Teams face familiar foes in S. Jersey boys' basketball championships

There is a definite rematch theme to the South Jersey boys' basketball championships that take place over the next two days.

Groups 1, 3 and 4 will feature teams that are extremely familiar with one another.

Let's start with Group 4, in which No. 2 seed Lenape (21-8) meets No. 8 Washington Township (20-9) in tonight's 7 p.m. Group 4 final at Atlantic City.

The teams split this regular season. Lenape is known for its defense, but stopping Township guard Rick Hudson will be a major challenge. Hudson has averaged 25.3 in playoff wins over Toms River East, Rancocas Valley and Atlantic City.

Tomorrow's 4 p.m. Group 3 final at Eastern between top-seeded Kingsway (22-6) and No. 2 Deptford (22-6) is a testament to the Tri-County Royal Division.

Despite their seedings, few gave either much chance of advancing to the finals due to nothing else but Trico skepticism.

The Royal Division is so difficult that neither of these teams won it. Williamstown took honors, while Kingsway and Deptford split. Deptford won in overtime, and Kingsway prevailed by six in the rematch.

The third rematch is in Group 1, in which top-seeded Woodbury (24-3) meets No. 2 Salem (20-7) in tomorrow's 7 p.m. final at Kingsway. Woodbury beat Salem, 71-45, on Feb. 14, but anybody thinking blowouts-ville may want to reconsider that thought.

Woodbury has been less than dominating lately, although guard Mark DiRugeris, averaging 12 points in playoff wins over Paulsboro and Pitman, is due for a breakout game.

Two newcomers have crashed the Group 2 party, with No. 6 seeded Willingboro (21-7) meeting No. 1 Camden (20-4) at 6 p.m. tonight at Washington Township.

Camden's Aaron Walton-Moss averages nearly 27 points per game, but his all-around game presents plenty of other problems.

Sharpshooter Terrell Maloney has averaged 17 points in three playoff wins for Willingboro, which is the underdog but dangerous.

No tickets will be sold at the door for any of the four boys' basketball public school sectional finals.

And finally top-seeded Holy Spirit (26-2) meets No. 3 seeded Christian Brothers Academy (26-2) in the black-and-blue division - Non-Public A. The final is 7 p.m. tomorrow at Jackson Liberty.

Despite the seeding, CBA, which opened eyes with an earlier win over perennial national power St. Anthony, is the favorite.

In girls' basketball, the theme is more of the unfamiliar. Only Group 1 provides a rematch when Salem (20-6) meets Gloucester (25-2) at 6 p.m. tonight at Southern Regional.

In Group 3, top-seeded Ocean City (26-2) will be favored to defend its sectional crown when it meets No. 2 Manchester Township (24-4) at 8 p.m. tonight at Southern Regional.

The lowest-scoring final could be in Group 2, in which top-seeded Haddon Township (24-4) meets No. 3 Middle Township (21-6) 6 p.m. tomorrow at Williamstown. Both have given up points grudgingly in the postseason.

The nightcap tomorrow at Williamstown has top-seeded Washington Township (25-3) facing No. 2 Southern Regional (24-4) for the Group 4 title.

And the biggest underdog will be No. 2 Holy Spirit (24-4), which plays state power St. John Vianney (27-2) in tomorrow's 5 p.m. Non-Public A championship at Jackson Liberty.