Haddonfield a tall order in S. Jersey boys basketball

It is a team with not much size and only one senior, but there probably are not many opponents who will relish meeting Haddonfield in the South Jersey Group 2 boys' basketball tournament.

The Bulldogs are 17-6, have won three in a row and six of seven, and are guided by a veteran coach who knows how to navigate his way through the calendar when it hits March.

Now in his 10th season, coach Paul Wiedeman has guided Haddonfield to five sectional titles and three state championships.

This season, Wiedeman has had to adapt his philosophy because of the Bulldogs' lack of height.

This is a team that strikes more from the perimeter and, if hot, Haddonfield can be competitive with anybody in Group 2, although Camden remains the prohibitive favorite and Willingboro is another dangerous team.

"We don't have much size, so you have to adjust to your personnel, and this year's team is taking more three-point attempts," Wiedeman said after Haddonfield sank 11 of 21 three-point shots in Saturday's 77-69 win over Pitman.

Haddonfield's tallest player is also its oldest, 6-foot-4 senior Mike Steinberger.

"He plays as hard as anybody I have coached," Wiedeman said. "He has taken 37 charges, and I don't think I've had anybody take more than 10 before."

Steinberger has extra incentive, knowing that any loss in the tournament will be his final high school game.

"We have a lot of good young players and this is my senior year, and I want to play as long as possible," he said.

Wyatt Polk, a 6-3 sophomore who missed six games earlier this season with a hip pointer, is averaging a team-high 17.8 points per game. Classmate Anthony Parenti is a 5-11 guard who can stretch defenses with his shooting.

Sophomore twins Chris and Kevin Davis, have brought toughness to the backcourt.

"They are football players and bring that football mentality to the court," Wiedeman said of the Davis brothers.

Haddonfield is still in the running for a share of the Colonial Conference Liberty title, but the Bulldogs need some help. Collingswood has clinched at least a share of the title and has a one-game lead with one game to play for both teams.

Haddonfield visits a 16-8 Overbrook team tomorrow. Collingswood is at Sterling (12-12).

Conference report. Besides the Colonial Liberty, here are some other division races still up for grabs in the final week of the regular season.

Camden Catholic has clinched at least a tie in the Olympic Conference National Division and can win the outright championship with a win tomorrow against Paul VI. Camden would earn a share of the title if it beats Camden County Tech and Paul VI defeats Camden Catholic.

Shawnee and Winslow Township are tied for the Olympic Patriot lead with one game each to play. Shawnee visits Timber Creek tomorrow and Winslow Township hosts Seneca the same day. If both Shawnee and Winslow Township win, they would be cochampions.

Absegami is 5-2 in the Cape American Division I and finishes its division schedule tonight against Atlantic City, a team it has beaten already. Atlantic City is 5-1 and would clinch the division with a win over Absegami. If Absegami wins, then Atlantic City would have to beat Millville for a share of the title.

Mark your calendar. Holy Spirit and St. Augustine will meet in Saturday's 2 p.m. Cape Atlantic League championship game at Richard Stockton College. On Feb. 7, Spirit defeated St. Augustine, 72-49, at Atlantic City's Battle by the Bay.

Tough break. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, it appears as if St. Patrick sophomore Michael Gilchrist of Somerdale is out for the season. The 6-foot-7 Gilchrist, considered among the best sophomores in the country, suffered a broken foot in practice Friday.

Great gesture. The Gloucester County Basketball League, which consists of 34 boys' and girls' teams from third through eighth grade, recently played a tournament and raised $5,000.

The proceeds went to Woodbury athletic director Grant Shivers, who recently had his house destroyed by fire.

"It's just awesome what the league did," Shivers said. "There have been so many people who have been great to my family and we are overwhelmed by the generosity."

Recruiting update. Woodbury guard Mark DiRugeris, who has done as much for his stock as any senior in South Jersey, says he has made a visit to Monmouth. In addition, he says, other schools that have shown interest include Navy, Chestnut Hill, New Jersey Tech and the University of the Sciences.

The 6-3 combination guard is averaging 22.3 points for the 21-1 Thundering Herd.

Team Record

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

1. Holy Spirit (1) 22-1

Entering yesterday's game with Cherokee, B.J. Bailey had averaged 26.7 points in his previous seven games.

2. Rancocas Valley (2) 19-4

The Red Devils visit Trenton Catholic tomorrow in a game that will prepare them for the Group 4 tournament.

3. Cherokee (5) 16-5

Willis Nicholson entered yesterday's game with Holy Spirit averaging 17.2 points in his seven games with the Chiefs.

4. Camden Catholic (3) 18-5

The Irish look to rebound after Saturday's 77-46 loss to South Jersey Non-Public B favorite Trenton Catholic.

5. St. Augustine (8) 19-3

Isaiah Morton entered last night's game with Washington Township averaging 18.5 points per game.

6. Woodbury (NR) 21-1

The Herd host Lenape on Thursday in an interesting nonleague game.

7. Atlantic City (NR) 17-6

Saturday's win over Camden served notice that the Vikings should be dangerous in Group 4.

8. Camden (4) 16-3

Sophomore guard Takwail Bailey is averaging 15.2 points in his last five games.

9. Eastern (NR) 16-8

Saturday's 67-66 win over Lenape clinched the Olympic American title.

10. Lenape (6) 16-7

The Indians are 2-4 in their last six games, but three of the losses have been by one or two points.

Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Shawnee (16-7), Paul VI (16-7), Timber Creek (15-8), Washington Township (16-7).

- Marc Narducci
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