Marc Narducci: Three's a crowd atop Royal Division

On the opening night of the season, the Clearview girls' basketball team got off to a good start by defeating Williamstown, the three-time defending Tri-County Royal Division champion.

To show all the twists and turns this Royal Division season has had, Williamstown walked into Clearview's gym last night cheering for the home team.

The team the Braves were rooting for won, which created tri-champions in the division.

Clearview's 34-30 win last night over Deptford gave the Pioneers a share of the title. Williamstown and Deptford joined Clearview as champions in one of the best conference races in South Jersey.

All three teams finished 10-2 in the division. Each was 1-1 against the others. So tri-champions seemed a fitting way to end things, although Deptford might not agree.

"We didn't want to share the title," Deptford coach Mark Petito said. "But I am really proud of my players."

And he should be. This was the first girls' basketball division title in Deptford history.

If Petito felt pride, imagine how Clearview coach Neil Bress felt.

Bress, now in his fifth season, is known to wear his emotions on his sleeve, which is why he asked all the players to go to the locker room immediately after the game - so he could cry there.

Bress has pointed to this moment since the opening 44-35 win over Williamstown.

Last night's victory came on an evening when the Clearview seniors were honored before the game.

"It's sort of poetic justice that this came on senior night," Bress said.

And it was a Clearview senior, 6-foot-1 Noelle Hogan, who did her share to ensure that the Pioneers would be fitted for championship jackets.

Hogan had 17 points and 16 rebounds and, as usual, was a tower of strength on defense.

"This was senior night and we won a share of the conference at home. What more could you ask for?" Hogan said.

How about a little less suspense if you are a Clearview fan?

The Pioneers appeared ready to run off with this defensive struggle. Deptford trailed, 27-20, entering the fourth period, and the Spartans didn't exactly have their shooting eye. They shot 6 for 54 entering the fourth period but kept scrapping.

With her team trailing by 32-30, Deptford's Samantha Morris saw a three-pointer go in and out with 30 seconds left.

Even on an evening when Deptford ended up shooting 9 for 65, the Spartans were in this until the end.

That defines the determination and never-say-die attitude of teams in the Royal Division.

"We just didn't shoot well tonight," Petito lamented.

Of course, Clearview's defense may have had something to do with that. The Pioneers entered the game allowing 29.9 points per contest, so scoring on Clearview is never the easiest of propositions.

"All year long, we've held teams to 30 points," Bress said. "It doesn't matter the opponent; we can flat-out defend."

What's interesting is that if Clearview and Deptford win their first-round South Jersey Group 3 tournament games, they will meet for a third time. (Deptford won the first meeting, 46-36.)

"If we met in the playoffs, it would mean a lot simply because it would be Deptford-Clearview," Petito said.

The division has developed intense rivalries. The teams don't give each other an inch, but when the game is over, there is a genuine respect for each other. Isn't that what competition should be all about?

"Deptford and Williamstown are amazing teams," Hogan said. "To be part of this is so special."