of the attention in South Jersey boys' basketball will be geared to the conference races.

There were more than a few teams that benefited from strong performances in holiday tournaments. Here is a look at the big winners.

1. Woodbury.

The Thundering Herd won the Eastern Viking tournament by beating Bishop Eustace, 70-54, and then Eastern, 83-66. The win over Eustace should not be overlooked. That's a Eustace team that was tied late in the fourth quarter against Camden before losing, 77-68.

Eastern was ranked No. 5 in South Jersey by The Inquirer at the time. The Vikings are a Group 4 contender and already own a win over a talented Cherokee team.

What's more impressive about Woodbury is that no starter is taller than 6-foot-3.

"We're not big, but we can put the pressure on teams," Woodbury first-year coach Ken Avent said. "And I think what has helped us in the early going has been our conditioning, allowing us to put defensive pressure on teams."

Mark DiRugeris, a 6-1 junior, scored 49 points in the two wins. The Herd got some unexpected offense from 6-1 junior twins Jared and Isaiah Roberts, who totaled 51 points against Eastern.

Defending South Jersey champion Salem will provide plenty of resistance in Group 1, but Woodbury has alerted everyone that it will be a serious contender.

2. Holy Spirit.

The Spartans beat two current ranked teams, Shawnee and Rancocas Valley, in one of the many Wildwood tournaments. The Spartans allowed an average of 32.5 points in the wins.

Holy Spirit, which fell to Camden Catholic, 48-45, in last year's South Jersey Non-Public A final, will again be a serious contender in a loaded field that includes the defending champions along with St. Augustine, St. Joseph (Metuchen) and Christian Brothers Academy, to name a few.

Senior B.J. Bailey, a Boston University recruit, leads a balanced offense for Holy Spirit.

3. Cherry Hill East.

The Cougars played a round-robin schedule in their own tournament and went 3-0, winning all three games in overtime. East beat Sterling, 55-50, and Harriton, 52-51, in one extra period, then beat Moorestown, 51-49, in three overtimes.

That gave East a 5-1 record. Since the Cougars play such a difficult Olympic Conference schedule, it was imperative to get off to a good start if they want to earn a state tournament berth. (Teams with a .500 or better record by the Feb. 7 cutoff date will qualify.)

"We have a young team, and winning three close games like that is a confidence-builder," said East coach John Valore, who has 495 career wins.

Chris Santo, a 6-4 sophomore, was the key performer for East, averaging 18.6 points in the three wins.

No time to panic.

Timber Creek (1-4) has suffered two one-point losses, to Winslow Township and West Windsor Plainsboro South, and a five-point loss to Rancocas Valley. It is too early to worry about qualifying for the state tournament, but teams cannot get too far behind.

Junior point guard Jamere Briggs, who has been out all season with a knee injury, will see a doctor Saturday. Coach Tim Dunne said the best-case scenario is for Briggs to be cleared to play that day.

"He feels great and is champing at the bit to get back," Dunne said.

If that is the case, the Chargers would get Briggs after playing games this week against Woodrow Wilson and Seneca.

Spreading it out.

Audubon (5-1) has had four players emerge as a leading scorer in the first six games. The Green Wave are one win away from matching their win total from the previous two years combined.

New No. 1.

St. Augustine is the new No. 1 team in South Jersey, but coach Paul Rodio says his unit has a long way to go. Rodio believes the Hermits will benefit from the return of Brandon Harris, a 6-5 senior who has yet to play while recovering from a broken left foot. The Hermits hope he can return by Jan. 20.

"He had a great summer and gives us an inside presence," Rodio said.

St. Augustine won both of its games in the Augustan Shootout in San Diego. The Hermits beat Providence Catholic of Illinois, 77-64, and Villanova Prep of California, 58-32.

The schedule could not be more difficult this week. The Hermits visit No. 2 Atlantic City on Friday and then host national power St. Patrick's of Elizabeth on Sunday.

All in the family.

West Deptford lost 6-5 senior Charlie McShane in the second game with a season-ending knee injury. Coach Don Clark said McShane would go through rehabilitation for three weeks and then have an operation on his anterior cruciate ligament.

"I hope colleges don't lose track of him, because he will be a really good recruit for some school," Clark said.

McShane, who averaged 13.6 points last season, will be replaced on the roster by a familiar figure - Pat McShane, a 6-3 sophomore who happens to be his brother.

The younger McShane will wear his brother's No. 34.

Clark said the younger McShane would continue to play a combination of JV and varsity.

Tough schedule.

As reported last week, Camden Catholic's 6-6 junior, Gerry Wixted, is not expected back from an ankle injury until mid-January. Holding the fort will not be easy, especially in the next three games against Eastern, Camden and Cherokee.

Mark your calendar.

Tomorrow - Washington Township at Camden, 3:45 p.m.; Pitman at Salem, 5:30 p.m.; Palmyra at New Egypt, 6:30 p.m.; Haddonfield at Collingswood, 6:30 p.m.; Eastern at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.

Thursday -

Camden at Camden Catholic, 3:45; Washington Township at Eastern, 6.

Friday -

St. Augustine at Atlantic City, 7.

Saturday -

Williamstown at Washington Township, 1.

Sunday -

St. Patrick's at St. Augustine, 3.

With last week's ranking in parentheses. Records are through Saturday.

Team   Record Comment

1.

St. Augustine (4)

4-0    The Hermits visit No. 2 Atlantic City on Friday.

2.

Atlantic City (3)

3-1    The Vikings' lone loss was to Pa. power Chester

3.

Camden Cath. (1)

3-2    Both losses were to teams from Pennsylvania.

4.

Holy Spirit (6)

5-0    A big week included wins over Rancocas Valley and Shawnee.

5.

Rancocas Valley (2)

5-1    The Red Devils posted a 53-48 win over Timber Creek.

6.

Camden (8)

3-0    Aaron Walton-Moss is averaging 23.3 ppg.

7.

Lenape (7)

5-0    Indians have not allowed more than 40 points in any game.

8.

Wash. Twp. (10)

4-1    Its only loss was a 62-61 defeat to Hunterdon Central.

9.

Woodbury (NR)

3-0    The Herd will visit rival Paulsboro tomorrow.

10.

Shawnee (9)

3-2    Losses were to Atlantic City and Holy Spirit.

Under consideration (listed alphabetically):

Cherokee (2-1), Eastern (4-1).

- Marc Narducci