West bounces East in high-scoring tilt

Deptford guard Erv Ezell is a true competitor, and it showed not only in the way he played yesterday in the 32d annual Albert J. Carino Basketball Club of South Jersey Senior All-Star Game, but how he reacted afterward.

Ezell scored 19 points, but it wasn't enough for his East team, which lost a less-than-defensive showcase, 158-134, to the West at Eastern High.

"It's tough losing," said Ezell, who averaged 14.2 points for a Deptford team that advanced to the South Jersey Group 3 final before falling to rival Kingsway. "I don't like losing, even if it's an All-Star Game."

The only thing tougher than losing was guarding Ezell, who has not made a college commitment. He has deep range and can take his defender off the dribble to the basket.

"It was fun being out there, but I hate the fact that I lost my last two games," he said, referring as well to the sectional final.

This was a good day for another Gloucester County player. Woodbury senior Mark DiRugeris was named the West MVP after scoring 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, in which the winners held a 46-28 advantage. Last week, DiRugeris had scored 14 points and played well as the South defeated the North in a game between state all-stars.

"These All-Star Games have been a lot of fun," said DiRugeris, who said he has made an oral commitment to attend Division II Chestnut Hill College.

Of course, Gloucester County didn't have all the standouts. The team MVP for the East was 6-foot-4 Collin Johnson of Camden County's Timber Creek, who scored 20 points. Another Camden County player, Leap Academy's Tyrone Parker, contributed 22 points for the West, while Inquirer South Jersey player of the year Aaron Walton-Moss of Camden added 17 for the winners.

All told, eight players for the West squad scored in double figures during a game in which the teams played four 12-minute quarters.

While many of the known players such as Walton-Moss stood out, the game also gave a chance for some lesser-known talents such as Willingboro's 6-7 Karee Ferguson to share the spotlight.

Ferguson, who averaged 10.4 points as Willingboro advanced to the South Jersey Group 2 final before losing to Camden, scored 12 yesterday for the West team. He hit two three-pointers and showed great mobility.

As with many of the players, Ferguson said he is undecided on a college, noting that most of the interest has come from the Division II and III level.

For many, there was some nostalgia since this was the culmination of their high school careers.

"It's sad that this is my last game," Ezell said, summing up the attitude of many of the players. "Now it is time to move on."

East 21 37 48 28 - 134

West 36 33 43 46 - 158

E: Tim Breaker 3, Umar Shannon 14, B.J. Bailey 3, Stephen Pigford 7, Matt Schiff 4, Erv Ezell 19, Matt Whitworth 7, Bill Giberson 8, Kevin Booth 9, Collin Johnson 20, Derrick Parsley 7, Frank Champion 11, Marcus Ware 13, David Follis 2, Mat Piotrowski 7.

W: Jahseer Bronson 4, A.J. Greenwald 10, Chris Ward 2, Mike Steinberger 4, Jonathan Gardner 8, Tyrone Parker 22, Mark DiRugeris 23, Markese Morris 15, Aaron Walton-Moss 17, Bobby Harris 6, Nelson Torres 13, Kendall White 10, Isiah Dixon 5, Karee Ferguson 12, Kevin Janowski 7.